A huge Italian street festival is taking over Williamsburg this week
Now in full swing through Sunday, July 20, this 12-day celebration is one of the city's most vibrant and historic street festivals—a dazzling mashup of old-world tradition and neighborhood block party. At the heart of it all is the Giglio: a 70-foot wooden tower adorned with angels, flowers and saints, carried through the streets by more than 100 men to the soundtrack of live brass bands. (And yes, there's also a boat. Long story.)
The tradition stretches back to 1887, when immigrants from Nola, Italy, settled in Brooklyn and brought their devotion to San Paolino with them. Legend has it that Paolino, a 5th-century bishop, offered himself into slavery to save a widow's son and later returned home to a hero's welcome, greeted with lilies, or 'gigli,' from his grateful townspeople. Over time, those lilies became a soaring tower and the feast became a spectacle of faith, food and community.
Today, it's still anchored by the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, where generations of Italian Americans (and now just about everyone else) gather to dance, pray and indulge. The Giglio itself is lifted several times over the course of the festival, with the biggest and most theatrical hoist happening this Sunday. But the party doesn't stop there.
There's a smaller Giglio just for kids today, and Wednesday marks the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, celebrated with a special afternoon Mass and a procession through the neighborhood. For night owls, Thursday's after-dark Giglio lift is a can't-miss spectacle, lit by streetlights and powered by cheers from the crowd. Each day brings new live performances and endless snacks—from crispy zeppole to overflowing sausage rolls.
From morning Masses to late-night performances, the streets are alive with music, lights, and the constant whirr of carnival rides. Kids line up for games, old-timers swap stories over espresso and everyone makes time for a fried zeppole (or three). It's chaotic, joyful and unmistakably New York.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time Out
15-07-2025
- Time Out
A huge Italian street festival is taking over Williamsburg this week
Williamsburg smells like sausage and peppers again, which can only mean one thing: the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast is back, and it's bigger, louder and more delicious than ever. Now in full swing through Sunday, July 20, this 12-day celebration is one of the city's most vibrant and historic street festivals—a dazzling mashup of old-world tradition and neighborhood block party. At the heart of it all is the Giglio: a 70-foot wooden tower adorned with angels, flowers and saints, carried through the streets by more than 100 men to the soundtrack of live brass bands. (And yes, there's also a boat. Long story.) The tradition stretches back to 1887, when immigrants from Nola, Italy, settled in Brooklyn and brought their devotion to San Paolino with them. Legend has it that Paolino, a 5th-century bishop, offered himself into slavery to save a widow's son and later returned home to a hero's welcome, greeted with lilies, or 'gigli,' from his grateful townspeople. Over time, those lilies became a soaring tower and the feast became a spectacle of faith, food and community. Today, it's still anchored by the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, where generations of Italian Americans (and now just about everyone else) gather to dance, pray and indulge. The Giglio itself is lifted several times over the course of the festival, with the biggest and most theatrical hoist happening this Sunday. But the party doesn't stop there. There's a smaller Giglio just for kids today, and Wednesday marks the Feast Day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, celebrated with a special afternoon Mass and a procession through the neighborhood. For night owls, Thursday's after-dark Giglio lift is a can't-miss spectacle, lit by streetlights and powered by cheers from the crowd. Each day brings new live performances and endless snacks—from crispy zeppole to overflowing sausage rolls. From morning Masses to late-night performances, the streets are alive with music, lights, and the constant whirr of carnival rides. Kids line up for games, old-timers swap stories over espresso and everyone makes time for a fried zeppole (or three). It's chaotic, joyful and unmistakably New York.
Graziadaily
11-06-2025
- Graziadaily
This Designer Bag Is The Best Investment You Could Make – These Celebs Prove It
By now, the phrase 'It bag' is so overused that it's lost all meaning. From the Fendi Baguette to the Chloé Paddington, we're all extremely familiar with the bags which have generated the most hype at any given moment – just like Gucci's new Giglio bag – and become classic investment pieces in their own right. One which has been in existence for a far shorter time than, say, a Chanel 2.55 or Louis Vuitton's Speedy is Loewe's Puzzle bag. It may be younger, but its influence is far-reaching and undeniable, especially as this year marks the accessory's 10th anniversary. Beyoncé with a Puzzle bag in 2016 This anniversary, coupled with the news that Jonathan Anderson is leaving Loewe to take the helm at Dior, suddenly brings into focus the sheer 'It-ness' (sorry) of the Puzzle bag, which on its own acts as the perfect embodiment of Anderson's success at the Spanish label; it's innovative and fresh, but with strong commercial appeal. It may be difficult to remember when Loewe was a flailing heritage Spanish house but that was certainly the case when Anderson joined the brand, where he proceeded to reverse its fortunes and transform it into one of the world's most influential labels. The Puzzle, with its geometric leather panels and top handle, was one of his first accessories for Loewe – and the first new bag the label had launched since