New Britain herald., 1930-04-19
Artificial Pigeon Shot Sky ward by Rocket in Its Feathers-LOad of Fire crackers Exploded by Fuse as Devout Watch.

Florence, Italy, April 19 P)-That startlingly striking holy Saturday of the sacred cart,' which had it's origin six centuries and more ago, was performed here this noon to the joy of the assembled Florcntines, peasants from outlying townships and a large number of American and British tourists spending the Easter holidays on the banks of the Arno.
 Secreted in the "sacred cart" un- der it's coverings of red damask flowing ribands and garlands of flowers, were host of frecrackers, rockets, pinwheels and other pie turesquely infammable affairs. A fuse on top of it was connected with a special wire that led to a spot just above the high altar of the nearby cathedral.
 Sets Off Fireworks
 When the clergyman celebrating the solemn high mass of today reached the "Gloria in Eycelsis began to ring and the organ to play, an artificial pigeon with a skyrocket embedded in it's tail was seen to shoot down the wire and out over the heads of the congregation into the square beyond. Sizzling as it Ri hn f,,S on top of the cart, igniting the fuse and setting off all the concealed fire works.
 The flaming dove that thus set the cart on fire is alleged to be symbolic of the holy spirit, which, in the version of the Acts of the Apostles, descended upon the assem- bled disciples the first Pentecost day in that form.
 Today's ceremony originated in the days of the crusades. Pazzo Dei Pazzi knight of a rich F'lorentine family, went on a martial expedition to the Holy Land in 1899, and tra- dition has it he was the first to hoist the Christian flag on the walls of Jerusalem. Godefroy De Bouil- lion, it appears, rewarded him with two pieces of flint from the holy sepulcnre. It is one of these that serves the Florence cathedral clergy to light the paschal candle and the new firc,' to set off the rocket in the pigeons tail and finally to cause the sacred cart to explode.
 In olden times in Florence the s ''facelline" from the paschal fire. and carry them through the old city in procession. There used to be great rivalry among them as to who should be first to get a light that way. In 1900 the lucky citizen proved to be a member of the Pazzi fam fly, descendant of the Pazzo who had won the holy flint for Florence.
 Family Specially Honored
 Because of this coincidence, the signoria, or government Of the Florentine republic, allowed the off their fireworks every holy Sat urday in practically the same man. ner as today. Every year the fam iy's descendants have the cart re- embellished and drawn 10 it's ap- pointed place in the cathedral square by four snow-white oxen, whose horns and hoofs are gilded, and who bear bright crimson blankets. This little procession, which occurred carly today, attracted throng of spectators. The oxen, for their part in the ceremony, are given double ration of fodder.
 Farmers of the surrounding re- zion used to consider it a good omen for their crops if the flaming dove ran true along the wire. If it devil ated from it's course, they believed they were in for bad weather. They have lost that superstition. however, since five years ago the bird fell on the way, yet the harvest was as bountiful as ever.