Feste dei Santi a Larimer Avenue- Saint Festivals on Larimer Avenue

An image of the Saint Rocco procession along the streets of East Liberty in 1940.  In this photograph, the float carrying the statue of Saint Rocco is passing in front of Our Lady Help of Christians Roman Catholic Church.

Chief among the many manifestations of Italian American culture on Larimer Avenue were the festivals and celebrations dedicated to the Roman Catholic Saints.  As Herb Amen learned while living in East Liberty's Little Italy, many first generation Italian Americans upheld the Italian tradition of organizing festivals for the patron saints of their paesi (villages).  Listen as Herb reminisces about the saint festivals that brightened the summer nights of the Italian American community in East Liberty.