AIFHS AGM & Presentation on Family Search Italian records: June 9th 2012

Manchester’s Italian community - and friends - gathered for the annual Madonna De La Rosario parade on Sunday 1st July, a Festa that was incorporated into the city’s Whit Walks in 1880. The procession assembled at the historic St Michael's Church, George Leigh Street, Ancoats – once the heart of the city's ‘Little Italy’ – before proceeding through the city centre to Albert Square.Strong winds and a sky full of rain clouds tested the strength and endurance of teams carrying the heavy statues and grasping the supporting poles and tapes of numerous banners, but did not deter young and old from coming together to enjoy Italian traditions and share their faith in a vibrant, colourful, annual event which grows bigger, longer, and louder each year – whatever the weather!