Il Regno

August 12, 2013

A Look at the 2013 Feast of the Giglio di Sant'Antonio, East Harlem, New York

Viva Sant'Antonio!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

By Giovanni di Napoli

Bruscianese pride, devotion and brawn were on display in East Harlem on Sunday for the annual Feast of the Giglio di Sant'Antonio. Hundreds gathered outside historic Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine Church to partake in the festivities and honor Brusciano's glorious patron, Saint Anthony of Padua, "the Lily of Lisbon."

The giglio

Needless to say, the Giglio Society of East Harlem really know how to throw a party! In addition to all the delicious food and beverages, there were plenty of fun rides for the kids, spectacular music and, of course, the giglio, a towering structure of wood and papier-mâché crowned with a statue of the saint.

The lifting, or dancing, of the giglio is an old-world tradition originating in the 5th century in Campania. Immigrants brought the custom to East Harlem from Brusciano back in the early 1900s. It moved for a time to the Bronx, but the celebration was brought back to Harlem thirteen years ago. Thankfully, the Bronx just recently renewed its giglio tradition.

This year's giglio facade was a gift from l'Associazione Giglio della Gioventù from Brusciano. Resembling a church interior, it was shipped over in sections and reassembled by the Giglio Society. Proudly paraded around the parish on the shoulders of a hundred men, its exquisite design and craftsmanship was most impressive.

As always, it was nice to see some old friends and familiar faces. I'm grateful to the Giglio Society of East Harlem for preserving our culture and religious traditions. Events like these help keep the bonds of family and community alive.

Luckily we get to do it again next weekend at the Feast of San Rocco.

Members of the Giglio Society of East Harlem carry

Saint Anthony from the outdoor chapel to the church for Mass

Tenor Jimmy Alleva and the Danny Vecchiano Giglio Band

did a rousing rendition of the National Anthem

Marching towards the church

The giglio was rockin'

Above and below: A labor of love and devotion

A good time was had by all

Another look at the giglio

The ladies join in...

...and make it look easy

The Feast helps raise money to fight breast cancer

The giglio wasn't the only masterpiece on hand:

Sausage and peppers from Cuzzin Vinny's Sausage Stand

Insalata di frutti di Mare from Tony Pesce

Wood oven pizza Napoletana from Sanducci's

August 8, 2013

A Look at the 125th Annual Feast of Our Lady of Snow, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (Part 2)

Evviva Maria!

Final preparations are made before Monday's celebration

Children release balloons to honor the Madonna

Members of the Our Lady of Snow Ladies Auxiliary carry the Blessed Mother

to San Sabino. The ritual is a reenactment, albeit on a much smaller scale,

of the centuries-old tradition that takes place in Sanza

San Sabino escorts the Madonna through the streets of Williamsburg

Members of the San Sabino Society join in the festivities

The standard bearer is all smiles

The procession makes its way down Graham Avenue

Who else but Danny Vecchiano and the Giglio Band?

Inside the San Sabino Society social club is a wonderful mural

of San Sabino watching over Sanza by Frank Prisco (2008)

After Mass members of the Our Lady of Snow and San Sabino societies

pose with local dignitaries outside Saint Francis of Paola Church

A float carries the "figli di Madonna della Neve"

Above and below: Residents offer refreshments to members of the procession

Above and below: Personal shrines are set up along the parade route

During the closing ceremony banners and flags are returned to the hall

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

August 7, 2013

Feast of San Donato di Arezzo

San Donato di Arezzo, ora pro nobis

August 7th is the Feast of San Donato di Arezzo, Bishop and Martyr. Born in Nicomedia, a Greek city in Asia Minor, he moved to Rome with his family and studied to become a cleric. After the persecution and death of his parents during the reign of Julian the Apostate, he fled to Arezzo in central Italy, where he was ordained a deacon and eventually became the town's bishop.

Many miracles are attributed to San Donato, including curing a child of epilepsy and slaying a dragon. However, none are more popular than the story of the broken chalice. According to tradition, a group of pagans stormed into church during Mass and smashed a glass chalice. Donato calmly gathered the pieces, save one missing shard, and put the vessel back together. Despite having a hole in the bottom, he filled the glass with wine without spilling a drop. Having witnessed this miracle, the unbelievers converted to Christianity.

Not long after this incident, Donato was denounced and arrested for practicing magic by Quadraziano, the local prefect. Suffering many cruel tortures he refused to renounce his faith and was condemned to death. Put to the sword, San Donato was martyred on August 7th, 362 AD.

Widely venerated throughout Southern Italy, San Donato is one of the principal patrons of Monteforte Cilento (SA), Contursi Terme (SA), San Donato di Lecce (LE), San Donato Val di Comino (FR), San Donato di Ninea (CS) and Fossacesia (CH), among others. In celebration, I'm posting a prayer to San Donato. The accompanying photo was taken at Most Precious Blood Church, National Shrine of San Gennaro in New York City's Little Italy. Evviva San Donato di Arezzo!

