Our Story

Every July, the Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn comes alive with the vibrant tradition of the Giglio Feast. This beloved feast has been a part of the community since 1887, when immigrants from Southern Italy brought their cherished celebrations to their new home in America. Over the years, the feast has preserved many of its old-world traditions while also adapting to life in the United States.

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The Origins of the Feast

In the late 19th century, Italian immigrants from Nola settled in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Like many southern Italians, they had a deep devotion to their faith, particularly to their patron saint, San Paolino (Saint Paulinus). While they first focused on building their new parish, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, they also longed to honor San Paolino. To do so, they formed the Società M.S. San Paolino, a mutual aid society, which organized the first Giglio Feast in Brooklyn in 1903.

For over 50 years, this society, along with The San Paolo Society, managed the feast, keeping their hometown tradition alive in their new country. In the 1950s, the leadership of the festival shifted to The Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, which merged the Giglio Feast with the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Since then, the festival has been celebrated each July, culminating on July 16th, the feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This blending of traditions has created a unique celebration that brings together religious, cultural, and community elements.

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The Story of San Paolino

The feast celebrates a powerful story of sacrifice and devotion. According to legend, around 410 AD, the town of Nola was invaded by North African pirates, who captured many of its young men, including the son of a grieving widow. Seeing her despair, Bishop Paolino courageously offered himself in exchange for the boy and was taken as a slave. His selflessness became widely known, eventually reaching a Turkish sultan, who was so moved by Paolino’s actions that he secured his release, along with the other captives.

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When Paolino returned to Nola, the townspeople greeted him with joy, carrying lilies as symbols of love and purity. This moment inspired an annual celebration, where different trade guilds began creating elaborate displays of lilies. Over time, these displays evolved into towering wooden structures called gigli (Italian for "lilies"), which were paraded through the streets in honor of San Paolino. The Feast in Nola is held annually in June, more information can be found here.

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The Giglio Feast Today

In modern-day Brooklyn, the Giglio Feast continues this centuries-old tradition. The feast's centerpiece is the towering Giglio—standing over 70 feet tall and adorned with flowers, saints, and angels—carried through the streets by over one hundred men. Along with the Giglio, a symbolic boat is also lifted and paraded in celebration of San Paolino’s return to Nola. The event is filled with music, dance, and a spirit of old neighborhood traditions. 

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The Giglio Feast remains a treasured tradition in Brooklyn, uniting generations of Italian Americans and welcoming people of all backgrounds to experience its history, devotion, and vibrant festivities.

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In addition to the Dance of the Giglio, the feast offers all that you've come to expect from an Italian-American feast in NYC—thrilling rides, exciting games, live entertainment, and, of course, delicious food like sausage and peppers, zeppole, and more! We hope that you will come experience the most unique event in NYC this July!