The Feast of San Gennaro — A Legacy of Early 20th-Century Neapolitan Immigrants
Every September in NYC’s Little Italy, thousands flock to the neighborhood for a multi-day celebration of Italian-American culture.
The Feast of San Gennaro, named after Saint Gennaro, the patron saint of Naples, has been a staple tradition for the city’s Italian-American community for nearly 100 years. What began in 1926 as a one-day block party on Mulberry Street has grown into an 11-day festival featuring food vendors, performances, cultural attractions, religious processions, and even a Ferris wheel. For many former residents of the neighborhood, the celebration is a time to reunite with family, friends, and old neighbors, as many have been displaced due to rising rents or simply moved on to farther afield communities.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, tens of thousands of Italian immigrants settled in New York City. Many of these immigrants came from Naples and established their homes in the Mulberry Bend area of Five Points. Five Points, a neighborhood situated between present-day Centre Street, the Bowery, Canal Street, and Park Row, was densely packed with tenement buildings and was known for its notoriously poor living conditions. The area was eventually partially razed to make way for Mulberry Bend Park (now Columbus Park).
With the Neapolitan immigrants came their many traditions, including the commemoration of the martyrdom of Saint Gennaro. The anniversary of his martyrdom is observed in Italy on September 19th, the date on which he is said to have died during a period of Catholic persecution. The newcomers to America chose to keep their traditions alive by turning this anniversary into a celebration of their heritage. Early celebrations of the Feast of San Gennaro were modest block parties, featuring contests such as who could decorate their fire escape the best.
The celebration has evolved significantly over the years. Village Preservation’s historic image archive includes numerous photos of food vendors and well-dressed participants enjoying the festivities during the 1970s.
Our newly tagged images in the archive highlight the rich cultural history of NYC. In the “Italian” tag, you can find images of the Feast of San Gennaro, as well as photos of 1960s Bocce players, Italian-Catholic parishes, and iconic Italian businesses, among many others.
The Feast of San Gennaro has also appeared in various TV shows and movies, including The Godfather Part II. Behind-the-scenes shots from the film are available in our image archive, along with other historic film images under the “movie filming” tag.
This year, the Feast of San Gennaro will be held in Little Italy from September 12-22. For more information, visit the official website HERE.