The sawdust mats

The Corpus Christi celebrations in Camaiore are very heartfelt and are celebrated in two days of great participation. It all begins on Saturday evening when citizens, without difference of age, meet to make - among the streets of the historic center - large carpets of colored sawdust, called "chaff" in the local dialect. These are carpets up to tens of meters long, the preparation of which begins many months in advance, starting with the selection of a theme and subjects, obviously always religious. Perforated plywood panels are then prepared and used as molds; while sawdust and anilines dissolved in water are used for the colors, resulting in many shades of color. However, the time to admire these extraordinary works of art is short; a few hours after finishing them, on Sunday morning, the solemn Corpus Christi procession is held, which passing right over the carpets will leave only a memory of them.