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Williamsburg is buzzing with preparations for its 112th Our Lady of Mount Carmel Giglio Feast, a 12-day religious event that’s been taking over the streets of North Brooklyn since 1903.

In a neighborhood that would be unrecognizable to residents of years past, the festival is a welcome throwback to Brooklyn’s older Italian roots. The Giglio Feast is not only older than Little Italy’s San Gennaro Festival, it’s more authentic.

The street fair and festivities began Wednesday night and will continue through July 19th at North 8th and Havermeyer Street (near the Lorimer L). The next 12 days will feature a variety of events, bands and community rituals. The main event is “Giglio Sunday,” when the main procession and feast take place. It happens Sunday, July 12.

The main attraction is the lifting of a wood boat replica called the Moorish Galleon, and the Giglio — a four-ton, 72-foot tower that’s brightly painted and topped with a statue of San Paulino, the Feast’s patron saint. During Sunday’s procession, as they’ve been doing for over a century, 100 men will gather to lift the structures and carry both through the streets. They’re joined by bands and a prestigious parade leader called the capo.

 

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The tale goes that in the fifth century, the Italian village of Nola (near Naples) was captured by North African conquerors who took the men as slaves. Two years later, the Bishop of Nola, San Paulino, managed to free himself and the other men. Their boat was met with celebration by the women of the village who waved lilies (giglios).

The 12 days of the Giglio Feast re-create and honor those events.

The Feast benefits The Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and is filled with everything from rides, to food (think fried oysters, steak sandwiches, and fried clams), to music, as well as a host of religious events including masses and benedictions.

 

A photo posted by @olmcfeast on Jul 8, 2012 at 3:44pm PDT

  Learn more about the history of Giglio Feast and how it found its way from Italy in this Neighborhood Slice short from NYC TV:     The Giglio Feast is a glimpse into the world of Brooklyn’s Italian past. For even more on its history, as well as a schedule of events, head to OLMCfeast.com.

A photo posted by @olmcfeast on Oct 23, 2014 at 8:14am PDT

A photo posted by @olmcfeast on Nov 6, 2014 at 9:37am PST

A photo posted by @olmcfeast on Nov 13, 2014 at 11:30am PST


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