For those of us who live in Italian American communities, festival time can be better than Christmas. Whether a festival for a patron saint, traditional foods or ethnic pride, Italian American festivals bring out the best in the community and in many places are the highlight of the year. Everywhere the early Italian immigrants settled they brought with them their traditions and the strongest of these bonds to the Old Country was the Catholic faith and its adherents to its calendar of saints feast days.
Besides the major religious feasts celebrated widely, there were also many feasts dedicated to local saints and these traditions were reintroduced once immigrants from the same parts of Italy starting forming their own enclaves in places like New York and Boston. Some were small affairs held in households or in the side streets, while others grew to huge celebrations complete with amusements and live performances all illuminated by multi-colored lights hanging above the streets.
Besides the major religious feasts celebrated widely, there were also many feasts dedicated to local saints and these traditions were reintroduced once immigrants from the same parts of Italy starting forming their own enclaves in places like New York and Boston. Some were small affairs held in households or in the side streets, while others grew to huge celebrations complete with amusements and live performances all illuminated by multi-colored lights hanging above the streets.
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