♪ ANTHONY: THE STREETS IN THIS CORNER OF THE NORTH END FILL UP QUICKLY.
TONY ENJOYS HIS FRONT ROW SEAT.
>> WE TRAVEL UP FROM NEW JERSEY.
WE’VE BEEN COMING UP FOR MAYBE 25 YEARS.
>> THE FEAST WAS INCREDIBLE.
IT’S A CELEBRATION OF ITALIAN CULTURE AND FOOD.
ANTHONY: CHEF DAVID HOSTS THE CULINARY PAVILION.
>> WE HAVE SHIFTS FROM ALL OVER THE NORTH END AND THE CITY OF BOSTON ALL DISPLAYING THEIR TECHNIQUES.
ANTHONY: NUMBERS TELL THE STORY HERE.
THE FEAST ATTRACTS MORE THAN 300,000 PEOPLE.
THE PIZZERIA SELLS 15,000 SLICES OF EATS A, 40 TONS OF TRASH GETS HAULED AWAY.
FOR PAUL, IT IS A FAMILY AFFAIR.
>> THAT MY FATHER SISTER, THAT’S MY OTHERS FATHER’S SISTER.
WHEN WE GREW UP, MY GRANDMOTHER WAS ON THE SECOND FLOOR.
MY AUNT WAS ON THE THIRD FLOOR AND WE LIVED ON THE TOP FLOOR AND EVENTUALLY, WE DECIDED WE HAD TO MOVE.
ANTHONY: TODAY, HIS AUNT HOLDS COURT FROM THE PORCH.
THERE’S ALWAYS FOOD, EVEN ON FEAST DAYS.
>> IS SO BEAUTIFUL WHEN ST.
LUCIE COMES OUT.
THIS FEAST FOR ME IS 100% BECAUSE WE HAVE THE SAME FEAST IN ITALY IN MY TOWN.
AND SAINT ANTHONY.
ANTHONY: SHE HAS WITNESSED A HALF CENTURY OF FEAST.
THEY WERE NOT ALWAYS AS GRAND AS NOW.
>> I WISH OUR PARENTS WOULD SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE.
THEY ARE NOT HERE ANYMORE.
THEY WERE ABLE TO SEE HOW GOOD IT IS TODAY.
ANTHONY: FOR MANY, THE RELIGIOUS SIGNIFICANCE IS OVERSHADOWED BY THE FESTIVE FABLESS FEAR.
IT’S HARD NOT TO GET SWEPT UP IN THE EMOTION OF THE CROWD AS THEY WAIT FOR ST. ANTHONY TO APPEAR.
AMONG THE CELEBRANTS IS THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
>> THIS IS AN EXPERIENCE.
THIS IS BEING UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL, CELEBRATING WHAT YOU LOVE.
THIS IS THE BEST OF THE BEST WHEN IT COMES TO ITALIAN AMERICAN CULTURE AND HERITAGE.
ANTHONY: IN A QUIET MOMENT INSIDE THE CHAPEL, SAINT ANTHONY IS READY.
THE GOLD, PLACED BY PEOPLE ASKING FOR PRAYERS TO BE ANSWERED.
FOR YOUNG AND OLD ALIKE, IT’S A SOLEMN MOMENT, RECOGNIZING A CENTURY OF TRADITION BORN RIGHT HERE.
>> FOR ALL OF THOSE, FOR YOUR GRANDFATHERS, YOUR GREAT-GRANDFATHERS.
ANTHONY: THE STATUE IS NEARLY AS OLD AS THE FEAST, THE 485 POUNDS WILL BE PARADED THROUGH THE NORTH, COLLECTING MONEY TO BE DONATED TO CHERRIES -- CHARITIES OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR.
IT’S THE FIRST FOR THE BOSTON POLICE COMMISSIONER.
>> I LOVE TIME-HONORED TRADITION.
I THINK IT SHOULD BE TAUGHT AT HOME AND SHARED WITH ALL CULTURES SO WE CAN APPRECIATE EACH OTHER.
ANTHONY: A TIME-HONORED TRADITION, BOTH RELIGIOUS AND FESTIVE.
THE JOY OF STROLLING THE STREETS KNOWING YOU WON’T GO HUNGRY AND MOVING TO THE BEAT OF LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ON STAGE HERE, LOUIS PRIMA JUNIOR.
>> HE PERFORMED 13 MIRACLES IN HIS LIFETIME.
HE CREATED 14 BECAUSE THE SUCCESS OF THIS FEAST SEEMS LIKE A MIRACLE TO TAKE PLACE IN THIS WORD.
SHAYNA: SO MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES IN THE NORTH END.
ORGANIZERS ARE NOT LETTING THE PANDEMIC DESTROY THE SPIRIT OF THE FEAST OF ST. ANTHONY AND ST.
LUCY.
THE IN-PERSON FEAST IS CANCELLED, BUT THE ONLINE FEAST BEGINS TONIGHT AND WILL RUN THROUGH SUNDAY.
THERE WILL BE COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS, MUSIC, AND A LIVE-STREAMED MASS FROM ST.
LEONARD’S CHURCH.
THEY’LL ALSO HAVE VIDEOS OF THE OPENING CEREMONIES AND THE GRAND PROCESSION, FROM THEIR ARCHIVES.
WE’LL HAVE LINKS TO MORE INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSITE.
UP NEXT, ANOTHER TRIED AND T