"The Flying of The Angels": Festival of Maria SS Lauretana

[IlStudioso]

I went to this feast just yesterday (06 Sept. 2009), its 109th year. This video obviously was a year ago but this year it was exactly the same as last year, except without the fire! I went mainly as a mini-"pilgrimage" to Maria SS. Lauretana, prayed to her at a shrine at the tent by the Boat, bought myself a rosary dedicated to Her, and stayed for the mini-Mass. My family is not Sicilian (we are Molisano and Abruzzese) but these still are important cultural values to cherish.

[fitoman95]

Im from spain otto 3391 n I think you have rasist problems, people like you most to be in asylum  sorry but true

[otto3391]

i have been goin to this feast for the last 25 years sundays and mondays are da best it is all italians and no gangbangers

[dogstar7]

That will be enough.

[AmoreFrancesca]

I will be there @ 8:00 p.m.. tonight see you there!! Thank you for the video and to everyone for the comments!!With Love, Francesca!!

[AmoreFrancesca]

what are they saying? i love this video i was just there yesterday when do they have this? the last day is monday! would love to take pics...can you translate what they are saying both in italian and english!! your the best GRAZIE UN BACI!!

[dogstar7]

AmoreFrancesca: The girls are "flown" in the evenings between 8:30 and 10pm. I'm sorry, I don't speak the Italian/Sicilian dialect either. I'm hoping to get some interviews about the history of the fest this year. Thanks for subscribing.

[lcullotta]

What a wonderful tribute to the "feast". Very well done.

[dogstar7]

Thank you for the invitation.

You'll be hearing from me soon.

[girldann]

This was pretty amazing. Quite good. I didn't think the children still flew as angels. I remember there was, also, a parade of people carrying fake body parts asking to be healed.

[dogstar7]

girldann,

Yes! You are correct. The wax body parts that have been carried in processions though the years were on display in a tent. I have footage of them but nobody would discuss them on camera (too shy). It was too difficult to represent what they signified so I left it out.

Next year (Labor Day weekend) I'm looking foreward to more cooperation from the festival organizers for a more enclusive documentary. Thanks for viewing.

[girldann]

My mom told me the wax body parts signified the part of the body that they, a relative, or friend was asking the madonaa to be healed. I remember going in a room with tables piled high with wax body parts.

[vidular]

Nice video. I heard about this festival but have never been, thanks for sharing it here!

[MindsiMedia]

Interesting subject. Nicely shot and edited.

[dogstar7]

Wow! Thanks for the comment, rqolminas. No, I'm sorry. This is the only thing I've shot so far that features the band. I just happened to stay in town this Labor Day an remembered this fest from my youth. Glad you enjoyed it. Please pass the link along to your friends and family. Viva Maria Lauretana!

[rgolminas]

Brought beack a lot of memories. I played in the Sicillian Band of CHicago for about 15years. I've played that feast a lot. The best time we played the feast was the ACTUAL one in Altaville Micilia.

Do you have any more film of the band?

[dogstar7]

Thanks for watching. Don't forget to rate this video and add to your favorites. Please feel free to link this video to your favorite web sites...often!

[BozChicago]

Wow! That's spectacular!