Giglio

The legend of the Giglio goes back to 409 AD when San Paolino di Nola was freed from his enslavement by the Huns and rather than be freed alone, would only leave if all the other men of Nola were freed too. The Huns did let all the Nola heads go and not too surprisingly, Paolino became a big hero. The huge statue with San Paolino on the top is meant to represent the mad bouquets of lilies that all the townspeople brought out to pay respect to Paolino after he died. In fact, Gigli, is Italian for Lily. But the Dance of the Giglio ain’t all pretty flowers. Picking up a 7-story tall statue and dancing around with it in perfect time to a marching band is no easy task and the dance isn’t just made up as it goes along.

The entire spectacle is carefully organized in a way that’s actually quite similar to another very successful Italian enterprise that shall remain unnamed. You see each dance is overseen by a Capo, delegated by 4 lieutenants, and carried out by over 100 foot soldiers, here known as Paranza (lifter in Italian). The whole thing, dancing, singing, and making sure the whole tower doesn’t flatten the few thousand faithful onlookers, is better executed than the Valentines Day Massacre. Check it out sometime, in person, it’s unbelievable. The Dance of the Giglio takes place every year on June 22.