East Harlem, New York

Italian Harlem also called East Harlem

It seems as though I can't stop talking about the old neighborhood, East Harlem, especially when it comes to the Italian Feast of Mount Carmel on First Avenue. This was one of the most exciting experiences, that I always looked forward to in the summer, during my childhood days. We never missed a feast. The whole family went, and what a great time we had. There was something special about the feast that seemed to stand out. The first whiff of fried Zeppole mixed with the irresistible alluring aromas of Italian delights, carried by the summer breeze, would make anyone's head giddy. Masses of people standing in lines would wait anxiously for their turn , hoping there was enough food treats to satisfy every one's long awaited taste buds. Yummy, yum...drool. Finally there in front of us, among the delicious Italian delicacies, were the enticing Zeppoles (fried dough sprinkled with powdered sugar). You never saw a bunch of kids devour so quickly those Zeppoles, and walk away grinning from ear to ear with powdered mustaches. This I could still remember.

Forty-three year old , Italian American first generation, Al Guerra, grew up in East Harlem, who followed the feast every summer. Although He currently lives in Florida with his wife and three children, he still travels to East Harlem every year for the Feast. Al Guerra has managed to put together a fascinating website about the Feast of Mt. Carmel .This is a wonderful website dedicated to the people who helped make this great festive tradition possible. This website portrays a yearly tradition that has been in existence among the Italian Immigrants since 1881 and will continue to exist even into the future. Lots of research , photos and valuable historical information has been invested by its webmaster in the preparation of this website. A definite must see. Please visit their photo gallery for pictures of the feast.

One of the many outstanding features of his website is Gerald Meyer's article on "Italian Harlem":

"Italian Harlem--which was located on Manhattan's east side between 96th Street and 125th Street from Lexington Avenue to the East River-at its height in 1930 was home to eighty-nine thousand first- and second-generation Italian Americans. Its large population. (see original article for the rest)

Another important website which I would like to mention that is dedicated to Italian Traditions, the Giglio di San Antonio in East Harlem, which is an Italian Festa in continium since the early 19th century. Bob Maida, who is an active member and photographer of the East Harlem Giglio Society located in the East Harlem Giglio, website has done a fantastic job of providing pictures, current as well as historical which can be viewed by the public. Bobby also helps promote the festival.



Gerard Madio..55 a third generation East Harlemite feels this feast is: "the last of Italian East Harlem as we remember it, that is why it is very important for everyone who was raised in this neighborhood or their parents or grandparents to come back again & again to enjoy the old neighborhood, old stories and old and new friends. The "Giglio" is the only true relic that belongs to us, so that is why we have it and cherish it. It might look like "The Giglio" was built in a day, but it's not. It requires fund raising and a year round event of planning, with men who put their heart and soul into it, to keep a tradition alive, and in the end, after looking at the smiling face's of children with their parent's or grandparents, it's all worth it."

To enter the Giglio site. There are links to other websites both in America and Italy that are devoted to or sponsors of Giglio Feasts. This is another definitely must see. To view 2007 Photos from East Harlem's Annual Feast--Giglio Di Sant' Antonio Click Here

Here is a little background history:

The Giglio Society of East Harlem is a group of men who have dedicated their lives to honor Sant’ Antonio, their beloved saint. Their love and devotion is on display each year during their Annual Festival held in East Harlem, New York. They honor their Patron Saint in very much the same fashion as their ancestry did and still do annually today in Brusciano by building a Giglio and dancing it in the streets of Manhattan, N.Y.

Giglios are built in honor of a town’s patron saint and carried on the shoulders of approximately 120 men in a ritual that dates back to 409AD in the town of Nola Italy.

"Around the turn of the 1900's, Italian immigrants left Italy in search of a better life for their families. During this time, Southern Italy was a very desperate place holding little to no promise of a bright future for the many starving and hungry families. Many had no other choice but to pack up their belonging and take a chance on moving to the promise of the 'New World' - America! (to continue reading, click here).



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Contact: miriammedina@earthlink.net or miriam@thehistorybox.com
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