Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-30
EXPLOSION OF SACRED CART
THRONGS CITY OF FLORENCE
American and British Tourists See Display
When Artificial Dove Is Launched
From Cathedral to Ignite Fireworks.

damask covered vehicle, embellished
with all sorts of gorgeous trappings and
entwined garlands, was dragged to its
appointed place by four snow-white
oxen. Their horns and hoofs were
gilded and over their backs were bril-
liant crimson blankets. Once the quar-
tet Of serious minded bovines had per-
formed their duty, they were unhitched
and led away to enjoy an extra ration
Of oats and Of wine.
Within the cart itself were lots of
firecrackers, pinwheels and other pyro-
technical contrivances On its top was
a fuse connected with special wire
running right into the cathedral to a
spot just above the high altar. At the
moment the celebrant of the solemn
high mass of Holy Saturday commenced
to intone Gloria in Excelsis Dec" a
sizzling sound was heard by the big
congregation gathered in the historic
ediflce.
Pigeon Shot Into Cart.
An artificial pigeon, skyrocket i'm
bedded in its tail, shot down the wire
and out over the heads of the faithful
to ignite the sacred cart in the square
outside There was q Sputtering roar
and all the concealed fireworks went
OF with bang. Then the centu-y-ol
cart. property Of the aristocratic Pazzi
fanny, was taken back to its barn,
slightly singed and smoke stained. TO
await next years celebration.
Today's ceremony had its origin back
in the time Of the crusadeS. A certain
Cheyalier, Pazzo Del Pazzi, of a rich
Florentine merchant family, took part
in the crusade of 1000 and was the first
to place the Christian standard on the
walls of Jerusalem. For this valiant ex-
to other honors, allowed him to take
two bits Of flint from the Holy Sep
ulcher. The fire which sets off the
flaming dove on its course through the
cathedral and out into the square is
supposed to be kindled by one of these
flints, the other of which Is said to re-
pose In Rome.
Pazzo Del Pazzi brought the f1ints
back in Florence and presented one to
the Florentine republic government
which decreed that the sacred fires of
Easter eve should be kindled by it. 1t
was an old Florentine custom to light
candles at those fires and to carry the
tapers through the town. As the fires
were unucTStOOQ 10 spring ITOlu the ulut
from Christs sepulcher there was al
ways a great scramble among the citi-
zens as to who should be first to light
his candle.
Celebration Of 1901.
In the year 1900 a member of the
Pazzi family was the fortunate one and
the family was so delighted that in 1901
they celebrated the recurrence of Holy
Saturday with great pomp and bril-
liant display of fireworks. In 1903 they
obtained the public's permission to build
their own cart to be lighted with the
sacred fire from the altar Of the
cathedral.
The flint itself was moved in 1880 to
the Church of the Holy Apostles. There
to this day. the priests on Easter eve
strike fire from it. light their wax can
dies and set forth in procession to the
cathedral just as in old days. permitting
an indirect use of the flint to light the
skyrocket in the doves tail.
It is considered good omen for the
harvest If the dove runs true to its
course along the wire. The peasants
maSsed in the square gaZed at 1t
anxiously and If something should hap
pen to halt it great groan Of diSmay
always goes up from the assembled
crowd. In 1925 this happened; despite
the augury, however, crops that year
were as good as ever.