It’s back! The Giglio Society of East Harlem announced this week that the annual celebration will take place this from August 5-8, with a free Freestyle music concert on Friday night, and a Children’s Giglio lift on Saturday, followed by a Sausage & Peppers Eating Contest sponsored by Premio Sausage ~ and Sunday, August 8th,The Giglio Lift! Donations will be collected for the American Cancer Society for Breast Cancer and for the Alzheimer’s Association.
Established in East Harlem in 1908 by Italian immigrants from the town of Brusciano, Italy, this is a tradition that has been carried out in what use to be known as Italian Harlem.
Here is the schedule of events:
6:00P.M. – Feast Opening night –
Lighting of the 2021 Giglio7:00P.M. – House Arrest Band – singing
all your Favorite Hits from the
70s till TodayFriday August 6
7:00P.M. – “Freestyle for a Cure” Concert
Featuring:
SOAVE, FASCINATION & TONASIA
performing live!!
with DJ Agostino & DJ Lou Toro
& MC John Luciano
12:00PM – Sant’ Antonio Procession6:00pm- Sausage & Peppers Eating Contest
Sponsored by PREMIO SAUSAGE
to the children in attendance
who will be lifting the
children’s giglio7:00pm – Dancing of the Children’s Giglio8:00pm – Louis & Joann & the Uptown band
performing your favorites
from the 50s, 60s, till today!
12:00PM – Paranza Mass at Our lady
of mt carmel shrine church1:30pm- first lift & dancing of
the Giglio di Sant Antonio6:00pm – Music & entertainment
by DJ Lou Toro of Planet DJs
& MC John Luciano 6-11pm
The first East Harlem Giglio took place on East 106th Street, and grew to become one of the largest street fairs in America. In 1957, the festival moved a few blocks north to 108th Street to accommodate the growth, and remained there until 1971, when it moved to the Bronx, returning home to East Harlem in 2000,
Now located on Pleasant Avenue between 114th Street and 116th Street, the annual festival is held on the second weekend of August. Each year, participants create a new Giglio from scratch, using the specifications of the Maestro di Festa (or Master of Ceremonies), with special attention to the Papier-mâché face, traditionally adorned with saints and colorful flowers.
Never been? All the Giglio rituals are explained out on the East Harlem Giglio website, including ~ Who will be this year’s #1 Capo? Who builds the Giglio each year? What songs are traditionally played? Who will be carrying the Giglio? Where is the parade?
And who will be carrying The Giglio is important, since the 82-foot-high Giglio and can weigh 3 tons ~ not counting the band and instruments. So, it takes between 80-100 people.
Follow East Harlem Giglio on their website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
The Annual Feast of The Giglio is presented by Giglio Society of East Harlem of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine Church, and held on Pleasant Avenue between 114th-116th Streets in East Harlem.
We found a wonderful website with much more on this important Italian East Harlem tradition.
The Tradition Continues ~ See You There!
Read about past events and activities in East Harlem. Don’t get lost ~ get an East Harlem Map!