Giglio Feasts - USA

Feast Facts and Information

Home | Origin & History | What is a Giglio | Feast Dignitaries & Hierarchy

Picture this...
...over 100 men carrying a hand-built, papier-mâché statue some 7 stories tall on their shoulders including a 12 piece band and dancing it in honor of a man, San Paolino di Nola who lived in the 5 century AD. The Giglio which is Italian for Lily is the name of this statue, and is the time-honored tradition of people from the Neapolitan region of Italy. Click here for more on What is a Giglio.
(Picture on Left: 1962 Dance of the Giglio from Williamsburg, Brooklyn)

The Dance of the Giglio celebration was brought to America by the descendants of Nola, Brusciano and Berra, Italy back in the late 1800's/early 1900's timeframe when many Italian immigrants from southern Italy migrated to America with the promise and hope for a better way of life. For the complete Origin and History of the Dance of the Giglio festivals, click here...

For the Dance of the Giglio feast to take place, a hierarchy of Dignitaries have been established over the years. These Feast Dignitaries are each assigned a rank in the feast and have specific responsibility during the Dance of the Giglio festival and especially on Giglio Sunday, the day the Giglio is danced. For more information on the Hierarchy of Feast Dignitaries and the roles they play, click here...
(Picture on Right: 1954 Dance of the Giglio from Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Tommy Bello Archieves)

Annually, there are a total of 3 Giglio festivals held each year in America; they are located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, East Harlem Manhatten and Massapequa, Long Island. Another 3 Gigli festivals are held in Italy in the towns of Berra, Brusciano and the origin and birth place Nola, For more information on these Other Locations, Click here...
(Picture on Left: 1996 Dance of the Giglio, Nola Italy)