Today is the Feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel. A really big day for us Italian=Americans.
Each year in Corona new york, where my paternal grandparents lived there would be grand street festival. The food was abundant trays of sausage and peppers, brown paper bags of hot zeppole covered with powder sugar, tranches of pizza, various home made wine booths. Loud music with men crooning neapolitan love songs. Italian ices served by the Italian Ice King of Corona. There were never ending bocce games, bright lights and carnival rides.
But most importantly there was the procession with the statue of Our Lady. The statute was life size and usually stood in the right nave of a little chapel, that was a mission from st. leo's church. The statute had a series of garments that would be changed each year in the days leading up to the Feast. A novena was made and during the none days of the Novena the "widowers would sit near the statute to receive the donations. The dollar bills were "prayerfully"pinned to the garments of Our Lady. No one and I mean no one was allowed to touch that statue lest you received the wrath of the widows. During the afternoon of the feast day the statute would be placed on a "sled" and carried in procession through the streets of Corona by young men. one of the widows on the " again to "sled"to receive and protect. Music would be played by band that consisted of brass horns and drums. The streets were full. There was little chance of trouble because the "boys from the social club" always had an eye out. I loved the days of the Festa . I looked forward to it each years and miss it dearly!
Buona Festa
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