Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-04-20
DEL CARRO."
THE QUAINT EASTER
CEREMONY OF FLORENCE
Explosion of a Car Takes Place In Front of the Great Cathe-
dra-ltay a Land of Elaborate and Interesting Easter
0bservances-MaY Supersttious Beliefs Cherished
In Connection With the Car Ceremony.

by be strengthened during the comm,
year. Mothers present with their in.
fants try to induce them to make
their first attempts to walk while the
explosion is in progress, believing thai
thereby the little ones steps will be
strengthened.
To the foreign visitor, and there are
many of high rank, sometimes, whc
come to see the curious spectacle -
queen Victoria on one occasion wit
messed it from the Loggia del Bigallo,
a special point of view for the highly
privileged-there is in the crowd that
gathers as much of interest as in the
ceremony. From all the neighboring
villages, from other cities and even
from the more distant mountain re-
gions the people flock, all wearing
their characteristic and often highly
VarleSated customes, packing the square
IN a solid mass, a with the brightest
color, representative Of all the races
and classes that make up the popula-
ton of this part of the country, all pa
tiently waiting for the when
the changing bells shall announce the
coming of the ove and eagerly watch
ing to see whether the omens are pro-
pltlous for thc year to come.
After the fireworks on the car have
been partially exploded the car is
drawn to the corne of the street 'front.'
ing the Pazzi palace, where, pursuant
TO an ancient custom, the remainder are
exploded n the car then returned to
Its resting place until it shall again b.
required for the next Easter cere-
mony.
The present car, several of its prede-
cessors having become a prey to the
flames, was built in 1922, to the order
of Cossimus Aloisi Pazzi, as an inscrip-
ton 1T bears states. Another informs
IN tho ~, -,-s --. -. ~ =
1t restored in the 18th century at a cost
of 131 scudi. Other inscriptions indi.
cate work done on 1t at various times
by different artisans, who, as a reward
for their work, are granted the priv.
lege of inscribing their name on it, in.
terror panels.
The connection of the Pazzi family
with the car and with the ceremonies.
attending the Easter celebration Is part
Of the history Of Florence. The family
originally were prominent among the
merchant princes of the city xwhen II
was one Of the&great mercantile cen
tiers of Europe. A member of the fam
lily who was on a crusade to the Holy
Land spent Easter in Jerusalem, and,
being a mar of great physical strength,
was able to force his way to the front
at the lighting Of the holy fire in the
sepulchre. and afterward to bear the
taper he had lighted safely out of the
crush.
This according to the story, he bore
lighted to Florence, riding backward OFT
his horse a great part of the distance.
the better to shield the precious flame
from the wind. AT n point the devil
himself made an attempt to eXtinguish
1t, but was successfully repulsed by the
doughty knight. He brought his light
safely to FLORENCE and presented it to
the baptistery, claiming as a right. in
the nrjVi1aoa aoch ,,oo ~.
being the first to take a light from the
sacred fire for the shrine at his house
corner.
The present name of the family is
due to his knights ride from the Holy
Land. People seeing the crusader APP
preach backward on his horse greeted
MN as "pazzo" (mad), and PaZzi the
FAMILY had remained ever since.
Another scion of the family was also
prominently Identified with the present
annual Easter ceremony OF kindlinp the
holy fire in the city. He was a famous
warrior and of great personal prowess
and had command of the Tuscan con-
tingent in the crusade of 1888. AT the
siege of Jerusalem he was the first 20
plant the banner of the cross on the
battlements of the holy city. In recog-
milton of his feat he received from the
leader of the crusade, Godfrey de Bouil-
lon, a new coat of arms, commemora-
- vi liiS cSep III lIlieG pieces OF flln1
from the holy sepulchre.
On returning to his native citv he
was received with great honor and pre-
sented the three ~flints-small. almond
shaped stones-to the signori of the
city, who kept them carefully and
eventually deposited them in the ban
tistery, with the order that thew he
used at every Easter celebration In
kindling the sacred fire. Preserved in a
crimson velvet bag. heavily brocaded
with gold, they are still to be seen at
the old church.
While the car is unquestioned a very
ancient institution in Florence. there-is
no authentic record of its origin, nor is
any reason given in the city's records
for it's use in connection with the Easter
Saturday ceremony. That it was r
existence prior to 1873 is proved by the
fact that one Of the recorded penalties
imposed on he Pazzi for their revolt
and conspiracy against the Medici that
year was the forfeiture Of all their dig
mites and privileges, hat Of furnishing
the car for the Holy Saturday cere-
monies being expressly enumerated.
This only was conferred on the Guild
of Foreign Wool Merchants, by whom
1T was for a time undertaken. When a
few years later the Pazzi Were mar
doned and restored to all their former
dlgnities and prerogatives thai OF fur
nlshing the car n having the last
fireworks exploded in front Of their
palace was included among the rest.
and until 1863 they continued to see to
the provision and maintenance Of the
quaint vehicle.
In that year, however, the head of the
u expressed a desire to r%elinuuish
the honor and the responsibility. The
municipal authorities were unwilling
that the ancient ceremony should be
discontinued for fear of provoking dis
satisfaction among the people who had
become accustomed to regard the fir
ing of the a as part Of the Easter
celebration n as a basis for their
auguries for the coming year. The city
consequently determined to continue
the custom and in 1854 the Pazzi family
transferred to the municipal authorities
the car and sufficient securities to fur
nish an income Of 200 lire per annum
to defray the expenses of the annual
explosion.
While the people Of our times may
feel inclined to belittle some Of the
peculiar old ceremonies connected with
celebrations that are per-
performed in he cities Of the old world.
there is no question as to the influence
OF their symbolism on the less mattet-
Of-faCt people of those counfrias IT.