nothin St. Andrew Reappears — & The Party Starts | New Haven Independent

St. Andrew Reappears — & The Party Starts

Daniela Brighenti Photo

Standing in front of hundreds, Marie Apicella carefully tugged on one side of a soft, red curtain. On the other side, Anthony Pisanelli did the same, the two unveiling the statue of Saint Andrew the Apostle, the patron saint of Amalfi, Italy.

And so began the annual St. Andrew’s Society feast and fair in Wooster Square Thursday night.

The opening ceremony was moving for Apicella, who considers her Italian roots an essential component of her identity. She proudly speaks of her longstanding membership in the St. Andrew’s Society.

Though Apicella has been a sure presence at the society’s annual Italian feast for many decades now, this year’s celebration held special meaning for her. 

Marie has been a part of our group for over 35 years, and now this time we finally dragged her away from the restaurant,” Ladies’ Society President and festival co-chair Theresa Argento said to a cheering crowd. Now she has retired and can unveil the statue for us.”

When Apicella’s parents first came to New Haven, they spoke no English, Apicella said. In total, her family numbered 11 when they emigrated. She — the youngest of them all — had just been born and thus does not remember her early days in the U.S.

Her father and her older brother soon joined the St. Andrew’s Society. She came to join the group later, at age 15.

It was sort of a safe haven for all of us,” Apicella said. We all get together and it feels like just one big family, it’s nice.”

The festival runs through Saturday night on the grounds of the society at 515 Chapel St. For these three straight nights each year, the Amalfi community in New Haven gets to celebrate its Italian roots and come together as one with musical entertainment, typical Italian food and multiple religious celebrations.

In its opening night, the feast featured a parade through the Historic Wooster Square neighborhood, complete with elderly members of the society, dressed in traditional Amalfi garments, and young children of the St. Mary’s Grammar School Drum Corps.

As the procession went around the neighborhood, it passed the neighborhood’s many Italian businesses. Restaurant owners and shopgoers alike crowded the sidewalks to witness the event, with many of them greeting by first name those walking in the procession.

The camaraderie is the best part,” Lady’s Society member Fran Calabrese said. We all have the same traditions, the same culture here. And it’s nice to pass it on through these events.”

Soon after the procession, attendees gathered around the yet-unveiled statue of St. Andrew, where Monsignor Gerard Schmitz led the group in a blessing of the feast and of the society members. After leading the crowd in a prayer, Apicella and Pisanelli unveiled the Saint, officially marking the start of the three-day feast.

Throughout the entire opening night, society members underscored again and again the importance of tradition and friendship to this annual feast.

I’ve been following this event for years, and I can remember coming as a little boy,” Pisanelli said. I remember seeing the friendship, and it’s all about, once a friend, always a friend.’ Not to mention the food. Man, the food.”

Pisanelli’s father came to the US from Naples; his mother, from Amalfi. He noted that even though the club has been around for over 100 years now, that feeling of friendship is still there, for everyone.

Hopefully, we keep this going for another 100 years!” Argento said.

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