I currently reside in an Italian neighborhood in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Most people on my block are third or fourth generations of their families. I live on the second floor of a three-story townhouse, sandwiched between an Italian family. My landlord, his wife and their two kids live below me, while my landlord’s sister, her husband and their daughter live above me. It makes a great and friendly community. Plus the aroma of meatballs and macaroni on Sunday evening is to die for.

Yesterday marked the beginning of an event that is more anticipated by the Italians here than the Superbowl or the World Cup. My landlord has been counting down the days and yesterday he couldn’t hide that boyish glint in his eye when he told me about the Giglio Feast.

Imagine an 8-story statue of the Virgin Mary sitting on a large steel platform with a 15-man band playing anything from traditional Italian songs to the Rocky theme song. Now, place that 8-story statue and band on the shoulders of about 100 men parading through Williamsburg. Add beer and Italian food and you’ve got the annual Giglio Feast! I agree with my landlord. This is way more entertaining than any football game.

Of course, this originated from somewhere. Many immigrants from Nola, Italy settled in the parish of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, here in Williamsburg, during the 1800s. The first annual feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel began in 1887. About a decade later, a group of Nola immigrants formed a Sao Paolo society. It was during this time that the first Giglio dance occurred. I’m not quite sure if this dance included the statue yet. Sometime later, the dance and feast merged themselves into one great festival that lasts about two weeks every summer. The feast occurs simultaneously in different places of New York, including Brooklyn, Long Island and Manhattan.

Yesterday the food stands opened but Sunday is the day of the Giglio dance! I shall keep you posted.

-Courtney Centeno, account executive