Ginzo a Go-go

This weekend I had the opportunity to introduce my half-Canadian offspring to a little bit of their mother's ethnic history. We made the brief journey to the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, to the church where my Grandparents were wed, for the annual "Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel." Along the way my Mother got to show the kids her church, her Catholic schools, and some truly excellent food.

This ain't San Gennaro, ladies. "The" Feast includes more than just games and food (though of course we stuffed ourselves silly with brasciole and zeppoles); it includes a re-enactment of the heroic and selfless deeds of Saint Paulinus. He, the faithful know, offered himself in trade for the sons of the Italian village of Nola, many of whom had been captured into slavery by an invading Turkish army around 410 AD.

The re-enactment is accomplished by building a 50-foot lily-covered statue (the lilies give the statue its name: Giglio) with Saint Paulinus at the top, and a huge boat (pictured above) for the "Turk" to ride in. Each has a 10-piece band on top, and 100 steel-shouldered men underneath. There's also (quite invariably) a 350 lb. guy with a 6 oz. trumpet in the boat. Just to be sure that the lifters earn their wine, you understand.

The "lifters" - who are fueled by homemade wine and testosterone as much as they are by their faith in God - carry the statue and the boat through the streets of Williamsburg to the utter delight and awe of the crowd. For their efforts, each one of the lifters is rewarded with a tee-shirt, a couple of red and white carnations, and whatever they want to eat or drink for the rest of the week. And none of them goes home alone. This I know because my Mother's cousins used to lift, in the days before they had children and wives and mortgages.

So, salut! And praise God! And, for the love of Saint Paulinus ... more powdered sugar on the zeppoles!!

olmcfeast.com