the 1980s. Since then, it has become a favourite of everyone from Beyoncé to Sienna Miller to Ayo Edebiri. Naomi Campbell with Loewe's Puzzle bag Each Puzzle bag is handmade in Madrid using 75 separate pieces of leather, and there are numerous techniques involved, all of which take nine hours to produce the finished article. It is, in many ways, a feat of craftsmanship, which is what's always been at the heart of Anderson's work – both for Loewe and for his own eponymous label. Naturally, such a feat deserves celebration, which is why a capsule collection has launched, featuring re-editions of the most iconic Puzzles of the past 10 years – plus one new design. It's something you can see IRL if you happen to be near Harrods this month (until 22nd June), where you'll find a special pop-up dedicated to a decade's worth of Puzzle. The Loewe pop-up in Harrods From painted landscapes to embroidered leather and trompe l'oeil details, this collection of 19 re-editions is proof, if it were needed, that Loewe has returned to its 19th century glory as a leading workshop of leather goods; one which prioritises the most innovative craft techniques. 1. Loewe Puzzle 10 Confetti Top-Handle Bag Puzzle fans will recognise most of the bags, which are inspired by the likes of William Morris and William De Morgan, both leading figures of the Arts and Craft movement in the 19th century. One style is new, though: The Confetti. It is decorated with thousands of tiny leather and metal sequins, maintaining the classic Puzzle cuboid shape, which looks as though it were folded like a piece of origami art. Ayo Edebiri in 2024 with a mini Puzzle bag Of course, the Puzzle – particularly the re-editions – is an investment but, if you're in search of a designer handbag that will truly stand the test of time, Anderson's creation for Loewe still looks as cutting-edge today as it did 10 years ago. Plus, with the designer now at Dior, this is your last chance to invest in Anderson-designed Loewe. Well, unless you know how to win Vinted, that is. 2. Loewe Mini Puzzle Edge Bag in Classic Calfskin 3. Loewe Small Puzzle Biker Bag in Shiny Calfskin 4. Loewe Mini Puzzle Bag in Classic Calfskin 5. Loewe Small Puzzle Edge Bag in Classic Calfskin 6. Loewe Small Puzzle Edge Bag in Raffia and Calfskin 7. Loewe Large Puzzle Edge Bag in Classic Calfskin 8. Loewe Small Puzzle Edge Bag in Nappa Calfskin Hannah Banks-Walker is Grazia's head of fashion commerce. She has previously written for the likes of Harper's Bazaar, The Financial Times, Glamour, Stylist, The Telegraph, Red, i-D and The Pool on everything from fashion to curly hair (hi!) to the patriarchy. Not necessarily in that order. Find her on Instagram and Twitter . But please don't look for her MySpace profile, which until now was the last time she wrote about herself in the third person.
Graziadaily
22-05-2025
- Graziadaily
This Skirt Is So Good, It's Sold Out Three Times – Now It's Back In Stock
Sometimes, it's easy to predict that something is going to be a sell-out success. High street collaborations with designers, for instance – Anya Hindmarch x Uniqlo and Gap x Dôen are two which launched today – or an exciting new launch from one of the world's leading designers; case in point: Gucci's new Giglio bag. Then there are those items which come with a little less fanfare but which prove themselves to be the sorts of pieces which form the backbone of any good wardrobe. Cefinn's Sophia skirt is one such piece; it is so versatile and hard working (sartorially-speaking) that it has sold out three times already. Thankfully, it's now back in stock. If you're not familiar with Cefinn, it's the brainchild of Samantha Cameron, who was inspired by her own need for smart stylish clothes to aid a busy life. The result is a collection of great tailoring, pretty dresses and chic separates, all of which work for all kinds of eventualities. Since its launch in 2017, Cefinn has expanded to include more casual pieces, too, and has amassed a loyal following of women with diverse personal styles. First launched in autumn 2023, the Sophia skirt is a simple pleated midi skirt that has had to be restocked several times since. Worn by many women on Instagram, I think the reason it's been so popular is its quality. Available in multiple different colours, as well as denim, it sits on the waist and has box pleats which start just below the hips, making for the most flattering fit. It can be worn with tucked-in tees, crisp shirts or button-up knits; knee-high boots work well with it in autumn, while ballet pumps and sandals are perfect for summer. In short, this skirt is versatile, it can be dressed up or down and it works on all body shapes. No wonder, then, that it's been selling so well. While the denim Sophia skirt is only available in a few sizes now, the black, navy and cream versions are ready to shop. Be warned though, last time the cream skirt was restocked, it sold out in a matter of weeks. Given the prevalence of white skirts this summer, this seems like the perfect time to add one of the best to your wardrobe. If you're more of a colourful dresser, take note that Cefinn is launching the skirt in lavender, rust and dark green next month, all of which are shades suitable throughout the year. Make haste, these skirts won't be in stock for long. 1. Sophia Techni Voile Pleated Maxi Skirt - Cream 3. Sophia Techni Voile Pleated Maxi Skirt - Black 4. Sophia Techni Voile Pleated Maxi Skirt - Burnt Orange Hannah Banks-Walker is Grazia's head of fashion commerce. She has previously written for the likes of Harper's Bazaar, The Financial Times, Glamour, Stylist, The Telegraph, Red, i-D and The Pool on everything from fashion to curly hair (hi!) to the patriarchy. Not necessarily in that order. Find her on Instagram and Twitter . But please don't look for her MySpace profile, which until now was the last time she wrote about herself in the third person.
