On Ascension Day in Florence, Italy, crowds gather in the Cascine—a public park along the banks of the Arno River—to celebrate the Festa del Grillo, or Cricket Festival, the chirping cricket being a traditional symbol of spring. Food stalls are set up in the park, and there are balloons and other souvenirs for sale. People used to catch their own crickets, but today they buy them in brightly painted cages. The children carry their crickets through the park and later hang the cages outside their windows. If the grillo sings to them, it means they’ll have good luck. Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary