The Fisherman's Feast is an annual event that began in Boston in 1911 and is based on a tradition that goes back to the 16th century in Sciacca Sicily. The Feast is based on the devotion of the fishermen from Sciacca to the Madonna del Soccorso (Our Lady of Help). When the fishermen immigrated to America in the early 1900's, they brought their traditions with them. Today's Feast is much the same as it was 90 years ago with lights adorning the street and the smell of sausage in the air. The current Feast is organized by the descendants of those original immigrants and still includes a procession of the Madonna through the streets of the North End.
Each August since 1911, the Feast has been held in Boston's historic North End on North and Fleet Streets, making it the North End's oldest continuously running Italian festival. The Feast traditionally starts on Thursday when the statue of the Madonna is moved from her home in the Fisherman's Club to a chapel at the center of the feast. This will be her home throughout the weekend. Thursday is also when the fishermen that founded the Feast are remembered with a blessing of the fishing waters. Each night and during weekend days there is entertainment on the bandstand and vendors selling food (Italian sausages, calamari, pizza, pasta and much more) as well as crafts. The Feast culminates on Sunday night with the spectacular "Flight of the Angel".
Madonna del Soccorso (Our Lady of Help)
Rubber Ducky, You're The One
Frog Bog
Candy Apples
Arancini - Italian Rice Balls
"Flight of the Angel"
This is the highlight of the Feast for many people. All day on Sunday, members of the Fisherman's club and their families carry the statue of the Madonna in a procession through the streets of the North End. When the Madonna returns to North Street late in the afternoon, it is time for the grand finale. A young girl dressed as an angel will fly out of a third story window and down to the Madonna. After a short prayer she is raised back up into the window to the cheer of the crowd and showers of confetti. via fisherman's feast
