By J1 Reporter Sophia Losole

This past summer (August 2024), the Santa Lucia Italian Festival celebrated its 100 years. That is a huge milestone for the Italian community in Omaha. Located in Little Italy (South of Pacific Street and east of 10th Street), this festival goes on for four days with live bands, delicious Italian food, a cannoli eating contest, a bocce ball tournament and so much more. But where did it all start?

In 1925, Gracia Bonadefe Caniglia, a devoted immigrant mother of six from Sicily, founded Omaha’s Santa Lucia Festival. Her deep faith led her to walk daily from Sixth & Pierce Street to St. Philomena Catholic Church (now St. Francis Cabrini about 0.4 miles). Gracia, along with her husband Rosario, embarked on a mission to recreate Carlentini’s Santa Lucia Festival in Omaha. In Carlentini, Italy they have a similar festival and Gracia wanted to recreate it in Omaha. This endeavor aimed to provide Italian immigrants with a profound connection to their homeland and foster a deeper faith in their new land. 

The first day starts with an opening ceremony where members of the committee walk on the same path Caniglia did when she first came here. They carry a statue of Saint Lucy the patron saint of the blind to the middle of the street where she will watch over the festivities. Next comes all the other festivities. 

“I can’t exactly say the first time I ever went, all I know is I have been going since I could walk!” said Evelyn Losole, current freshman at Duchesne. Her favorite part about this festival is being with everyone she loves. She loves meeting new people and spending time with some that she only gets to see once a year. 

“If I love something I love to get involved as much as possible. I am a part of the Santa Lucia Festival Junior committee and love working with everyone. Seeing everyone work together and trust one another is such a cool experience,” Losole said. She is proud of her Italian heritage and loves showing it throughout this festival. She also loves watching her dad, brother, cousins and Nonno (grandpa in Italian) compete in the bocce ball tournament every year. 

The game of bocce ball was first played in the 19th century in Italy and has been brought over to America where families can play this game and have a friendly competition. But to Losole’s Nonno, he would say something different. He is so competitive, that he even got his own practice bocce ball court in his backyard. But it must be worth it because he has won the summer championship two years in a row. Back-to-back champs!

Another part of this festival is nominating a Queen to embody Saint Lucy. This past winner was Alli Venditte, a junior at Gross Catholic. This win was won from community service and raffle tickets. Losole plans on running for Queen in two years. “I am very excited because it has been a dream of mine since I was little,” Losole said. While at the festival she always thinks about her future family and their involvement in this festival. “I hope to one day take my kids to the Santa Lucia Festival and have a daughter run for Queen just like I will be in two years,” Losole said. 

Losole is devoted to her Italian culture and is not ashamed to embrace it. “I think it is very important that every Italian experiences this festival! It truly makes you feel this sense of belonging and there is never a dull moment,” Losole said. Losole also shows her faith within this festival by her community service. She serves the people who attend the festival with food and good energy. She is doing God’s work and giving back to her community. 

Losole embodies a true Italian-American. Through traditions and her faith, she gets to live out her culture and celebrate being a Child of God. This festival is a tradition she hopes to carry for a long time. 

Losole and her family go to the Santa Lucia Festival every year and she loves this tradition for the Summer. It is something to look forward to in her family. Being a part of the Italian community during this festival is so strong. There is laughter, good food and memories made that will last a lifetime.