For two weeks in September, New York City’s Little Italy transforms into a vibrant celebration of Italian American culture with the Feast of San Gennaro. This annual event, now in its 100th year, has grown from a small, one-day gathering in 1926 to an 11-day festival attracting over a million visitors. It showcases Italian food, music, and religious traditions, drawing people from across the country and serving as a significant cultural touchstone for Italian Americans. The festival was founded in 1926 by members of the Church of the Most Precious Blood to honor St. Januarius, also known as San Gennaro. A 4th-century Christian bishop who was martyred for his faith, San Gennaro is revered in southern Italy for miracles attributed to him, including the calming of volcanic eruptions. Two vials of his blood, believed to liquefy on his feast day, have been venerated in Naples since the 14th century. The liquefaction is seen as a sign of divine protection, while its absence is interpreted as a warning of impending disaster. Originally, the feast provided Italian immigrants with a rare opportunity to celebrate their heritage in public, a time when many faced discrimination and prejudice. The early festival featured a procession with a statue of San Gennaro, to which devotees attached dollar bills as offerings. A bone fragment of the saint was also displayed in a reliquary. The event grew rapidly, expanding from a single day to a week by 1928. However, it faced legal challenges, including a ban by a city official who claimed the dollar bills were a profanation of religious symbols. This was later overturned by a court, which protected the community’s religious freedom. Over time, the festival became more inclusive, drawing participants from diverse backgrounds. By the 1940s, people of various ethnicities attended the feast, enjoying Italian music, dance, and food. The event continued to grow, with visitors traveling from across the United States to participate. However, the festival has also faced internal challenges, including concerns about overcrowding and the influence of organized crime. Despite these issues, the Feast of San Gennaro remains a central part of New York’s cultural identity. As the festival celebrates its 100th year, it also finds itself at the center of a debate about the changing nature of Little Italy. Recent controversies, such as the omission of the neighborhood from a city map of immigrant enclaves, have sparked discussions about how to honor the legacy of Italian immigrants who helped shape New York. While some argue that the neighborhood is no longer as Italian as it once was, others see the festival as a vital link to the past. The choice of San Gennaro as this year’s grand marshal symbolizes the enduring connection between Italian Americans and their heritage, bridging the generations and reaffirming the festival’s role as a celebration of both history and identity.