The Feast is a tradition that dates back hundreds of years in Sicily honoring the faith of three brothers, Saints Alfio, Filadelfo and Cirino. Martyred on May 10th in the year 253 for refusing to denounce Christ and worship the pagan Roman gods, grand Feasts in honor of these three Martyrs are celebrated each May 10th in the Sicilian towns of S. Alfio, Lentini, San Fratello, and Trecastagni.

When the first immigrants from Trecastagni and the surrounding towns in Sicily settled in Lawrence, they brought their faith and tradition of the Feast with them. Many of these first immigrants and their descendants are parishioners of Holy Rosary Church.

This three-day celebration, which takes place on Labor Day Weekend, honors the Saints and raises funds for charities and for scholarships for high school students.

The first Feast was held in 1923 and has been an annual event. Since then, the Saints Alfio, Filadelfo and Cirino Society has maintained the tradition of honoring the Three Saints in the same manner as the original Festa in Trecastagni, Sicily.

Today, the Feast is also a celebration of our Italian-American heritage. For three days, Common Street from Union to Jackson Street is alive with music, food, people and laughter.

The Feast draws close to 75,000 visitors from throughout the New England area. Red, white and green colored lights outline the symbolic crowns of martyrdom that illuminate the street below and all the Italian foods available: sausage, pizza, calamari, cannoli, biscotti, and the famous Sicilian delight of the Feast, crispelli. (Crispelli are a round, light fried dough that comes filled with ricotta cheese or anchovies - or just plain.)

Up and down Common Street people meet old acquaintances and renew friendships. Children's laughter and squeals of delight fill the air as they win a toy or ride the amusements. Delicacies are found at the Italian Café food tent near Holy Rosary Church.

The Feast begins on Friday evening with a parade from City Hall marching the Saints procession route to Holy Rosary Church. There each member of the St. Alfio Society solemnly quietly places a candle before the statues of the Three Saints, offering a quiet prayer. After the parade there is a free concert for everyone on the Campagnone Memorial Common, this year featuring celebrity singers BJ Thomas and Billy Joe Royal.

Towards dusk on Saturday the St. Alfio Society members gather in three groups along the procession route for the Torchlight Parade. Each group assembles with a marching band at Jackson and Common Streets, Newbury and Orchard Streets and Union and Summer Streets respectively. Carrying torches reminiscent of a Trecastagni tradition, the members converge at Common and Newbury Street accompanied by three marching bands.

Forming a large circle, the members give praise to the Three Saints with the traditional cheer (Con Vera Fede! VIVA SANT' ALFIO!) as the St. Alfio Band plays the Cantata, a traditional three-part hymn in honor of the Brothers.

Saturday's traditional torchlight parade is followed by another free concert on the Common Street bandstand.

Sunday is the "Giornata della Festa" opening with the Society members, their families and the faithful gathering for a Solemn Mass in honor of the Saints at Holy Rosary Church.

The Feast culminates with the procession of the Three Saints on Sunday afternoon. At exactly 3:00pm, the church bells begin to ring, the band plays the Marcia Reale and the statues of the Saints are slowly taken out of the Church and placed upon the Vara amid showers of confetti.

Members and children pull the ropes attached to the Vara along the same procession route traveled for the past 80 years. Led by Cross and candle bearers, the Saints banner, the Italian and American flags, and the Italian-American and the St. Alfio's Band, the procession takes place under a sky of confetti and streamers. Brightly colored bits of paper take flight and surround the onlookers and their children, who race to gather the streamers.

Children are hoisted up with offerings and pay their respect to the Saints, whose radiance touches everyone present. Later in the afternoon, around 7:00pm, the procession arrives in front of the Society on Common Street for the benediction ceremony.

The Relic of the Three Saints is brought upon the Vara in front of the Saints and a blessing is invoked upon all present. The Cantata is played as balloons, doves, confetti and streamers are released in a joyous celebration as everyone raises their voices together cheering:

“VIVA SANT’ ALFIO!”