Photos: Flight of the Angel and Procession at 2014 Fisherman’s Feast

The 104th Fisherman’s Feast featured the Grand Procession of the Madonna del Soccorso di Sciacca through the streets of Boston’s North End on August 17, 2014. At the end of Sunday’s Grand Procession, the statue of the Madonna returned home to North, Fleet and Lewis Streets where thousands had gathered for the famous “Flight of the Angel”. The angels recite the devotion in Italian followed by the entrance of the flying angel from a third story window coming down to the street to meet the Madonna Del Soccorso Di Sciacca. At the end, confetti rains on the scene in an astounding street celebration. This year’s Flying Angel was Serina D’Amico, with side angels Haley Graffeo Dufresne and Angelina Palazzolo.

The Fisherman’s Feast is the North End’s oldest continuously running Italian festival and one of the largest with four days of festivities on North, Lewis and Fleet Streets. The tradition goes back to the 16th century in Sciacca, Sicily brought to Boston in 1910 based on the devotion of the fishermen to the Madonna del Soccorso (Our Lady of Help). Organizers and most members are the descendants of the original Sicilian immigrants.

Thank you to Jeff Tamagini of Tamagini Visuals for sharing these 150+ terrific photos!

Photos by Jeff Tamagini of Tamagini Visuals.