THE "Citta di Piansano" FLAG THROWERS "Flag throwing is an art and at the same time a show with great visual effect, the result of the fantasy and creativity of the athletes." (source: www.sbandieratoripiansano.it) The art of flag throwing has political roots: during the Middle Ages the noblest knight would lead his forces into battle, carrying a banner bearing his coat of arms or symbol. Special pre-arranged movements of the flags conveyed coded messages between the battalions. City guilds also adopted the use of flags in the Middle Ages (a custom continued by organisations to this day). There a two basic types of flag throwing: classical and acrobatical. Classical flag throwing involves moving the flag around your body while standing still; acrobatical flag throwing involves to move the flag in a sitting, laying or kneeling posture. The flag must never be allowed to fall to the ground (a throw-back to Mediaeval days when the standard had to be kept flying during a battle to keep morale high). The "Città di Piansano" association currently has 27 members, aged between 10 and 25. The troupe was first formed in 1993 to provide entertainment during the "St. Bernardino" pageant in Piansano (third Sunday in May). The "Città di Piansano" flag throwers have won the ITALIAN CHAMPIONSHIP for the last five years (2002-2003-2004-2005-2006) and travel around Italy and Europe on a regular basis.