Calendimaggio

After I had booked our stay in Assisi I found out about an annual 3 day event they have called Calendimaggio. It seems to be a medieval arts and sports festival/competition between two groups in the city. The city is split in 2 (red and blue). Possibly in the past it was groups of clans. Throughout the city many of the buildings had medieval flags hanging. Certain colours in certain parts of the city. It seems there are 3 groups for each half of the city. I was hoping we would luck being there for it but was then disappointed once I found out we were leaving on the morning of the day it was starting.

I was thinking I was missing out on something that looked like it could be so great (check it out on their website.. just google the name). However, as it turned out I feel like I got a good hint at what it could be like and it was better than not seeing it all. To see the flags was great then we saw costumes hanging out to dry in preparation of the event. A couple of different people in their costumes testing out archery set ups. There were the old carts around and many groups making and preparing for what will be food and drink areas. All very rough and in keeping with the theme. There were several of the frameworks for what looks like it will contain a huge fire. They obviously have a drumming competition involved in heralding the arrival of certain teams. The main piazza had a big stand of seating set up for the viewing of events. (tug of war, cart pulling etc)

Each evening we could hear the drumming and it was so fabulous I really wished I could supply a sample. It would start out soft and slow and in regularly changing rhythms it would build to a crescendo for a bit then soften down again. It was so fantastic that it even had me doing a little jig around the hotel room. All of this, though we could hear it, could not be seen. I think they were practising in enclosed yards so as not to be seen by the opposition. There were times we could heard both groups from each end of the city going at once. Its so hard to explain but as the sound built it was like rolling thunder rolling through the city.

It impressed and excited us enough to plan to come back one year to experience the event.