The low, deliberate beat of the drums comes first, distantly reverberating off the high stone walls like a pulsating heartbeat. Louder and louder they thump as the procession approaches. Finally, they turn the corner with a flourish of flamboyant flags, the silk ensigns languidly swinging, rolling and tossing behind them. The sbandieratori have arrived, bringing with them years of training and a centuries-old art form for this moment. So why do Italians throw flags and what do they signify?
The origins of the art of flag throwing, like many Italian traditions, lie deeply buried in the mists of time. The Federazione Italiana Sbandieratori, a cultural association of flag bearers formed 50 years ago to promote the art, cites Assyrian, Babylonian and Roman military traditions as the possible roots for the craft.
