This is amazing!

Every year on the last Sunday of August, the small town of Palmi, Italy has a beautiful Catholic festival called the Varia di Palmi.

Celebrating the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the centerpiece of the festival is something like a huge parade float that has a woman dressed as Our Lady riding several stories above the ground. Given the way she’s attached to the float, it almost looks like she’s flying in the air down the street!

The festival dates back to the late 16th century. A relic of the Virgin Mary (a strand of her hair) was given to the town during an outbreak of the plague, and, in gratitude for the help, the town started the festival.

Here’s an amateur video of the amazing event:

Here’s a picture of the relic, a strand of the Virgin Mary’s hair:

Palminellafede, Wikimedia Commons,
Palminellafede, Wikimedia Commons,

Here’s a picture of the event in 1938:

Public Domain, Wikipedia
Public Domain, Wikipedia

And here are a few pictures from the event in 2013:

Karlos80, Wikipedia,
Karlos80, Wikipedia,

Karlos80, Wikipedia,
Karlos80, Wikipedia,

Palminellafede, Wikipedia,
Palminellafede, Wikipedia,

Don’t you wish you could be there?

[See also: Why Was Mary “Assumed” While Jesus “Ascended”? The Answer Matters]

[See also: What Mary Looked Like, According to the Newly Approved San Nicolás Vision]

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