When the Neapolitan immigrants of Mulberry Street organized the first San Gennaro Festival in 1926, Ferrara was already part of Little Italy’s life. Today the feast is one hundred years old and the confectionery celebrates 134. To tell about this piece of history of the district is Ernest Lepore, met by the New Yorker on the occasion of the celebrations: “I represent the fourth generation of Ferrara. My family loves this feast and supported it”.
The first edition lasted only one day, on September 19, anniversary of the patron saint of Naples. The immigrants had brought to New York a religious tradition that was also an opportunity to find themselves among people from the same city. A century later, the centenary edition extends from 17 to 27 September, with processions, stalls, concerts and cannoli competitions. Food has become one of the reasons why you come to San Gennaro, even from far away.
For Lepore, who has made a family business, is also the most familiar part of the party. “We love pastry, we celebrate it. We love San Gennaro: this is the time of the year when we can enjoy the Neapolitan cuisine,” he says. Among the activities of the district, Ferrara preserves a link with a Little Italy in which shops and cafes served mainly the Italian community that lived in the surrounding streets.
That community has progressively moved to other neighborhoods and suburbs, especially since the 1950s. Little Italy has been restricted, while San Gennaro has become a well-known festival over New York. For eleven days, around Mulberry Street, the activities remaining in the neighborhood welcome an audience that includes descendants of immigrants, New Yorkers and tourists. The procession continues to walk the streets where everything began.
The invitation of Lepore is to come and have fun, but not before a greeting to our testata: “I’m really happy that the New Yorker came here and help us make the party even more beautiful.”.
L’articolo Ernest Lepore, Ferrara Bakery and the hundred years of the Feast of San Gennaro proviene da IlNewyorkese.
