"Dancing/raising the Giglio"

See that tall wooden structure? It's hand-made, about 60 feet high and weighs several tons. It artfully depicts images of revered saints and is the centerpiece of a traditional procession in Italian neighborhoods throughout the world. This was was in Belmont (Little Italy in the Bronx)

There's pain here and I was told that it's supposed to be like that to demonstrate religious homage to the church. Isn't the religious life full of pain and anguish if lived correctly? But there's also camaraderie and friendship between the lifters (or "paranza") after each brief lifting session.

BTW, the word "giglio" refers to lilies. There's a story here. Go ahead. Google it. You'll find it interesting.