Cleveland – I was here last weekend for an assumption east feast in the city’s Little Italy district.
The assumption east feast observed on August 15th is one of the great days of the Roman Catholic calendar. It commemorates Mary’s blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, St. Mary, and other names that rely on her theology and denomination, variously called for her body and soul to the glory of heaven at the end of natural life on earth.
While most Protestants reject the belief, some Anglicans and Lutherans mark the day, there are rare public displays of faith that meet Cleveland’s historic Italian neighborhoods.
The festival has been held annually since 1899, centering around the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, an inconspicuous brick Baroque revival church built at the turn of the last century.
The east feast, as it was called, began as a simple religious celebration, and grew into a major cultural festival that lasted three days over the years, captivating thousands of visitors. Of course, locals will be, but so are Italian-Americans who have connections with Cleveland to their family. Others like me come as curious visitors who are looking for authentic expressions of Italian-American culture and Roman Catholic dedication.
Unlike well-known secular, more commercialized festivals and trade fairs, Religious Eity and cultural heritage remain inseparable. It reminded me of the sponsorship festivals still celebrated in rural Italian towns and cities, as well as other corners of Roman Catholic Europe.
This year’s East Feast officially opened at the strict 10am Hysus, praised by the Bishop of Cleveland, most pastor Edward Maresque. The sacred rosary of the parish church was full of the ability of worshippers to be overflowing outside.
Following the liturgy, a statue of Mary was carried through the small Italian city, as it was seen in Italian by prayer-processed clergy and laypeople. The statue was then placed in an outdoor shrine specially built for the festival. They remained there throughout the weekend surrounded by candles and flowers as the pilgrims stopped to pray for the rosary.
In addition to the opening mass, seven other masses were scheduled. This rhythm of worship revealed that as the festival grew, Christian faith was central, as expressed through Roman Catholicism.
In the end, devotion gave way to Marymaking.
The food stall opened as the smell of garlic and grilled meat filled the air. Families with roots in Sicily and elsewhere in Italy sold sausages and peppers, pasta with a generational recipe, cannoli, and refreshing lemon iced drinks. Much of the food was Italian American in red sauce. It’s heartfelt and comfortable, not a refined dish paired with sparkling wines in the traditional way of torrent or Francia Corta (or Italian, Metodo Clasio).
As the dusk fell, the music filled the streets. The band, including the aptly named Primavera Band, played in the evening with festival participants mixed in and mixed together.
Outside of the feast, Little Italy is worth a visit all year round. There is also an Italian-American Museum.
Side Street, lined with century-old Low Houses, a type of architecture seen across rusty belts, leads to Mayfield Road, the main street except for the name. This is where family-run Guarino, Cleveland’s oldest restaurant, has been serving food since 1918.
The Holy Rosary was founded over a century ago by immigrants who came to Cleveland and created new lives. Like counterparts elsewhere, they built churches at the heart of the community. Their faith and cultural traditions provided continuity and united families.
The hypothetical east feast is a reminder of what American religious and cultural life once looked like. Before the outskirts of the war, large cities had enclaves of different ethnic groups, each with distinctive traditions and culture.
If you’re going
I’ve written about Cleveland before.
The city that once ridden as a lake mistake is highly underrated. In fact, Cleveland is one of my favorite cities to spend the weekend.
Within walking distance of Little Italy is the University Circle, which serves as Cleveland’s cultural capital. This is where the world-class art museum and natural history museum are located. Another must-see Cleveland Museum is a sanctuary museum that is primarily sourced from the closed Roman Catholic Church, with a collection of religious art, objects and other items.
One area that Cleveland is disappointed in is the hotel. There are no real luxury hotels or luxury hotels. Even the 5-star Intercontinental I spent three nights is below one or two stars of the expected standards.
By car, Cleveland is about five hours from Chicago, six hours from Washington, and eight hours from St. Louis. All major airlines are offered at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport for the plane. There is no need to rent a car around.
Full Travel Planning Resources are available from destination Cleveland.
Dennis Lennox is a travel column for Christian Post.
Dennis Lennox writes about travel, politics and religion. He has appeared in the Financial Times, Independent, The Detroit News, Toronto Sun and other publications. Follow @dennislennox on Twitter.
