Christmas Tree Lighting At The Duomo!

This weekend has been consumed with prepping for finals, memorizing study guides, and enjoying the last few tidbits of Florence. A lot of restaurants and businesses were closed yesterday in Florence due to the celebration of the Immaculate Conception. Since we had only taken a study break once to bake a funfetti cake for study snacks we decided to reward ourselves with a little evening outing. Every year on Decemeber 8, the florentine community gathers in the Piazza del Duomo to kick off the Chirstmas season by lighting the tree! It is very similar to the Rockefeller Center tree lighting that takes place every year in NYC. I have never seen the piazza so crowded before. Me, Mary, Alex, Bri, Gina, and Audrey all gathered on the steps of the Duomo in order to ensure that we would have a good viewing of the festivities. It was funny to watch the people who live right near the Duomo hanging out of their apartment windows with their eyes glued on the crowds of people and the tree that was soon to be lit! The tree lighting festivities began around 5pm just as dusk started to become really dark. Before the tree lighting a few people spoke in Italian as the crowds of people cheered and clapped as the Christmas spirit filled the air. There was band playing and a color guard waving and dancing with the Florentine flag. The entire piazza began to countdown! UNO, DUE, TRE, QUATTRO, CINQUE, SEI, SETTE, OTTO, NOVE, DIECI! And the tree was lit! The white lights sparkled in the cool crisp air as the red florentine symbols blended in and looked like red christmas balls. Standing in the piazza we got rather chilly and decided to go get some of the famous, thick, rich hot chocolate before attending mass. The hot chocolate hit the spot and took the chill out of our bones. We then attended mass at the Duomo. Mass was packed considering it was a holy day of obligation. It was weird to think that was my last time that I would be attending mass at the Duomo. It is such a bittersweet feeling knowing that this time next week I will be back home in America!