On a great start to what will probably be a very busy day with events ranging from music,  two art exhibitions and a concert in the theatre this evening,  it was the turn of the children to get the ball rolling.

Luckily it was a fine crisp sunny December morning and so the concert organised outside the main gates of Barga in the area known as Fosso  could not have been better.

The  complete elementary school of Barga with every single child  taking part put on a  musical show this morning  and what an interesting show it was with a fine mix of cultures and traditions.

As we have written many times in the past on barganews,  coming up to the holiday season the main focus of interest is not on Father Christmas but on La Befana.  It is she who brings the children presents if they are good.  It is only recently that the newcomer to the scene -  Father Christmas  has started to put in an appearance.

Today was the perfect mix  and a lovely “snapshot”  of culture in Barga in 2009.

To the obvious delight of the many parents  attending the concert this morning we were treated to children dressed as Father Christmas dancing with other children dressed as La Befana and rows of Santa hatted children singing the traditional Befana song.

So it’s not an either or situation but rather a combination of the two.

In fact if you think about it,  the children have gone it well sorted -  two traditional figures  bearing gifts on two different days -  what could be better ?

[Click here for slideshow]

From the barganews archives: on this day..

• Sculptures by Marco Poma - 2009
• A brief guide to public-option hell - 2009
• Sacco - Presepio builder with a difference - 2008
• A changing world - 2007
• Polenta di neccio and Ossi di maiale - 2007