Support Us Denver's independent source of local news and culture. I support. Support the independent voice of Denver and help keep the future of Westword free. Support Us. Keep Westword Free. The story goes like this: Rocco was a French pilgrim who traveled around northern Italy during the Middle Ages, risking plague-ridden towns to care for the ill. He eventually became the patron saint of pestilence, and the Potenza Lodge has honored him annually for more than sixty years at the three-day Feast of St.
Rocco festival. Modern-day patrons can take part in games of chance as well as near-continuous raffles for home-baked cakes, salami, capicola and provolone. Attendees also vie for cash prizes at booths featuring pickle cards and an old carnival-style Big Six wheel. Both games have a house edge that would make the casinos in Black Hawk drool. But after a few pizzelles, Italian sausage sandwiches and cheap Coors Lights, a little risk in the name of pestilence doesn't seem so bad.
However, the fact is nothing in human culture is static and every generation celebrates in their own way, often against the wishes of the elders. Times have changed but the Italian American spirit remains strong and with the help of corporate and community sponsorship, some of these traditional festivals are actually expanding.
Some of the larger festivals have become annual tourist attractions, bringing in needed revenue to the old Italian American communities that hold the events and often benefiting the city as a whole. Within the last twenty years, many Italian American communities nationwide have started to either rekindle old traditions or start new ones. These new festivals are often inspired by ethnic pride rather than religion, but they still bring out the same spirit and of course, a lot of fun.
The old Heart of Italy neighborhood of Chicago is now home to an annual food and wine festival in honor of the Northern Italian roots of the first immigrants. Today Festa Seattle is a large event held in the heart of the city and includes everything from food and wine including a grape stomp , music, sports, film festivals and even an Italian auto show.
One of the newest Italian American festivals is the six year old San Gennaro festival held in Los Angeles in honor of both the Neapolitan saint and the older festival held in New York. Whether a traditional feast or one of the newer events, Italian American festivals are a great time for everyone and are worth seeking out.
Best of all is that most festivals take place in the summer or early fall so can be included into a vacation. Make sure to contact local chambers of commerce to find out about even more Italian American festivals. There are hundreds out there but most do not have their own web sites. Los Angeles — Feast of San Gennaro: www. Wilmington — St. Port St. Malden — St. I hope some of those historic homes are maintained!
Thanks for sharing this very special event with everyone at Mosaic Monday! Hello Pat, The church is beautiful. The Saint Rocco procession parade and festival sound like a wonderful event. It is true all our ancestors came to the USA from around the world. They have made many great contributions and they have served and protected our country.
Beautiful post and photos. Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week! This is fascinating, Pat, and the photos are terrific. I am shocked to realize about the discrimination faced.
I am so glad that you could share last year's festivities and sorry that they had to cancel this year. Probably a good thing, but still, sad. I love learning on blogs! Yes, I know about the history Have a good week. This is wonderful Pat! Loved learning it all.
It really is too bad the Parish had to cancel the parade and bazaar, of course for their charities and the important tradition, but also it seems like St Rocco should definitely be prayed to right now! The history of Italians in Colorado was so interesting and last paragraph of your post is so true. And why are people still not understanding that!
All of us, unless we are Native Americans, came from Immigrants Thanks for sharing this! And stay warn this week I just read that you are getting a big cold front! I had no idea Colorado had such a large Italian population.
Very informative post! Too bad the celebration had to be cancelled this year. We've been to that church on a visit years ago. It is good to see people from various cultures living together. We used not have much of that around here, but in the last several years that has changed. What a wonderful post and such lovely photographs. Have a great week ahead.
All the best Jan. What a beautiful church. The altar is amazing! I am making a note of this church just in case I am in this area. That is so interesting and I love seeing the photos of the church. I'm always learning new things I'm glad you shared all of this with us. We need to know more about what's happened in the past and what makes this country great Hugs, Diane. I think everyone and every place should celebrate their rich heritage I mean honestly where would be today without pizza, pasta and Tiramasu?
I have enjoyed my wander with you around your Little Italy in Denver - thank you Pat. I'm not familiar with the saint nor procession and loved your informative and beautiful post. Thank you! Great post, Pat, highlighting the discrimination felt by Italians in years past, something most people are unaware of.
Sadly, the discrimination continues across other immigrants. The feast of San Rocco made me smile - it seems like so many Italian towns have San Rocco as their patron saint. I have actually marched in one procession to San rocco in a small town in Molise, years ago. Hope you and your family stay well.
That seems so ironic that this year's procession had to be canceled since it seems like more prayers to Saint Rocco might be just what we need! Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week.
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