Incorrect name on cake for Palermo mayor’s birthday in New York

Happy birthday, mayor Roberto Langella. Oh, my God, My God, what a mistake: they wanted to write Lagalla. A venial sin. We are in America, a foreign land, with approximate Italian, the oversight is forgiven with more indulgence. Mistaking the surname of the mayor of the Sicilian capital is a matter of nothing if you are not very familiar with the language of Dante. However, the thought and goodwill of the Italo-American community who thought of a kind gesture for someone who crossed the ocean to promote the Festino that is four centuries old is appreciated. The large cake in honor of Roberto Lagalla, renamed Mr. Langella, on the occasion of his 69th birthday (he was born in Bari on April 16, 1955) is rectangular and with blue edges. The mayor appears happy with the surprise and thanks, thank you so much, thank you very much.

In the Big Apple, in fact, there were two days of celebrations. The first one on the occasion of an evening organized by the Italian cultural association of New York, the Santa Rosalia society, the Italian-American Federation of Brooklyn and Queens, and the Sicilian Federation of New Jersey. The second appointment was held at the Italian Consulate in New York. A double commemoration, capable of linking the religious event to its roots and culture, even beyond borders. The program includes a series of events and activities that will begin in May and end in 2025. Music, culture, entertainment, historical representations will be presented in all areas of the city and, in particular, in the city center, at Cassaro, where on the days of July 14 and 15 the great historical procession of Santa Rosalia will take place, winding from the Royal Palace and the Cathedral to the seafront.

Lagalla’s message to America was clear. The sincere invitation: “Our event has a great impact, with thousands and thousands of citizens participating and hopefully visitors from countries where Sicilian communities are most present – Lagalla continues -. We hope that a large portion will come from the United States, where there are numerous communities belonging to families that originated and have roots in Sicily. We want to present ourselves as an advanced city – the mayor explained – that seeks a virtuous hybridization between the past and the present, between its roots and its future. We invite everyone to join us to visit Palermo, but also to enjoy the city, to taste our street food, and to choose the new opportunities of direct flights between New York and Palermo. This is the feeling with which we welcome you.”