Assisi Local Customs

August 2 - According to the tradition, during a night of 1216, San Francesco received the visit during a prayer inside the Portiuncola from the Christ and of the Saint Mother. Saint Francis asked them to grant to each person who had repented, confessed, and visited this church that all the faults should be completely forgiven.

From this year on, after receiving the authorization directly from the Pontificate Onorio III, on August 2nd takes place in Santa Maria degli Angeli the Celebration of the Pardon. The catholic Catechism establishes nowadays that, in order to receive the plenary indulgence for oneself or a dead person, it is necessary to make a sacramental confession in order to be in the Pardon of the Christ during the week preceding or following August 2nd, to participate to the Mass and to the Eucharistic Communion, to visit the Porziuncola with the profession of faith of the Credo, the reading of "Our Father", of a prayer dedicated to the Pontificate and a prayer for the Pope himself

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Among the folklore events, the Calendimaggio festival is the most famous. It’s a festival of profane origin, during three days and starting on the first Thursday of May (the second Thursday when the first one is the 1st of May) and it will be May 6 this year (2006). It’s the celebration of springtime with an explosion of songs, music, and flowers in which all the people of Assisi participate with accurately reproduced medieval period costumes. May 1 marks the official return of Spring. Dating from the pre-Christian times, this "Calends of May" festival revives the town's folklore and historical traditions. Both the citizens and the town are divided into the "Upper" and the "Lower" city and at this annual festival they commemorate old rivalries in medieval costumes.
The two ancient medieval wards, the "Parte di Sopra" and the "Parte di Sotto", engage in a spectacular challenge which takes the form of theatre shows, concerts, songs and choruses, dances, processions, archery, crossbow and flag-waving displays. The districts compete in a singing contest among the spectacular floral decorations, flags, torches and candle - all accompanied by the proclamation of the "Queen of Spring" and riotous feasting in the taverns.

This "Calendimaggio" reconstructs the medieval military along with the religious and social milieu that marked the conversion of Saint Francis.

Photo 1 of figures that will be displayed during Kalendimaggio.
Photo 2 Street Scene during Calendimaggio
Photo 3 Young residents in medieval costume

Both residents and other tourists will converse very comfortably here - in cafes, on the streets, in front of the various monuments, and by the churches. After Mass a local resident offered us a ride back down to the train station in the lower city once he heard we were headed there. The most lovely human connections seem quite a natural occurrance in this atmosphere.

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One of the elder residents of upper Assisi walked toward me - looked directly at me - and honored me with a full-face smile. One would think the residents might tire of the constant parade of tourists - but noooo, not here in Assisi.

And where do the citizens of Assisi's "upper town" live? Some who are fortunate, indeed, live in a residence such as this. What you do not see in this photo is the wonderous view of the "lower town."

The local police is very helpful and friendly, anything you ask they'll answer you gladely. The police officers seemed to me like they are part of a local touristic stuff! The traffic police use this small Smart car which perfectly matches with the configuration of the town streets.

Assisi is a major pilgrimage destination for the faithful Catholics. You could easily walked pass priest strolling in the streets of Assisi. The Franciscan order can be easily identified with brown robes and only a rope as belt.
Just give them a wave, and they will pose for you. This priest had been rather patient with me as it took me quite a while to get the composition and angle I want.

Since this is the birthplace of St. Francis, you'll likely see some Franciscan friars walking around (look for the brown robes). You might see some nuns too. This town has a lot of religious heritage because of the saints that have lived here, and you'll see the influence of the Catholic Church everywhere you go.