For the 77th consecutive year, San Francisco’s Italian community gathered together for La Festa della Madonna del Lume, a two-day celebration based on a tradition brought to San Francisco from the little Sicilian fishing village of Porticello. It was a time for families and friends to come together in memorial, prayer, thanks and celebration.
On Saturday, the community gathered at the Fisherman’s and Seaman’s Memorial Chapel at Fisherman’s Wharf. The religious service was dedicated to the memory of fishermen and seamen lost at sea.
Following the mass, everyone boarded a Red & White Fleet ferry, which went out into the bay, stopping under the Golden Gate Bridge. The ferry was escorted by a fleet fishing boat, as well as the San Francisco Fire Department’s “fire boat,” spraying water from its water cannons in every direction.
On board the vessel, the memorial ceremony at sea was held to honor all the fishermen and seamen who have died at sea. Wreaths and handfuls of flowers were cast into the sea by the Madonna del Lume Queen Anna Alioto-Suarez, as well as Queen Isabella and her Columbus Day Court.
On Sunday, the traditional La Madonna del Lume High Mass was celebrated at Saints Peter and Paul Church in North Beach, and the Queen of the Madonna del Lume Celebration was crowned. Following the Mass, all were invited to enjoy uno spuntino in the church cafeteria.
Once everyone was well fed and refreshed, La Madonna del Lume Parade began in front of the church, and processed more than a mile down Columbus Avenue to the stage on Jefferson Street at the fishing boat harbor. There, Master of Ceremonies Alessandro Baccari spoke about the history and significance of the festivities, and introduced the day’s entertainment and guest speakers. Baccari first attended La Madonna del Lume celebrations in San Francisco when he was a small child. Seventy-seven years later, he has become an indispensible fixture of the celebration.
Following the program, Father John Itzaina walked up and down the piers, individually blessing each fishing boat, sprinkling them with holy water. The blessing ceremony concluded back at the Fisherman’s and Seaman’s Memorial Chapel where the weekend’s festivities had begun the previous morning.
After a brief respite, everyone once again gathered together at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club to enjoy a delicious dinner served by Chef Paul Alioto and his staff.
Those who were still able to stand on their sore feet after two days of processing and parading between North Beach and Fisherman’s Wharf were given an opportunity to dance to the music of J.D. & Company Band well into the night.
“It was an exhausting but absolutely fantastic weekend,” said one of the members of the Queen’s Court. “I can hardly wait to do it all over again next weekend.”
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