Christmas Bazaar: books, vintage and handmade waiting for Christmas

It is the longest running Christmas fair in Florence but since 2019 due to the pandemic it has been stopped. Now, on 7 and 8 December, the Christmas Bazaar, the charity market organized for 46 years by the volunteers of Ailo – The American International League of Florence ODV, is back in the Tepidarium of the Horticultural Garden. United in the creed «the spirit of giving» or «the spirit of giving», these ladies work all year round to collect a precious «loot» of vintage clothes and accessories, jewellery, handcrafted Christmas decorations, books in Italian and English, toys and objects to be displayed on the stalls of the +benefit market. In fact, the proceeds from the sale are donated entirely to non-profit solidarity associations operating in Florence and in the surrounding areas of the city. «Edition after edition – said the councilor for non-residential assets of the Municipality of Florence, who sponsors the event, Maria Federica Giuliani – this market has become an increasingly important and awaited presence in the city. Solidarity is at the heart of the work of the associates and contributes every year to help the projects of many other associations that operate in the city through the precious work of their handmade and adopt many associations that they support with the proceeds». A moment of solidarity that can also be renewed from year to year.

Among the novelties of this edition immersed in the Christmas atmosphere of the market where the classic American holiday sweets, brownies, are served to a soundtrack of live music, there is in fact the “out of Africa” ​​counter which presents hand-made creations from Africa and a space dedicated entirely to Thailand with its accessories. A charity lottery with prizes is also scheduled, with a stay in the Chianti area and a romantic dinner in a starred restaurant up for grabs, while a performance dedicated to children is scheduled for 8 December: in fact, Santa Claus is expected with a special loaded with sweets. “In recent years – declared the councilor for welfare Sara Funaro – there have been many realities that have had the support of Ailo and this year there will be extremely important answers: among the associations that will benefit from the proceeds there are those that touch on fundamental issues of this historic moment such as disability, mental health, educational therapy. We are therefore going to touch that segment of the population that has been the most affected ever in these years of the pandemic”. The non-profit organization founded in 1975 and awarded for this by the Municipality of Florence with the Marzocco Award supports local associations. Next to the historical ones (Artemisia, Angels of the city, Ithaca, Oratory of San Filippo Neri, AIL Florence, Growing Together, Pantagruel Association and Viva Vittoria Firenze) which during the days of the market will also show visitors the projects they have created thanks to the support of Ailo. In this edition, 4 new realities make their debut. These are the Centro Terapie Educative, Nuova Aurora APS and Fili d’erba, an organization, the latter which has given rise to a project that allows disabled children the opportunity to cultivate their own vegetable garden and sell its fruits market.