Grande Festivale della Madonna del Soccorso

Each weekend in August, the Italians in the North End of Boston have a festival for a patron saint or protector. Though the inspiration is religious, in practice they show some qualities that redeem them to the masses. Ice cream vendors tinkle along behind the procession, and children scream and cry just like at any other parade. The largest and most exciting is the last, the festival for Saint Antonio de Padova, but the other three are just as important.

The festival for the Madonna del Soccorso, guardian of fishermen, was held last weekend. There were street fairs with band concerts to attract the secular, and special masses for the pious. Sunday's parade of the streets, starting in the early afternoon, was the biggest show. A statue of the Madonna, carried under a portable canopy, was led by brass bands through every street in the North End. A man with pins walked beside it, and gave them out to all to pin money onto the ribbons flowing from the canopy. The parade ended with a ceremony featuring prayers and an "Ave Maria" intoned by two girls on opposite balconies, and a third, as an angel, hauled out over the crowd by a block and tackle. Everyone was suitably impressed at the effort, which was appropriately quasi-religious.