Prayer to San Donato

Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that the examples of San Donato di Arezzo may effectually move us to reform our lives; that while we celebrate his festival, we may also imitate his actions. Look upon our weakness, almighty God, and since the burden of our own deeds weighs heavily upon us, may the glorious intercession of San Donato protect us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

A Look at the 10th Annual Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Bergen Beach, Brooklyn

Evviva Maria!

Photos by New York Scugnizzo

The Feast of the Madonna del Carmine at Saint Bernard's Church in Bergen Beach, Brooklyn culminated on Sunday with Mass and a procession through the neighborhood. The four day celebration was jam-packed with great entertainment, delicious southern Italian delicacies, and amusing games and rides for the children.

Each Feast is special in its own way, but what I really enjoyed the most about this one was the traditional dances from Calabria. It's not every day I get to see the tarantella calabrese performed live, and the fact that it was done by partygoers and not professional dancers made it all the more special.

Neapolitan tenor Antonio Guarna sings a fabulous rendition of Ave Maria

After Mass, Most Reverend Raymond Chappetto

and the clergy begin the procession

The Giglio Band leads the parade

Participants had a great time

Wending our way through the neighborhood

After the procession members of the Gioiosa Marina Social Club

pose for a picture with Bishop Chappetto

Above and below: Menfolk perform the viddaneddha,

a traditional dance of Marina di Gioiosa Ionica

Women and children join in the fun

Several variations of the tarantella were on display

The festivities continued into the night

August 5, 2013

Feast of the Madonna della Neve

Madonna della Neve, ora pro nobis

August 5th is the Feast of the Madonna della Neve, patroness of Sanza in the Provincia di Salerno. In celebration, I'm posting a Prayer to Our Lady of the Snow. The photos were taken at Saint Francis of Paola Church (219 Conselyea Street) in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

According to tradition, in 352 AD a wealthy Roman patrician named Giovanni who was without child wanted to donate his fortune to a worthy cause. Unsure what to do, he prayed for a sign. On the night of August 5th the Blessed Mother visited him in a dream and told him, "Where you see the snow you are to build a church."

The next morning the perplexed man sought council with Pope Liberius. He was astounded to learn that the Holy Father had the same dream. Seeing how it was a sweltering August day they were uncertain as to what it meant. However, any confusion they may have had was soon put to rest when they spotted snow on the summit of the Esquiline Hill.

There, beneath the blazing sun, they discovered a blanket of snow in the shape of a church. Liberius staked the perimeter and Giovanni, having received his sign, generously financed the building of a new house of worship, which today is the Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, one of Rome's most beautiful jewels.

* * *

Further south, in the Vallo di Diano, a Greek couple, Ermete and Sophia, sealed a wooden statue of the Madonna in a grotto on Mount Cervati, the highest mountain in Campania.

Years later, while tending his flock, a young shepherd noticed something unusual. Whenever one of his sheep passed the wall of the grotto it would pause and kneel. News of this phenomenon quickly spread and the citizens of nearby Sanza and Piaggine came to investigate.

Breaching the wall they discovered the sacred icon. Because the grotto was on the border of both communes, a dispute quickly arose between the towns over who the rightful owner was. A judge was brought in to decide.

First he ordered the people to return to their respective towns. Then they were to ring their church bells. Whichever town's bells were the loudest would win possession of the statue. Surprisingly, on account of it being farther away, Sanza's bells were heard clearly and distinctly while Piaggine's not at all.

The Sanzesi triumphantly carried back the statue to their hometown.Because this took place on August 5th, the Lady of the Grotto was called Our Lady of the Snow.

A shrine was built outside the cave and each year Sanza relives the miraculous discovery. The menfolk carry the Madonna della Neve to the chapel on the mountaintop, and there she'll stay for nine days until the morning of August 5th when they return with her for the Festa.

Evviva San Sabino!

Extremely popular, pilgrims from all over will join the Sanzesi in their centuries-old celebration. The more venturesome partake in the long arduous procession through rugged terrain from the chapel to the town. At the gate, Sanza's co-patron San Sabino is brought out to escort the Madonna to the Chiesa di Sant Maria Assunta for Mass.

The rest of the day is spent with family and friends, eating local delicacies, enjoying one another's company, or just relaxing in the bucolic countryside of the Valdiano.

Prayer to Our Lady of the Snow

Oh, Most Holy Mary of the Snow, our sweet mother, our advocate and protectress, you are our Queen. We are your children and want to be yours forever. Under your patronage we are sure of obtaining all your help and graces.

Cover us with your celestial mantle and guide us along the paths of life. May your peace, love and harmony reign in our midst. Bless our families, near and far, with your graces.

Be vigilant over our children and guide them towards goodness and virtue. Under your protection, we hope that at death, we shall be invoking you name and that of your beloved son Jesus, and that we shall be together forever, one day in Heaven, as we are today on earth. Amen.

~ Giovanni di Napoli, August 4th, Feast of San Benedetto il Moro