Earning your merit
The event’s centerpiece is the Giglio, a wooden platform holding a four-ton, seven-story tower that bears a brass band, a singer and the parish priest. The Giglio is lifted in the air several times by more than 100 men (known as “dancing of the Giglio”) and carried through the streets.
Not anyone can be a Giglio lifter. “You have to earn your merit,” Gigantiello said. “It’s something that comes from your family when you are a kid. It’s a long haul and a real honor.”
Gigantiello explained that there is a chain of command involved. In addition to Giglio lifters, there are also lieutenants who direct the four corners of the Giglio. They’re each in charge of about 25 to 30 lifters.
At the top of the chain are the capos, who direct the lieutenants. Capos tell lieutenants which way the Giglio moves.
“If you’re a good lifter, you could potentially become a lieutenant and down the line, you may even become a capo,” Gigantiello said.
Currently, only men lift the Giglio, and there is no age limit. The only requirement is that one must be in good physical condition.
The Giglio is just one part of the feast, Gigantiello underlined, noting that the food, music and entertainment should not be overlooked.
Challenges and issues
Gigantiello also spoke to some of the challenges he faces when it comes to organizing and overseeing such a prodigious event.
“Getting everyone to work together is often an issue,” he noted. “People sometimes come up with ideas, and they want to try to do things differently. That said, you have to really keep everyone grounded; be open to new ideas, of course, but also have a way to implement them.”
Another challenge lies within the neighborhood itself, Gigantiello explained.
“For many years, all of our parishioners lived on the blocks of the feast, and they looked forward to it. They didn’t mind the stands being in front of their homes, the music playing until 10 p.m. and everything the feast entailed,” Gigantiello said.
