The art of flag throwing dates back to medieval guild

Guild

A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...

s (principally in Italy). A guild's banner or flag

Flag

A flag is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually rectangular and used as a symbol, as a signaling device, or decoration. The term flag is also used to refer to the graphic design employed by a flag, or to its depiction in another medium.The first flags were used to assist...

 was considered a symbol of purity, and as such it was not allowed to touch the ground.

There a two major categories of flag throwing: classical and acrobatical. In classical flag throwing, the flag is turned left and right around the body in a standing posture. In acrobatical flag throwing,
the thrower uses both hands to move the flag in a sitting, laying, or kneeling posture.

External links

• Sbandieratori dei Borghi e Sestieri Fiorentini One of the oldest and most famous Italian groups. The site contains descriptions, history, movies and pictures.
• Compagnia Sbandieratori e Musici di Città della Pieve An Italian flag throwing company. The site contains descriptions, movies and pictures of modern flag-throwing exhibitions.
• Flag throwing, on Flags Of The World website.
• SbandierAutori - An italian book on the flag throwers tradition
• Alfieri's "La Bandiera" - Information on Francesco Alfieri's
  Francesco Alfieri
  Francesco Ferdinando Alfieri of Padova was a 17th century master of the Italian school of swordsmanship and “Maestro D’Arme” to the Accademia Delia in Padua in 1640.-Works:Several manuals by Alfieri are known:...
  
  treatise on flag waving, 'La Bandiera', published in 1638