Although this is a relatively new festival it is gaining in popularity. The Butchers Festival is generally held in the end of October on a Sunday (October 21, 2007). Dario Cecchini, an extremely creative butcher from Panzano is the main inspiration for the success of this festival.

Butchers from all over Italy gather at Panzano at the main piazza and display their products for charity. Visitors have to buy a ticket for the festival. This ticket allows them to sample the wide range of Tuscan specialties on display. Music and a festive atmosphere and excellent dishes for you to sample are at your disposal.

After enjoying all the Tuscan delicacies on a fairly inexpensive ticket you can also feel a sense of satisfaction for contributing a little to The Children’s Hospital Foundation Meyer of Florence as the proceeds are earmarked for this well deserving charity organization.

This is one among the oldest fairs of livestock in Europe. It is generally held in the week of October (October 18) during the Fair of Saint Luke. Its origins date back to thousands of years ago when shepherds stopped here to trade cattle. Others trace the origins of this fair to the Florentines’ pilgrimage to Santa Maria, when food had to be provided for the pilgrims.

This fair is a combination of farming, culture and religion. Every day there are specific events. Tuesday is the day dedicated to agriculture. On Wednesday there is a donkey race. On Thursday there is a horse race and fireworks. Horse trading is an important feature in the fair. There are many interesting stalls selling everything from farm machinery, saddles, to many other diverse items which you can see when you visit the fair. There are also games and stalls for children to enjoy themselves.

The Fair of Saint Luke at Impruneta has been immortalized in art by Jacques Callot in his etching “The fair at L’Impruneta.

Many towns and villages in Italy celebrate carnivals before Ash Wednesday since the period of Lent would then begin. Among these carnivals the most popular one in the Tuscan region is the Carnavale Viareggio.

The Viareggio Carnival includes huge and amazing floats made with paper mache having folk bands and an amazing array of masks. The official mask of the carnival is that of “Burlamacco”, who is a clown wearing clothes borrowed from various other famous masked Italian personalities.

The Viareggio Carnival extends for five days culminating in an extensive display of dazzling fireworks. It is filled with music, songs and dances showcasing the best of amusement, irony and satire. There are masked balls and culturally rich performances at many of the famous discotheques and ballrooms. Restaurants offer special menus and a general festive atmosphere pervades through out the town.

The entire duration of the carnival is a period of abundance in arts, culture and fun. The carnivals in Florence and San Gimignano are smaller in scale. Come with us and enjoy the festivities and fun of a Tuscan Carnival.

Montefioralle is one of the ancient fortified villages in the Chianti region. It is still enclosed within its original walls. Every year on Saint Joseph’s Day in March a Fritelle festival is held in the village.

Fritelles are rice cakes which are fried in oil. In this historic village the fritelles are fried in large cauldron of oil. All fritelles taste sweet and delicious but the ones prepared in the village during the festival are a cut above the rest.

So do visit the picturesque and historic town and enjoy its mouthwatering fritelles.

Bon appetit!!

Epiphany is a festival celebrated across the length and breadth of Italy. Every year it is celebrated on the sixth of January. Italian children love this festival very much as La Befana, a character from Italian folklore, visits Italian children on the night before 6 January and puts sweets in their socks if they are good. If they are not good they may get a lump of coal in their socks. A glass of wine and a few special dishes are laid out by the family for La Bafana.

In the course of the day some children dress up in fancy and creative costumes and do rounds of the neighbourhood hoping to get treats like sweets or even some money.

In Rome the Piazza Navona becomes the square to visit as there is a popular market organized at this central spot. Candies, sweets, toys and charcoal is sold and there is a festive and jolly atmosphere all around. This is a festival especially for children but grown ups also seem to have as much fun as the children.

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