Zeppoles getting fried - one of the many Italian-themed fair foods that festival goers can enjoy © Peter Ackerman / USA TODAY NETWORK
(New York, NY) – The yearly celebration of Italian culture kicks off in Little Italy today. The calendar for the annual feast is stacked with live events almost every day. Some of the events include blessings, band and music performances, even a talent show on September 17th.
Back in the 1920s, the tradition first began as a way for Italian immigrants to keep their customs alive. It started as a one-day block party dedicated to their patron saint, San Gennaro. Eventually, the feast evolved into an eleven day long event that spans 11 blocks throughout Little Italy.
The Saint was a Bishop and was executed under the last and most severe persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire under Emperor Diocletian. The body and blood of San Gennaro is preserved in Naples. The festival runs through September 22nd.
