In touring this neighborhood, although only three blocks total, one can hear, smell, and experience the cultural phenomenon that encapsulates more than one variety of cultural characteristics. Walking out of the Canal Street subway station, you can be first greeted by Chinese sellers, looking to catch tourists on their way to Little Italy and Chinatown. They offer cheap prices and off the rack jewelry and clothing items, an intimidating experience for one not accustomed to this type of selling. In Chinatown specifically, this type of on the street selling is very common as shop owners are extremely motivated to get their products sold. As Little Italy very closely borders Chinatown, it is more common to see this type of selling around the area. Walking down the streets of Little Italy the first, the most noticeable cultural aspect is that of the multiple languages, none of which are necessarily Italian. Although a few waiters and shop owners could be overheard speaking Italian, the most evident languages heard are Chinese and Spanish. Being on the border of Chinatown it makes sense that Chinese dialogs would overlap those within Little Italy. Similarly, the tourism that has permeated its way into the neighborhood would account for the multiple languages rather than one. Gift shops line the streets, with more Indian, Bangladeshi, or Pakistani workers than Italians. When walking past one can hear the shop owners switching between acquired languages in order to appeal to multiple tourists. Even in turning the corner, a man stands outside a local restaurant, filling the streets with the sounds of the accordion. There are gelato and cannoli stands that line the streets as well, with young Spanish workers. It is easy to feel both transported to an Italian wonderland, while simultaneously hearing and experiencing the cultures that are home to New York City as well.
While walking to Mulberry Street, a beautiful and historical site is the previous headquarters for the New York City Police Department. Built-in 1909 and headquarters of the NYPD until 1973, this building is an important architectural figure especially being located on the edge of Little Italy. Many Italian-Americans joined the police force and fire departments when immigrating to the United States. Not only did these jobs not require long term education, but they also became jobs that would be passed down from generation to generation. Unfortunately, this building is no longer an active police station. It has been converted into luxury apartments, much like the rest of Manhattan, and is currently up for sale. However, it’s beauty and relevance to the Italian-American culture is still evident today.
Located right in the heart of Little Italy is another traditional landmark: the Church of the Most Precious Blood. Originally built to help Southern Italian immigrants after being shunned by Irish Roman Catholics in New York City, this church plays a pivotal role in Italian history and religious culture. When the first waves of Southern Italian immigrants arrived, they were rejected by established New Yorkers, who forbid these immigrants from practicing worship in established NYC churches. Left with no other choice, these Italian immigrants were forced to practice worship and pray in the basements of old, crowded buildings. At the time, the Italian population in Little Italy was rapidly growing, and the Catholic Church wanted to provide a proper place of religious worship. In the late 1800s, the Vatican sent a group of priests to establish a national parish in Little Italy. The church still plays a significant role in religious life in Little Italy, as it houses the revered statue of Saint Januarius, the Patron Saint of Naples. This religious statue is brought out during the Feast of San Gennaro, an annual festival that signifies the strong religious presence found in the community. Initially a single day religious commemoration, the festival was first celebrated in the U.S on September 19th, 1926. On this day, immigrants from Naples and the Campania region of Italy gathered on Mulberry Street to celebrate the Patron Saint of Naples, Saint Januarius. Over the years, this festival has grown to become an extremely popular annual celebration of food and drink, attracting tourists from all over the world. In addition to a street fair and carnival rides, the festival includes a Roman Catholic procession of a state of Saint Januarius, which is carried from the Most Precious Blood Church through the streets of Little Italy. Furthermore, the Italian-Americans have always held strong ties to the Roman Catholic religion, so much so that they brought their traditions from their homeland to the streets of New York City.
