Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast - 7/12/09
In case you missed the dance of the Giglio on Sunday, Rumproast just posted a great video of this amazing Williamsburg tradition:
Here's a nice overview, via The Daily News:
The Giglio [weight: 3+ tons—KK] is a statue on top of about a 65- or 70-foot tower decorated to look like a lily, and the statue on top is St. Paulinus. The Giglio is made up of a steel and aluminum frame, and it’s in three or four sections that are hoisted into place with a crane. The face of the Giglio, which is the lily, is made out of papier- maché and wood and cardboard tied to the frame ... and the face of the statue is painted. So the statue of Paulinus sits at the very top of the lily tower, and on the base is a 10-piece band that plays music (and the guys in the band like to eat - they’re pretty heavy!) and the Giglio “dances” to that music when lifted.Gothamist has some great pictures here and you can read about this 100 year old tradition here. [Thanks Rumproast!]So why do neighborhood men risk throwing out their backs to hoist it?
Well, it’s a reenactment of the ritual that took place. Roughly about 100-130 guys pick up the statue, and the statue is lifted several times through the afternoon, and we dance through the streets to the music. And then, of course, the boat [another 3 tons, requiring another 100 men] is lifted at the same time, which signifies St. Paulinus coming back to Nola, and the Giglio is the lily meeting him. And the boat and the Giglio are lifted together a few times during the festival and come together. The dancing of the Giglio happens three different times during the 11-day festival, beginning today.
Comments
replica watches
replica watch
replica omega
replica U-boat
Cartier watch for sale
Rolex Explorer watches
Tiffany 1837 LOCK TRIPLE BANGLE Bracelet
Posted by: Rolex Daytona watches | January 13, 2010 08:30 PM