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BOROUGH PRESIDENT KICKS OFF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE DANCE OF THE GIGLIO!

Borough President Marty Markowitz and Reverend Joseph Fonti from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church announced the exciting schedule of events for the 100th anniversary of the Dance of the Giglio. The celebration starts Wednesday, July 9th and runs through Sunday, July 20th at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, which is located at 275 North 8th Street in Williamsburg.

One of the highlights marking this joyous occasion is when the statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is paraded through the streets accompanied by an Italian street band. The Dance of the Giglio is a traditional Italian festival that commemorates the year that St. Paulinus, the Bishop of Nola, Italy, returned from captivity. The festival was brought to Williamsburg by Italian immigrants a century ago.

“The annual Dance of the Giglio is one of those great traditions that help make Brooklyn what it is: the best, most interesting, most enjoyable place in the world to live or to visit,” Marty said. “Now in its 100th year, the Dance of the Giglio is also a tradition that links Brooklyn to Italy and links Italian Brooklynites together, generation after generation. Each year, the children, grandchildren and great grandchildren of the dance originators return to take part in the celebration. Last year, Father Fonti added a new twist to the dance: he became the first pastor of our Lady of Mt. Carmel to actually ride on the Giglio, rather than simply watch it go by!”

Shown here, surrounded by some of the musicians of La Musica della Festa are, from left, New York City Clerk, former City Council Member, and Williamsburg resident Victor Robles, Father Fonti, and Marty. In the rear, from left are the festival’s number 1 capo, Phil Galasso, Anthony Ferrante, who is in charge of the shrine, and Anthony Pennolino, general chair of the festival.