Giglio Mania #3: The Compelling Spectacle of the Giglio

There is nothing quite like standing in front a three-ton, 80-foot-tall statue being carried down a Williamsburg street, while you are walking backwards shooting photos and praying that the people behind you move and that you do not fall and get trampled. Trust us, it adds some spice to life, particularly because the Giglio--the lift and dance of which we watched yesterday up close--does not stop on a dime. It also moves a lot faster than you would think, given the weight being carried. You can check out our slideshow in the post below too or our full flickr set or the Brookvid we posted below.)

Of course, watching and photographing the lift is one thing, but nothing compares to actually lifting the Giglio, as the looks on the faces of the gentlemen doing the lifting will attest. The Giglio is a piece of old Brooklyn. They have been lifting and carrying one for 120 years on these Williamsburg streets. It is inevitably blazing hot. It is unbearably crowded. It is vaguely dangerous and pretty crazy. We love it. We absolutely love it.