Our Lady of Mount Carmel feast returns July 10–21
Street festivals are one of the highlights of summer in New York City. The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (OLMC), more familiarly known as Giglio, is a must see. For 137 years, this feast maintains its old world integrity and charm. The star of the feast may be the legendary four-ton-five-story tower that dances down Havemeyer Street by virtue of united and literal manpower, but the spirit of the community also shines during these dozen summer days. It’s a sensibility that says, “Welcome back, pleased to meet you, happy to see you!” And of course there’s the food, the live music, and carnival rides and games.
The Giglio tower and a ship are lifted and moved by a team of lifters called a paranza. OLMC’s current paranza is comprised of about 325 men, many of whom are following the footsteps of their fathers and grandfathers. The capos lead the lifts, shouting commands so the paranza knows when to turn, move, bounce, and lower their loads. The capos this year are: Danny Vecchiano, Capo #1; Joe Cicileo, Capo #2; and Michael Addeo, Capo #3.
The dancing of the tower and the ship tell the story of the reason for the feast: the celebration of Saint Paulinus of Nola. Many of the Italian immigrants who settled in Williamsburg originated from Nola, and to celebrate and share their heritage they brought this feast to the neighborhood in 1887. Nola, Italy originated the festival; they have several gigli towers.
In brief the Saint Paulinus story that inspired the festival is that as a bishop he took the place of a boy who was abducted into slavery by pirates. This tale of self-sacrifice spread and was heard by a Turkish sultan, who then negotiated the bishop’s release.
The 2024 OLMC Feast centers at North 8th Street and Havemeyer Street and travels along Havemeyer Street and several of the side streets. The schedule of events is: Children’s lift, July 11 from 6:30 p.m.–8 p.m.; Giglio Sunday, July 14, first lift is 1:30 p.m. lifts continue through 5 p.m.; Night Lift, July 17, 7:30 p.m. –10:30 p.m.; Old timers Giglio Sunday, July 21 from 2 p.m.–6 p.m. Live bands perform most nights starting at 7 p.m. and food, games, and rides are usually open by 5 p.m. on weekdays and by noon on weekends.
The Greenline 