The clock on the Duomo above Barga Vecchia strikes midnight and the celebrations start in earnest for the coming of the new year. Some the revellers had come well prepared with bottles of sparkling wine, spumante and even the odd bottle of champagne spotted this evening but the stars of the show were once again as in every year, the pyrotechnics firing off all over Barga.
SO just what is it with all this noise making at New Years Eve ? Apparently it goes back to pagan concepts of making lots of noise to scare away the evil spirits lurking around. Evil spirits hate loud noise and hence people explode fireworks and cheer aloud to send the evil spirits away. It is for this reason that church bells are rung at midnight. People want to begin the New Year free from evil spirits. Not sure just how many people up at the Duomo this evening had pagan thoughts in their head but still it was a spectacular show anyway.
no images were found
Click on the link below to get some idea of just what it was like standing in the crowd looking out across the valley as the fireworks went off almost blocking out the sound of the bells from the Duomo.
Then as the last of the fireworks finally fizzled out over the city, the crowd started to move back down the hill to the Barga Jazz Club where once again they had organised il “dopocena” di capodanno with Electrovisions -- Andrea Guzzoletti, Simone Venturi, Renato Cantini and Giuseppe Jos Venturi, followed by a healthy helping of Miz Dior and his DJ set.
no images were found
To be sung to the tune of “Midnight at the Oasis” by Maria Muldaur.
Midnight up at the Duomo,
Send the moglie to bed,
Open another bottle, gonna get right out of my head!
I know you only just got here,
But we can have some fun,
So light up another rocket, the party’s just begun!
New Year, Santa he’s long gone,
Bet he’s parking his sleigh,
Let’s stroll down to the Osteria, where we can sing and play.
Come on, the night will hide it all,
and you can do as you please,
Come on, it’s only once a year, just hope that you don’t freeze!
Tomorrow, you’ll be feeling fine,
After that first beer,
Tomorrow, you’ll be feeling fine, and welcome the new year……………welcome the new year!
Midnight etc…
Geoff.
Well Happy New Year everyone! Sorry I was not there last night. WIsh I was! Here’s to a happy healthy new year, and a successful one too!