The Wooden Spoon Fair

This fair takes place from 9^th to 11^th September, that is at the end of the Summer. It has probably got something in common with all those old festivals which celebrated the end of the good season by thanking God for the harvest.

It used to be and still is a big fair even if it was more important in the past as it was an occasion for all peasants to come to town and sell their products and buy something new. In fact, you could find articles ranging the whole production of the town and surroundings. Arezzo has been a rural town for centuries specialising in oil and wine and here the best equipment for the wine cellar or the oil mill was on display. There was of course a good number of farm machinery.  In the areas up in the mountains people were very good at working wood. Wood was used for making furniture and any other tool that was useful at home, from spoons to bowls or sieves. There were also articles in wicker, such as baskets, chairs or armchairs.

Food and sweets stalls were there too, so that visitors could have a moment of rest while going round the fair. You could choose among the local specialities: a roll with some slices of roasted pig, a good Florentine beefsteak, some sausages,  some ham or salami to eat later at home; some biscuits, some homemade cakes with pine-seeds, dried fruits and freshly made almond brittle.

This tradition has gone on for decades. The fair was first held in Piazza Sant'Agostino but has slowly invaded the streets nearby as the market grew bigger. Nowadays it covers a wide area and reaches the streets near the Arena Eden. Even if there are other products too - including clothes, shoes, flowers, linen as in any market - it still retains its old peculiar flavour.