North End, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Slowly but surely, each visit to the city I see more and more people out and about - including kids playing in a fountain in the Rose Kennedy Greenway at the intersection with Hanover Street.



And speaking of Hanover Street,  it is so delightful to see folks enjoying the converted North End parking spaces  - now offering al fresco dining - buon appetito!

North End, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

This time of year, the North End neighborhood sidewalks are bustling with both tourists and residents enjoying the summer weather.



I am especially fond of these old copper clad buildings at this street intersection.



And these at North Square.



Although it's just another pedestrian crosswalk on Hanover Street, it struck me as Abbey Road-esque considering this is the 50th anniversary year.



No North End visit is complete without a stop at Mike's Pasty. The endless popularity, year in year out, is astounding.



During many of the summer weekends, Italian religious festivals and processions draw big crowds of residents and tourists and participants.



Posing before the statue of the Madonna, it will soon be carried through the streets by some of these men.



Generation to generation.



They maneuver the Madonna's shrine onto the carrier.



Get everything positioned just right.......



.... then fire off the confetti canons........



....and the bands play and off they all go through the streets.

Procession for Santa Maria di Anzano, North End, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

I was in the North End neighborhood of Boston recently and observed this procession to honor Santa Maria di Anzano. This is the first of many religious processions and feasts that will be held over the summer months in the North End, a predominantly Italian-American neighborhood.



The North End Marching Band provided the musical accompaniment.



The statue of the Saint emerges from the Sacred Heart Church.



A confetti canon provided a brief rainstorm of paper.



The organizers position the statue and band to start the procession.



And off they go through the narrow North End streets.



















A creative use of a shopping cart and a few bungee cords.







The procession stopped in front of Pagliuca's Restaurant and the band........



....proceeded to march inside, surround this big table and play a tune.  Who would have thought?

Saint Anthony Religious Festival, Part 2, North End Neighborhood, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

The 97th Annual Italian Religious Street Festival in honor of Saint Anthony Di Padua Da Montefalcione, was observed recently in the vibrant neighborhood of Boston's North End. I was here for the opening evening (at this link) and returned again for the final day of the celebration.

The statue of Saint Anthony is carried through the crowded streets while residents shower it and the crowd with confetti and attach money to the statue.



Since it was a beautiful weekend summer day, the narrow streets were hoppin' with outside visitors in addition to the local residents.



My favorite pasta man was readying his offerings for the hungry crowd.



It was sometimes difficult to move along the narrow streets there were so many people.



Confetti often rained down from balconies as the statue of Saint Anthony passed beneath or nearby.



If you were standing in the right place (or wrong place), a blizzard of confetti fell on you. I was still finding confetti in my clothes the next day.



A love of faith, and culture, and community was palpable as I wondered among the celebrating residents of this closely knit Italian American neighborhood in Boston's North End. Their joy and happiness was contagious. Many would pose with and/or kiss the statue of Saint Anthony.



I love the picture within the picture on the cellphone.



The eight men who carried the statue were assisted by others who cleared the crowd to allow the statue to maneuver.



I don't know who the men were carrying the statue but, I expect it was quite an honor to be chosen to do so.







The white streamers attached to the statue were held by others as the procession wound its way through the neighborhood. I was especially impressed at the foresight and planning by this woman. She has a pin cushion attached to her wrist to pin dollar bills to the streamer as she receives random gifts from parade watchers.



And music filled the air and echoed through the narrow streets. This Italian -American band from Lawrence, Massachusetts, played uplifting Italian marches as the procession wound through the crowd.



Cannoli Girl was just getting set up as I passed by. She didn't have her treats out for sale yet but,........



........ a couple booths down the street, there were always more great cannolis ready to be filled and eaten!

One of the advantages of a multi-cultural city like Boston is the rich fabric of life that together we all weave bringing our respective traditions to the mix. It is worth remembering that America is a land of inclusion more than exclusion - a land where we can appreciate our differences and our similarities.

I heard so much spoken Italian today that I felt like I was visiting in Lucca, Italy, one of my favorite places on the planet (my blog posts from there at this link).

Saint Anthony Religious Festival, Part 1, North End Neighborhood, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

The 97th Annual Italian Religious Street Festival in honor of Saint Anthony Di Padua Da Montefalcione, was observed recently in the vibrant neighborhood of Boston's North End. 

The North End is the city's oldest residential community. People have lived here continuously since the 1630's. Today, it is known for its Italian American population, the many fine Italian restaurants, and the Old North Church from which the midnight ride of Paul Revere was triggered back in 1775 during the American Revolution.

Saint Anthony is the patron saint of the poor and finder of lost articles or people.

I wandered into the narrow back streets of the North End neighborhood on the opening evening to find the celebration. The festival takes place away from the main touristy Hanover Street.



Musical instruments ready for later entertainment on the stage.



Other bands waving both American and Italian flags march along the narrow streets, crowded with pedestrians and food booths.



Authentic homemade pasta anyone?



This pasta purveyor was encouraging buyers to stop by and have a bite using his powerful booming voice to shout at passersby.







The narrow streets only accommodate four band members abreast.







The statue of Saint Anthony makes its appearance to begin the parade.



Confetti cannons unleash a blizzard of green, red, and white confetti.



The statue is hoisted onto the shoulders of eight men who carry it through the streets to the pleasure of the adoring and happy crowd.



As daylight fades the visitors keep pouring in to the narrow streets.







Lights get brighter and the sky gets darker.



The blue hour. The size of the crowd made movement slow and difficult along the narrow streets.



The heat was too much for some - time for a nap.



And the band played on.......



....and on.



After a lap through the neighborhood, the statue is carried to this outdoor chapel where it will stay over the festival weekend except when paraded through the streets.



After all that pasta it was time for dessert - CANNOLIS!!!!! Shells at the ready, the ricotta filling added to order, were flying off the vendor's racks. There were cannolis for sale at many of the booths along the crowded streets.

It was a great evening with happy and friendly people, food, music, and celebration!