Brusciano-New York: St. Anthony's Giglio returns to dance in East Harlem (Written by Antonio Castaldo)
The Feast of the Giglio of St. Anthony of Padua in East Harlem in New York has returned from 5 to 8 August 2021, after the forced suspension of 2020 due to the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic. The news was confirmed to the sociologist Antonio Castaldo by the designated leader of the “Giglio Dance”, Phil Bruno, “#Capo n. 1 ", for the annual charge of 2021, as it was for 2019 with Mitch Farbman. This centenary tradition was brought to the United States by the Bruscianese emigrants, including Gioacchino Vivolo, grandfather of Phil Bruno, historical promoter, "First # 1 Capo Paranza" of the "Giglio Dance" in New York in the "Italian Harlem". At the age of 26, Gioacchino Vivolo left Brusciano when he was 26 years old. In December 1907 he arrived in New York and after a while he was joined by his wife Concetta and daughter Anna, settling in East Harlem. Here on 106th Street Gioacchino and his brother Rocco Vivolo, members of the "Bruscianese Society" began the tradition of the "Giglio Dance" in their devotion to Saint Anthony of Padua.
In Pleasant Avenue, 114-116 Street in East Harlem the "Giglio Society of East Harlem of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Shrine Church" has scheduled the opening days of Thursday 5 and Friday 6 August, then the morning Procession of St. Anthony and the afternoon "Dancing of the Giglio Children" for the little ones, Saturday 7, and finally on Sunday 8 August 2021 with the "Giglio Dance". The proud Phil Bruno, "#Capo n. 1 ", sent to the sociologist Antonio Castaldo, spokesman for the GSEH in Italy, the photographs of the days of preparation for the feast and construction of the obelisk. The Lily of East Harlem was dressed with the decoration prepared in Brusciano on a project entitled "Union in Faith - Union in Faith" conceived by Fiore D'Amore, musician and president of Giglio Passo Veloce 1978. The artifact was made at the "Bottega Sessa" by the young Carmine Sessa, son of Pinuccio Sessa, the latter in the past was a good chief "Capoparanza" of the Giglio Ortolano Association. The young Carmine is the continuer of the artisan tradition of the unforgettable and loved by the people of Brusciano, his grandfather Zì Carminiello "Zazà", and his uncle Pierino. This new look replaces the one carried over the years from 2013 to 2018 also built in Brusciano on a project entitled "Friendship and Brotherhood-Amicizia e Fratellanza", by the architect Luigi Romano and the graphic designer Carmine Belfiore, the same artisans as well, of the Association Giglio Gioventù 1985, having as a guide the esteemed chief "Capoparanza" Angelo Mocerino "O 'Piscatore" who, together with the founding partner Antonio Di Palma, oversaw the shipment of that artifact to the USA.
For the Antonine Giglio Dance in East Harlem, Antonio Castaldo sent this greeting: «After the suspension of the year 2020 due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, we in Italy were pleased to learn the news of the resumption of the Giglio in East Harlem in New York, in honor of Saint Anthony of Padua. Tradition born more than a hundred years ago from the ancient roots of the Brusciano Gigli Festival that arrived in the USA with the Bruscianese emigrants including the pioneer Gioacchino Vivolo, grandfather of Phil Bruno “#Capo n. 1 "in the" Giglio Dance 2021 ". In the sign of the continuity of good friendships between our communities in Brusciano, Naples, and New York, USA, of the promotion of peace in the world and of friendship between peoples and cultures, in the expectation that Our "Festa dei Gigli" will also resume , in Brusciano, which for the years 2020 and 2021 it was not possible to carry out due to the Pandemic from Covid-19, we send fraternal greetings, from me, from my family, from the Gigli Associations of Brusciano and from all the people of Brusciano. Warm greetings to the GSEHNY Board of Directors and a special greeting to the builders, members, boys and girls, of the "Giglio Dance" and their families and to all the people who are visiting your Feast, in memory of all the ancestors and honoring and praying to St. Antonio of Padua, as in the USA so also in Brusciano, Padua and Italy».
If you want to take a look at the "Festa dei Gigli in New York", both from the Bruscianese side in East Harlem and from the Nolano side in Williamsburg, just follow the documentary of the year 2003 directed and produced by sociologist Antonio Castaldo for IESUS European Institute of Sciences Human and Social and posted to the web address https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhTWIbflw5c .
IESUS Istituto Europeo di Scienze Umane e Sociali-Brusciano NA
