Arts & Culture

Religious Festivals: From Ancient Italy to the Feasts of Boston’s North End

On March 27, 2011, Suffolk University’s Alumni Association hosted a lecture at the Fairmont Battery Wharf Hotel on the religious festivals from the time of ancient Italy and how they have endured in today’s North End.

The well-attended event featured Suffolk University history professor Dr. Matteo Casini and Dr. Augusto Ferraiuolo, author of Religious Festive Practices in Boston’s North End.

Dr. Matteo Casini, shown above, discussed the public religious practices that originated in Italy’s ancient cities.

Dr. Augusto Ferraiuolo (above) followed with examples of how the Italian feasts have endured in Boston’s North End.

Laura Piscopo, Director of Alumni Relations (standing right in above photo) arranged the event with included an Italian family-style luncheon. (By the way, her grandfather owned the hotel in the Piscopo Building on Fleet Street!)

From left to right in above two photos are some of the lecture attendees: Nancy Dini, Jason Aluia, Kathy Ray and Diane Modica.

One Reply to “Religious Festivals: From Ancient Italy to the Feasts of Boston’s North End

  1. It's interesting and worthwhile to trace a practice over so many years. How nice that the North End continues such an ancient tradition.

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