Calendimaggio 2011 in Assisi

The medieval feast of Calendimaggio will take place on 5th, 6th and 7th May 2011 in Assisi; this old traditional feast was first inspired by the pagan festivities which were celebrated on the occasion of Spring time.

The word Calendimaggio comes from the "Calende" of the May, i.e. the first day of the month, the original time of this celebration (actually from 29th April to 1st May): in the last years the event has been celebrated on an alternating time, in order to avoid an overlapping with other events.

The Calendimaggio represents an important event for the citizens in Assisi, because it recalls an historical moment, the 14th century, when the town was divided into two parts: the "Parte de Sotto" (downtown) and the "Parte de Sopra" (uptown) where two important noble families lived: Fiumi and Nepis. During those years struggles and civil wars aggravated the common life in Assisi, but the Calendimaggio never ceased, even during the harshest time.

Today the feast wants to recall that time and the town is still divided into two factions, which clash one against the other, with games and competitions, to decide who will be king of the town.

On the first day of celebrations, on Thursday, the public crier with drummers and soldiers in costume calls for the beginning of the feast, and the two parts bring their flags to the Benedizione dei Vessilli (i.e. blessing of the banners).

During the following days the two parts of the town make parades in Assisi with medieval costumes, bringing back the atmosphere of middle ages: on the last day of the feast, at night, on the main square, Piazza del Comune, the two factions challenge one another with a song contest which decides the winner, after the judgment of a jury made up of historians and music experts, together with the field master of the Palio del Calendimaggio.