The Florentine Lantern Festival (La Festa della Rificolona) takes place annually on September 6-7, on the eve of the feast of the birth of Our Lady, in the Italian city Florence.

This colorful holiday attracts many tourists to the city, as on this day there is a medieval fair and a night procession, a carnival with paper lanterns.

The procession takes place on the night of September 6-7. A cardinal walks ahead of the procession. Behind him are dressed up locals with lit candles in paper lanterns. The procession begins near Santa Croce Church on Piazza Santa Croce. Then people move towards Piazza Santissima Annunziata. At the very end of the procession, everyone launches lanterns into the sky.

At the very end, all the lanterns are launched into the sky

Residents of Florence have been celebrating the Lantern Festival for a very long time, dating back to the 16th century. It is not known for certain where this tradition came from.

By the way, Florence at night is very beautiful.