Giglio Feasts - USA

Brooklyn Feast - Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church

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                          Williamsburg Brooklyn, 1962
During the late 1800's, many immigrants from Italy and especially Nola settled in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn in the parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In 1887, the first annual feast of Our Lady of Mt Carmel was held in and around the July 16 Saint day of Our Lady.

Some time shortly after the turn of the 1900's, many of the Nolani immigrants formed a San Paolo society in honor of San Paolino of Nola. It is understood that the first Giglio to be danced in America was by this society some time around 1907.

The San Paolo society of Brooklyn held their feast around the June 22 Saint day of San Paolino down the block from today's location of Our Lady of Mt, Carmel church on the corner of Metropolitan and Havemeyer. Both festivals continued for many years up to around the early 1940's when World War II put a several year pause to the festivals in Williamsburg.

Then in 1954, after WWII was over, a group of men who eventually became known as 'The Outlaws' banded together and reinstated the Giglio feast in Williamsburg. For several years they held their celebration just a few weeks just shy of the Mt Carmel feast.

In 1957, after much debate, the 2 festivals joined together to become what has become known as The Cooperative Feast of Our Lady of Mt Carmel and San Paolino di Nola. The intent of the cooperative feast was to hold the single feast over a several week period between June 22 and July 16th. Over the years the length of the feast has varied from as long as 3 weeks to it current format of just under 2 weeks.. What has remained a constant over the years is the date of the last day of the feast which is July 16, Our Lady of Mt Carmel day. This day pays witness to processions of Our Lady through the parish neighborhood, where scapulars of the Blessed Mother are distributed out.

The Feast normally opens on the Wednesday or Thursday prior to the first Sunday in July. On the first Saturday of the feast, the celebration known as La Questa takes place. La Questa is the handing out of bread throughout the street of Brooklyn in symbolic remembrance of San Paolino giving away all his earthly possession for a life of celibacy. 

                                                                                                            Williamsburg Brooklyn, 1956
La Questa officially begins at 10am with the blessing of the bread, but in actuality the day starts much earlier with the bread committee picking up the bread at the bakery. Then everyone starts to congregate for breakfast in the yard of Jimmy & Lucy Smith sometime after 8am. The Giglio band arrives at around 9:30 playing favorite feast songs, providing the inspiration the La Questa participants need to spend the day walking the nationhood distributing the bread.

Throughout the day, three groups of La Questa participants along with a band march up and down the streets of the North Side, South Side and Greenpoint sections. At various homes throughout the neighborhood, the members are invited in to enjoy refreshments and relax a few moments before returning to the midday heat of the blacktop pavement. The day usually ends around 4pm with the return of all three groups to the church while the band strikes up one more song for all to enjoy.

The first Sunday is more commonly known as Giglio Sunday - a day tens-of-thousands 'Giglio Junkie' dream of  impatiently all year round.

The day begins at 9am with the Capo's Parade. Here, a procession lead by the head clergy men of the parish, marching through the neighborhood picking up various dignitaries including the Turk, the apprentice Capo's, the feast General Chairman and lastly - the No. 1 Capo. From here the procession returns back to the church for the 'Standing Room Only' Giglio mass at 11am.

                                 Williamsburg, Brooklyn, 1954
Upon exiting the church after the mass at around 12 noon, the street is filled with many anxious spectators arriving early for the scheduled first lift at 1pm. This gives many the chance the time to catch up with old friends and relatives as well as indulge in a few great Italian festival delights such as an Sausage and Peppers hero and some hot Zeppoles!

Meanwhile the Giglio Band and the Paranza (or lifters) make their way down to Bamonte's yard for a quick breakfast before returning to kick off the festivities. The first lift is preceded by the blessing, as well as the American and Italian national anthems. Then the No. 1 Capo takes his place in front of the Giglio and gets to enjoy a moment he has waited some 30-plus years for.

Giglio Sunday also sees the dancing of the Boat, a second moving monument in the shape of a boat that symbolizes San Paolino's return from captivity with the men of the town of Nola. Both the Giglio and the Boat are danced through out Giglio Sunday which normally runs to approximately 5pm. Afterwards, the Paranza are treated to a meal in the basement of the church auditorium. 

Several other feast highlights during the 10-14 day festival include the dancing of the Children Giglio, where over 100 boys and girls mimic their fathers by dancing a 20-plus foot high replica of the larger Giglio. In addition, a second Sunday known as Old-Timer's Sunday takes place the week after Giglio Sunday. Here just the Giglio is danced for several hours, commanded by past No. 1 Capo's of the feast who are honored for their love, devotion and guidance they have demonstrated over the years.