CLEVELAND–Kathleen Shannon is celebrating her birthday.
Yet, instead of a traditional cake and ice cream, she turned to her favorite holiday.
“Today is my 69th birthday and every year we come down here and celebrate,” said Shannon, of Euclid. “We go to the holy rosary, the church service at 10 o’clock. After the church service, we walk in the procession. It’s very sentimental.”
Shannon’s birthday coincides with the Feast of the Assumption in Little Italy.
Every Aug. 15, Shannon and her husband make way to the bustling Italian hot-spot, where a statue of the Virgin Mary is carried throughout the streets.
“When the Virgin Mary comes, they take her out of the church on a float,” said Thomas Lauretta, who lives on the parade route. “And that’s where the pictures everyone’s anxious to take.”
A mix of religion and partying–the four-day celebration draws a crowd of nearly 100,000.
This is the 113th year for the time-honored tradition, bringing people like Lois Brancato all the way from Los Angeles.
“Brings back all the traditions of my childhood,” said Brancato, who was born in the neighborhood. “It also gives us a chance to see people we haven’t seen in a long time. Just brings back the memories, the good memories of the way life used to be.”
Memories that Shannon hopes will continue for many more years to come.
“It’s important to be here. My husband sees a lot of his students he used to teach many years ago,” she said. “Out of all these people, like they say ‘it’s a small world.’ It’s a great way to celebrate.”