Experience an authentic slice of Brooklyn at the 124^th Annual Feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Giglio.  This exciting 12-day cooperative Brooklyn festival celebrates the cultural and religious heritage of Williamsburg, Brooklyn’s proud Italian community. Since 1954, the Giglio has been hosted by the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, making the entire festival a unique blend of religious, secular and traditional cooperation.

Don’t worry – it’s not as daunting as it seems. While there is a strong spiritual component for many of the attendees, for many others the Giglio is all about strengthening the bonds of the community and simply having a good time.

There are a number important rituals and events over the 12 days, but two attract the most attention. By far the most spectacular is the Giglio itself, a 10x10 base, 5-story tower hoisted on the shoulders of over a hundred men and carried through the streets of Williamsburg. This procession is known as “dancing the Giglio”. The Brooklyn event is the oldest Giglio in the United States and is an unforgettable spectacle for all who come out to see it.

Equally important is the culminating event, the Feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel on July 16. At the feast, member of the community and all comers mix and mingle, feast on traditional Italian specialties and view the grandeur of the Giglio tower in its resting place at the Shrine Church.

The 2011 Giglio and Feast of our Lady of Mount Carmel in Brooklyn will be hosted July 6 – 17 in the neighborhood of Williamsburg. For more information, visit the website.

Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
275 N 8^th Street
Brooklyn, NY 11211