This particular festival has ancient origins. It began at the time of the Crusades when there was the Easter-time tradition of distributing a flame from the Holy Land to the people of the city. Later, the idea of a cart to transport the flame, which burned on a tripod, was introduced.
Today, the cart is drawn by white oxen on Easter day from Piazzale del Prato to the cathedral of Florence. Once it is positioned in front of the church, a metal wire is connected, through the open doors, to the main alter. A replica of a dove with an olive branch in its beak and a lit fuse, is released from the alter and it slides along the wire to ignite the fireworks on the cart.
According to tradition, if the lighting of the cart comes off well, a good year is predicted for the city of Florence.