Many traditional Italian-American parishes celebrate the feast day of their patron saint. In Hoboken, that’s St. Ann’s. Of course, there are other St. Ann’s churches around the country—and even a major cathedral in Canada—but here in Hoboken, the feast is a big deal.
Following Italian custom, on the feast day, the statue of St. Ann is brought out of the church and carried through the streets of the parish—sometimes across the whole city. Years ago, it was believed that women who were pregnant or hoping to become pregnant would carry St. Ann barefoot. Over time, shoes replaced bare feet, and these days, the statue is rolled rather than carried on shoulders.
There was also a tradition where the men of the parish would carry the statue down and up the church steps, but only the women were allowed to carry her through the streets.
The feast usually lasts about a week, leading up to July 26. Each night there’s a novena in the church, and outside, it’s like a block party: food, music, raffles, games, and people greeting friends they haven’t seen in years. The celebration brings the parish and the larger Hoboken community together—and it helps raise money to support the church.
For many, the feast feels like a homecoming. It’s a chance to return to the church where they were baptized, received First Communion, were confirmed, got married—or saw family and friends do the same. It centers people. It connects past and present.
Growing up, St. Ann’s Day was treated like a local holiday. My parents, aunts, uncles—and a lot of folks in the neighborhood—didn’t go to work. They took the day off. It was religious, yes, but also very much about community. And it still is.
