Merrimack Valley

VIDEO: Preparing for the Feast of the Three Saints


Published: August 31, 2007


Video by Mike Dean/Staff photographer

In the days leading up to the Feast of the Three Saints, the area along Common Street is abuzz. Members of the Saint Alfio Society are busy preparing the stages at the Common and the corner of Union and Common streets. Lights and tents are erected. The local Italian bakeries are preparing for their biggest weekend of the year. At the Italian Kitchen, people will be lined up around the block for their specialty: a fried dough known as crispelli.

All those involved in putting on the largest annual event in Lawrence will tell you their motivation for all their hard work goes beyond the entertainment, food or money. They do it for the Three Saints: Alfio, Filadelfo and Cirino who were martyred in 253 A.D. in Sicily for not renouncing their Christian faith. "The Saints are always in our hearts," said Peter Messina, owner of the Italian Kitchen.