The St. Ann’s Feast has been an essential celebration of Hoboken’s Italian-American cultural heritage for close to 100 years. The festival centers on St. Ann’s church, the small neighborhood Jefferson Street parish that originated 104 years ago and houses the now famous statue of St. Ann.
For the past 94 years, the devoted men and woman of Hoboken and surrounding areas have paid homage to St. Ann, the patron saint of women who are trying to conceive.
The festival, which is slated to begin Thursday, July 22 and run through Monday, July 26, at Seventh and Jefferson streets, annually draws well over 100,000 visitors.
It first started when a few hundred immigrants from Monte San Giacomo gathered in Hoboken to honor the patron saint of their small Italian town. Society members adorned with shawls, sashes and ribbons with the image of St. Ann proceeded through the streets as bands played both religious and traditional Italian songs. Visitors to the festival’s final day will be part of a special homage to St. Ann in a procession including a 600-pound statue in her likeness, carried by the ladies’ guild of St. Ann’s Church. The procession will last between five and six hours.
For pregnant women, it’s common to accompany the statue in their bare feet as an expression of their devotion to the saint. To this day, women who are pregnant and those wishing to become pregnant turn to her for help.
Much fun
While the festival has its traditions firmly based in religious piety, there is also a lot of fun to be had. A wide selection of homemade international food, handmade crafts, rides, games, and live musical entertainment, bring added energy to the annual festival.
Attendees may come for the rides, the games of chance, and the St. Ann’s Guild’s fried, doughy zeppoles (the recipe is a closely guarded secret). There will also be a beer garden, concerts, and the simply magical feeling of an Italian-style celebration.
The festival will run from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. every day, and from 10 a.m. to midnight on Monday, which is the feast day including the procession of the saint.
The novena will begin on Saturday, July 17 at 6 p.m. and will continue each night through Sunday, July 25, at 7 p.m., except on Saturday, July 24, when it will occur at 6 p.m. There are particular blessings given each night. The prayers and anointing for the sick and infirm will occur Saturday, July 24.
The following bands will appear: Thursday, July 22, Danza Fiesta and Jose Alberto (for “Latin Night”); Friday, July 23, Johnny Maestro and the Brooklyn Bridge; Saturday, July 24, Spyro Gyra; Sunday, July 25, the Pops; Monday, July 26, Christina Fontanelli with the Jordan Thomas Orchestra.
“It’s a pre-eminent festival,” said Lucy Truglio, a parishioner and lifelong Hoboken resident who is doing public relations for the event. “It’s a wonderful tradition for the city of Hoboken. A lot of people come back who’ve moved out of Hoboken.”
Truglio explained, “St. Ann is the mother of the Virgin Mary. She was barren and old when she gave birth to Mary. God granted her and husband a child.”
The chairperson of this year’s event is Mario Ferraro.
For more information, go to www.st-annchurch.com or call (201) 659-1114.