Three Saints Festival Is This Weekend: What to Expect From the Three-Day Event

Atmosphere at the 2017 St. Alfio Festival. (Courtesy photograph)

Music, religious remembrance and a cannoli-eating contest are all planned this weekend as part of the 95th annual Festival of the Three Saints in Lawrence. The Friday, Saturday and Sunday event kicks off August 31 at 6:30 p.m. with an opening procession from City Hall to Corpus Christi Parish at Holy Rosary Church. Saturday brings a 2 p.m. cannoli-eating contest and an 8 p.m. torchlight procession, with a Mass in honor of the Three Saints planned for Sunday at 10 a.m.
Ahead of the Festival, guest columnist Jack Roy previews what to expect—and details some of the burning questions about the Holy Brothers known as St. Alfio, Filadelfo and Cirino.

WHY ARE THE SAINTS ONLY TAKEN OUT ON SUNDAY?
We take the Saints out on Sunday for the procession after attending High Catholic Mass honoring the Holy Brothers. This is the only time all year that the Saints come out of the church. The Saints are carried on what we call a Vara, similar to a small float. The Vara is pulled along the streets of the original route through the old Italian neighborhood. They are carried as heroes of Christianity since they were Martyred for promoting Christianity at a time when Christ was not accepted.

We are given an opportunity for venerating the Saints on the streets that our forefathers lived and grew up on. Sunday is the day belonging to God. When the Saints arrive in procession to the organization’s headquarters, we celebrate the Moment of Glory, depicting the Saints going to Heaven. This includes the three hymns to the saints concluding with cheering, fireworks and lots of confetti. You may see a poster of the Three Saints attached to balloons floating up into the sky depicting their souls going up to heaven.

WHY DO THE MEMBERS OF THE ST. ALFIO SOCIETY WEAR A RED SASH?
Red is the color of fire and blood, so it is associated with energy, strength, power, and determination as well as passion, desire, and love. Some feel it also signifies the blood of the Three Brothers spilled during their torture at the hands of the Romans.

WHY IS THE FEAST ON LABOR DAY?
Labor Day Weekend was chosen so that the immigrants could rest the day after, on Monday, the national holiday, from their long week of preparation for the Feast. In Sicily, the Feast honoring St. Alfio, Filadelfo and Cirino typically falls on the day that the Three Brothers died, which is May 10.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE TORCHLIGHT PARADE
The torchlight parade is a tradition directly from the town of Trecastagni, Sicily. On May 9, the vigil of the feast, the men of the town gather in three corners of the city. From there, they march into the town square representing their “partito,” their own neighborhoods. The three Partitos are called Tondo, Collegiata, and St. Alfio. We use the names of the streets here in Lawrence of our original Italian neighborhoods, Common Street, Newbury Street and Union Street.

Like in Sicily, they are accompanied by a band and when they arrive in the square central square—here, Common and Newbury Streets—fireworks and cheering combine for the highlight of the event. Flares are used so you can see the three Partitos, neighborhoods, coming from their own sections of the town, joining together in the square to celebrate the Three Saints. The red flares signify the passion for having strong faith in Christianity. Cheers to the Three Saints ring out and the fireworks begin.

WHAT ARE THESE GUYS SAYING?!
The cheer Festival attendees may hear is “Con Vera Fide,” translated as “With True Faith.” The answer is “Viva St. Alfio!” or “Long Live Saint Alfio!” Another cheer heard is “Cu tuto Cuore!” which means “With all your heart!” It is answered against with “Viva St. Alfio.” Using Alfio, the oldest of the three brothers as the answer, defines having true faith in all three brothers.