From today, September 4, until Sunday 7, the Sinatra Drive waterfront will turn into a corner of Italy for the 90th edition of the Hoboken Italian Festival – The Feast of Madonna dei Martiri. An appointment that, year after year, renews the religious devotion and the identity pride of the community of Apulian origin, in particular of Molfetta, and that will call back more than 100,000 visitors from all the tri-state and not only.
The heart of the feast is the veneration of Our Lady of Martyrs, a tradition that has its roots in the 12th century, when a sacred icon was brought to Molfetta by the Crusaders. From there, the devotion was handed down from generation to generation, to the American coast. In 1927 a group of Molfettesi immigrants founded the Society of Madonna dei Martiri in Hoboken with the aim of recreating the celebration of their home town.
“Our task has always been to keep this bond alive,” explains Albert Della Fave, current president of the Society. “The most exciting moment is when Our Lady is taken in procession through the streets of Hoboken. It is then that we perceive the strength of this tradition and its ability to unite people.”.
Between faith and show
The festival has become one of the most iconic events of Italian culture in the United States. In the 1990s, the festival experienced a turning point on the waterfront of Sinatra Drive and the introduction of the boat procession, inspired by what every September takes place in Molfetta. From a simple religious occasion, the festival has evolved into an event that combines spirituality, gastronomy, music and entertainment.
A distinctive element is the Apulian artistic luminaries, arrived in America in 2015 thanks to the association Oll Muvi and the project “I Love Molfetta” by Roberto Pansini. The carved wooden structures, illuminated by thousands of colorful lights, recreate the atmosphere of the Italian patron festivals. “For those who emigrated or for the descendants of migrants, the luminaries are not just decorations,” says Pansini. “I am an emotional bridge between past and present, between the land of origin and adoption.” Their value has also been told in the documentary We Light the Tradition (We Light the Tradition), awarded in several international festivals.
The vision for the future
Today the festival is led by Antonio Albanese, president of the Hoboken Italian Festival, which emphasizes the importance of looking forward without forgetting the roots. “This is not just a celebration, it is an act of love for our community and our history,” he explains. “In 2027 we will celebrate the centenary, but already this year our goal remains the same: honor tradition and continue to involve new generations.”.
Among the most appreciated initiatives is the pavilion dedicated to the tourism of the roots, where visitors can discover their origins through maps, photos and information on the places of Italy from which their families come. “Many are approaching intrigue and end up planning their first trip to Italy,” says Albanese. “It is one of the most beautiful things we can accomplish as a community.”.
An event that unites
During the four days of celebration, the city of Hoboken will live with concerts, pyrotechnic shows, traditional food and moments of prayer. In addition to the procession on the ground, the suggestive boat procession on the Hudson River will give unique images, with the statue of the Madonna that will be placed between the skyscrapers of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty in the background.
Albanese wants to thank all those who make the event possible: “This feast is the fruit of the work of an entire community: members, volunteers, local authorities and all those participating, although they have no Italian origins. The title of president is only formal, the force comes from the group.”.
With the approach of the centenary, the challenge is to keep alive a tradition that has crossed the ocean and almost a century of history. From today, for four days, Hoboken will be the heart of a small great Italy of America, and for the occasion will be distributed a special paper edition of the New York event.
Article Today, the 99th edition of the Hoboken Italian Festival comes from IlNewyorkese.
