On Easter morning, an ornate 500-year- old, 30-foot cart is
paraded through the streets of Florence Italy by a team of white
oxen covered with flowers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FmiZNeYbto&feature=fvwrel. The
oxen cart is escorted by men dressed as Roman soldiers, city
officials, musicians and flag-throwers dressed in medieval
costumes from the Porta al Prato to the magnificent Piazza del
Duomo . This annual event is called Lo Scoppio del Carro. This
”Explosion of the Cart” celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus
Christ and a new beginning. After the 11:00 Easter Mass in the
Duomo, the “Explosion of the Cart” will occur in front of the
Baptistery at noon. The cart is pre-loaded with fireworks. A
wire that stretches from the altar inside the Duomo is rigged
with a mechanical dove with an olive branch in her beak called
the “Columbina” (little dove)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LT5qr1xqbKo&feature=related. The
olive branch and the dove symbolize the Holy Spirit as well as
Easter peace. After the parishoners