The Washington times., 1894-11-11
QUEER FESTIVAL OF TIE GIGLIs.

When italian Strong Men Garry Huge sky
scraping ObeIiSks on their Shoulders.
Every year on October l there is celebrated
in the village of Nola, in Southern Italy, a
fete that Is remarkable in many OF its features
and entirely unlike any other that is known,
says me New York World. The fete il ques-
ton is dedicated to the patron Of st. Paul,
who in voyage to Constantinople was cap
tured by corsairs when near Pompeii and was
treated as those gentlemen usually treated
their guests. Paul escaped. however and
reached Nola, where he found food and
shelter.
On the day OF the fete yearly the streets OF
the little town are crowded with peUp q from
all over the surrounding country, who come
espec ally 10 assist in the glOridcaUon OF the
gi5Ii, as it is called. The gigi (Hy) is a sort
of oDeIisS OF Tapier-naehe. mounted on q
framework of wood, decorated with angels in
gold, with mosaics. and surmounted with
statue OF the saint himself.
The obelisHs are in the same form as those
OF white marble which Oruamen; the squares
OF san Dominica MaGgiore and Trin Ia Mag
giore IN Naples They have four or FIVE plat
forms, on the first OF which & dozen musicians
ars placed with their instruments. These
towers or gislis are ninety feet high and
weigh from 100 to l 900 pounds.
The originality of the spectacle consists in
the fact that tOrty men carry each OF these
gIslis around on their shoulders. Ten men
are GplOrtioned TO each side of the 6ase of
| The oDaltsk, WI .ch is provided with poles for
| the purpose and the men walk Of with it,
| dance with 1t and otherwise dispOrt them
! selves 20 the great amusement or the crowd.
There are generally eight oi these tall gig
/ lis, each devoted to IA different trade-bakers.
ca inetme6eTs, shoemaEers. tailorS. grOcers,
workers in iron. butchers and builders. Each
trade constructs its own tower and tops it
with the patron saint OF IFS particular seIec-
tion
In the rear of the parade is gigantic bark
/ carried in the same manner IS the Obelisks.
This bark is intended to show the sort OF
craft in which ST. Paul was when the cor
sairs took charge of him. To make the stu
alton still more realistic there are dozen or
more men in the bark dressed as pirates.
The procession of towers meets in the
morning on the great square OF the town be-
fore the cathedral. Inthe midst Of q tremen-
dous crowd The band from the cavalry regi-
ment in garrison breaks forth with inspirin :
music, the mob cheers and the procession
makes ready to start. And then there is an
uproarl
The bells on all the churches ring, the whis-
/ ties blow, the throng throws bOmbs, the car
riers Ii up their burdens OF. pal ier-macne.
the orohestras on the first stage of the towers
strike up the air Of polka and then the pro-
cession starts or. the carriers keeping time 10
the polka in their steps.
At the first stroke of noon the doors of the
cathedral are thrown open and q procession
OF priests emerSes bearing the relics of St.
Paul and followed by the members of the con-
gregation. The procession then makes a tour
OF the city. At 1890 the entire population
seats itself in restaurant and cabaret to en- oy
lunch The festivities last through the rest
of the day and far into the night This unique
fete is always celebrated on October 1.