The Quintana Games

    Last time I was living in Ascoli, everything revolved around Carnevale.  While I do miss the fried pasta, the beautiful decorations, and the funny costumes, I think I like the current festival even more. Quintana is a fest in Ascoli that is quite strange.  There are six districts, and each district puts forth two young people, a boy and a girl.  The twelve youths fight to the death in Piazza Arringo while us spectators drink our bottles of Peroni and Passeria.... okay, just kidding.  Quintana is (unfortunately) not the Hunger Games.  It IS really fun though, and some would say I'm getting swept up in it.... I would just say passionate.  There really are 6 districts.  My district, the best district, is Sant'Emidio.  Sant'Emedio includes BOTH Piazza del Popolo and Piazza Arringo, therefore including Yoghi, Murph's, Bar Lori, and pretty much everything and everyone I hold dear in my heart.  Not to mention it's named after a saint who got his head cut off and then held onto it.  If that is not team spirit and resilience then I don't know what is.  My second favorite team is Porta Romana, but that could just be because they had an amazing beer festival that I went to this weekend.  Porta Solestà wins all the time, and they're also pretty much the Slytherin of Quintana so I'm not a huge fan of theirs.  My new favorite thing to do in Ascoli is find out what district people live in.

    So while there's not fighting to the death, there are other fun activities.  Like flag throwing!! Flag throwing in fancy costumes!!! Flag throwing in fancy costumes in fancy costumes in 90 degree heat!!!! One guy throws up to five flags and the people watching go crazy.  Remember the bombs at the soccer games?  They're back and more medieval than ever.

Porta Romana, my backup district.

     The biggest day of Quintana is in the first weekend of August, where there's jousting and I can only assume more flag throwing.  Unfortunately I won't be able to be there for my district, but they're always in my heart.  And on my arm, with my new Sant'Emidio tattoo.