Since 1914, members of the St. Agrippina Di Mineo Society gather in Boston's North End to honor the Saint and raise money to help keep the churches in good repair. This is a tradition that can be traced back to Mineo, Sicily, the city where she was buried.

Posters advertising the event proclaim that "twenty devoted men" will carry a one-ton statue of the saint for several hours. The statue is decked with ribbons, to which those at the festival pin dollar bills. First, a priest says a brief prayer, and unveils the statue amid fireworks and music. When the signal is given, the devoted men lift the statue on their shoulders and begin the procession. The twenty devoted men stop frequenty and set the statue down, both to give themselves a rest from carrying it, and to give onlookers a chance to pin their money on the statue. Each time they set the statue down, the twenty devoted men yell out "Viva Agrippina!" several times. Sometimes they would even sing the words, "Viva Saint Agrippina!" to the tune "Deep in the Heart of Texas." The Roma Band then plays a several songs while money is pinned on the statue. The devoted men then pick up the statue again, walk for about 20 feet, and then set the statue down again and repeat the whole procedure.

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to attend the 87th annual celebration, which was held from August 3-5, 2001 on Battery and Hanover Streets, in North End Boston.

The St. Agrippina Di Mineo Society can be contacted at the following address:

St. Agrippina Di Mineo Society
459 Hanover Street
Boston, MA 02113