TRADITIONS

Assisi offers numerous events and religious celebrations throughout the year.

These range from Christmas time, with crèches set up in the churches and on quaint city streets and corners, evoking the mystic poetry of Franciscanism, to Easter celebrations, processions for Corpus Christi, the Feast of the Vows (June 22), the Assisi Pardon (August 1-2), Holy Week, the Ascension, Pentecost and, above all, the feast-day of St. Francis, the patron saint of Italy (October 4), and the feast-day of St. Clare (August 12).

Artistic, musical and cultural events

The city  offers a rich calendar of artistic and cultural events, from art and antique exhibits to conventions, educational courses, concerts and shows. These events include the Festa Musica Pro and Musica Antica, which hold master classes in music.

The most famous folkloristic event is Calendimaggio, a festival that transforms the city and evokes far-off times.

 

Calendimaggio

Calendimaggio (in antiquity, the “calends” were the first day of month) is a festival that is profane in origin even though over the years, the memory of St. Francis and his carefree childhood has become part of it. The festival lasts for three days and is held on the first Thursday, Friday and Saturday of May. It is an explosion of freshness and cheer, songs and sound, costumes and flowers.

It is truly a celebration and exaltation of springtime that is expressed in both people and things as the joy of living.

The objective of this event – probably the festival that is best loved by the people of Assisi, who dress in faithful reproductions of period costumes – is to win the ‘palio’ or prize. The contestants are the “Magnifica Parte de Sotto” and the “Nobilissima Parte de Sopra”, the two districts into which the city is divided.

A jury assigns the prize to the side distinguished by the best costumes, songs, games and races.

Religious events – the Pardon

 The Assisi Pardon commemorates the indulgence obtained by St. Francis when he also received the official confirmation of his Rule by Pope Honorius III. This indulgence is for all the faithful who go to the church of the Porziuncola to ask for forgiveness for their sins.

The Pardon is celebrated from July 31 through August 2, and pilgrims flock here from all over the world.

 Processions

The processions held during Holy Week are particularly interesting and evocative. They include processions along the streets of the city, lit by torches, accompanied by hooded friars bearing crosses and the symbols of the Passion of Christ, as well as by friars from other religious orders.

The scene of the “Deposition of the Cross” is also portrayed, together with the “Descent of Our Lady to her Son’s body”. These scenes are enacted in accordance with ancient holy representations.

Although these functions and events are characterised mainly by their religious and celebratory function, almost all of them are also accompanied by various other aspects, such as historical and environmental representations (including parades in period costumes and traditional rites) that make them extremely interesting.

 

Exhibit of Umbrian Arts and Crafts

 The exhibit is held in the Sala delle Volte and it is organised by the Craftsmen’s Academy. This is a vast collection and exhibit of the crafts that flourish in Umbria. All sorts of crafts are represented here: Orvieto lace, pillow lace, Assisi cross-stitching, hand-loomed beaten cloth, weapons for hand-to-hand combat, crossbows, ceramics, stone workmanship, terracotta, hand-made tiles, hand-decorated glass and mirrors, inlaid wood and wooden sculptures.

  And also...
Asssi also has much more to offer. Scholars can go to its libraries and precious archives. Nature-lovers can go on excursions and explore its silent forests or climb to the peak of Mount Subasio (altitude 1290 meters), while sports-lovers can take advantage of modern facilities with fields, tracks, gyms and swimming pools.