First Female Number One Capo Paranza
October 2024
Established in 1908, the East Harlem Giglio Feast is an annual festival celebrating rituals and traditions brought to the United States by Italian immigrants from Brusciano, Italy. This tradition dates back to A.D. 409 in the village of Nola, outside Naples, Italy. They honor Saint Anthony of Padua by building a Giglio (pronounced JEEL-YO), a wooden structure up to 85 feet tall, and dancing it in the streets of Harlem, NY.
Giglio translates to lily in Italian, the prominent flower that adorns the face of the structure along with beloved patron saints. A band and singer sit on the Giglio's platform. Their music inspires the over 100 lifters (known as the ‘Paranza’ in Italian) to lift over 9,000 pounds and dance the Giglio harmoniously to the music.
Capo means the head guy. The Number One Capo Paranza is the head lifter, a prestigious male position. His responsibilities include decorating the Giglio, commanding the first lift, and assigning the remainder of the commanding lifts to whoever he feels deserving of one. Lieutenants are responsible for the lifters on and around the corner of the Giglio. Their partnership with the Capos is imperative to the safety of the lifters.
For the first time in history, board members of the Giglio Society of East Harlem celebrated its 115th anniversary by selecting Megan Zangaglia as the Number One Capo Paranza. Megan is the first female Number One Capo Paranza. She is a multigenerational member of the Giglio Society of East Harlem, one of three female Capos, and responsible for the society's operations.
Building the Giglio
Louis Zangaglia is a brain cancer survivor and has been the Master Giglio Builder for approximately 24 years. He is the fifth in the feast's history, using the design and measurements passed down from prior generations.
Capo John Zangaglia oversees the Giglios' construction. The Giglio builders grew up in East Harlem and have participated in the feast since childhood.
Executive Chef Anthony Coppola, who is on the grill, volunteers his time cooking at the member's and family barbecue during the building of the Giglio.
Giglio builder Patrick DiCanio stands on the structure, fastening the patron saint to it. The flower in Saint Anthony's hand is a Lilly, which in Italian translates to "Giglio."
Erin Zangaglia, President of the East Harlem Giglio Feast, prepped the meatballs for the annual meatball-making contest in memory of Nancee Madio, Capo, and one of three females who started the first girls' capo paranza group.
Giglio builders assembling the Children's Giglio, a tradition that the East Harlem Giglio Feast started in the 1970s and the first to do so.
Saint Anthony Procession
Megan Zangaglia, the first female Number One Capo Paranza, is serenaded by the “Voice of the Giglio” Jimmy Alleva and Danny Vecchiano’s Giglio Band during the passing of the cane ceremony. The cane, adorned in the Italian flag colors, guides the lifting of the Giglio, similar to a conductor leading his orchestra.
Saint Anthony's procession through the streets of East Harlem symbolizes the journey with God and brings the saint to the community.
Main stop during Saint Anthony’s procession as the patron saint is brought into St. Ann Roman Catholic Church out of reverence for Saint Ann, mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus.
Children’s Giglio
Giglio builder Michael Calo instructs his son Michael Jr., the children’s Number One Capo Paranza before he leads the children’s parade and dancing of the Giglio.
Rebuilding the Giglio
Giglio builder Nicholas Guggino from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, looks down from the Giglio structure and takes directions from the ground crew to straighten and fasten the face of the Giglio. The Giglio had to be rebuilt with resources and men from other Giglio societies in NYC because heavy rain and wind had damaged the original structure.
Giglio Sunday
Mass at the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in East Harlem to bless Megan Zangaglia, the Number One Capo Paranza.
Father Chris Salvatori of the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in East Harlem blessing the Giglio and its lifters.
Megan Zangaglia, the first female Number One Capo Paranza, expressed her gratitude in front of the Giglio before commencing the first lift of the Giglio. On the Giglio’s platform are Danny Vecchiano, the Giglio Band, and singer Jimmy Alleva, the “voice of the Giglio.”
Number one Capo Paranza, Megan Zangaglia, commanding a women-led lift of the Giglio. The lift commands are spoken into the mic and expressed in Italian. The East Harlem Giglio Society is the only Society that allows women to touch and lift the Giglio.
Capo John Zangaglia guiding the up-to-85-foot-tall Giglio through the streets of East Harlem to the front of the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.
Number One Capo Paranza, Megan Zangaglia rallies the lifters as her father, John Zangaglia, guides the Giglio to the front of the Pontifical Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in East Harlem.
Giglio builder Patrick DiCanio (Left) and fellow lifters dancing the over 9,000 pounds Giglio.
Lifters congratulating Anthony Napolitano after he commanded the dancing of the Giglio.
Megan Zangaglia commanding her final lift as the Number One Capo Paranza, returning the Giglio to its original location.
You can learn more about the Giglio Society of East Harlem by visiting www.eastharlemgiglio.org