Madonna Primavera – Lady Spring – will reign in glory over Assisi’s early May festival, Calendimaggio.
On April 30th, five damigelle (damsels) from “Upper” Assisi, La Nobilissima Parte di Sopra (“The Most Noble Part of Upper Assisi”) in elegant medieval dress pastels and bearing bouquets of spring flowers paraded slowly, elegantly into a small piazza near Assisi’s main square, preceded by drummers from Sopra in medieval dress in blue (the color of Sopra).
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The drummers stepped aside to let their Nobilissima Parte de Sopra damigelle head into Piazza Chiesa Nuova, following stately nobilita’ (nobility) walking solemnly behind their banners (for each (of the two Parti have three terzieri – or sections):
They ascended the small stage set up before the Chiesa Nuova where their nobility stood proudly in front of their terzieri banners to the left of the blue and red banner of La Nobilissima Parte de Sopra:
The chairs to the right of the damigelle De Sopra woukd soon be occupied by the young damsels of la Magnifca Parte de Sotto (also preceded into that piazza by their drummers):
The flags of the three terzieri of Sotto rose behind their nobility and flanked the flag of Sotto (that tower rising proudly in the center of the Parte de Sotto banner).
One of the ten lovely young women would be declared “Madonna Primavera” (“Lady Spring”) – veritable “queen” of the festival – during the second day of the festival of Calendimaggio (this year, May 8 – 11). She would be chosen not based on beauty or intelligence or other qualities but after “challenges ” (contests) between the two Parti.
At the presentation of the young damsels, I enjoyed trying to capture their pleasure and excitement at being such an integral part of their Calendimaggio festival:
Viva Sopra!
Viva Sotto!
See here a video about Calendimaggio preparations
See here a video about the passsione of the drummers.
See countless Calendimaggio notes on my blog, simply SEARCHING “Calendimaggio.”
