Calendimaggio is Assisi’s most important lay event: even today, four days of celebrations are held with music, parades, challenges between the districts and costumed processions.
Assisi’s Calendimaggio is the most popular lay event and the entire town takes part.
Its origins lie in ancient pagan rites that celebrated the return of spring and a renewed joy for life after the cold, winter days.
The citizens used to celebrate with songs, dances and serenades beneath the young ladies’ balconies. These customs, already documented at the time of St. Francis, have continued over the centuries and are the foundations that inspire today’s Calendimaggio.
The ancient chronicles tell us that Assisi had reached the height of its splendour in the early fourteenth century. This is confirmed by the extension of the town walls, the castles it possessed, its magnificent churches and the great master artists working in the town, such as Giotto, Cimabue and Simone Martini.
This is the time when the town was divided into the two parts “Parte de Sotto” and “Parte de Sopra”, each belonging to the rival families of Fiumi and Nepis, respectively who competed for control over the town.
Despite lengthy struggles, the desire to celebrate spring continued every May, when clashes and rivalty were abandoned for a few days.
Although it has kept its association with music and song, since 1954 the Calendimaggio festival in Assisi has transformed into a passionate challege in mediaeval costume between the two “Parts” of the town: the Very Noble Parte de Sopra and the Magnificent Parte de Sotto, corresponding with the two upper and lower areas of the urban layout.
Over the first Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday after 1 May, the two factions face each other in a four-day challenge focused on music, song, commemorations of historic life in the town’s narrow streets, parades and processions inspired by themes from mediaeval culture and literature.
At the end of the contest, an appointed jury evaluates the history, music and theatre offered and announces the winning “Part” and awards it the sought-after “Palio” of the town.
The long, preparatory phase before the festival, together with the strong emotional commitment that distinguishes it, is vivid evidence of how important Calendimaggio is for Assisi and helps reaffirm the town’s identity.
