Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian nears 100th time bringing a taste of Italy to East Cambridge

For many in Cambridge – a college town – late summer heralds the return of students to the city. Families, teachers and students seek a last gasp of freedom before a return to the fall routine, and those who thrive on the warm temperatures and long days of summer coming slowly to terms with the reappearance of all things pumpkin spice. Late summer is also the time of street festivals, many of which celebrate the history and culture of Cambridge’s wide variety of communities.

On Sept. 6-8, one such festival celebrates its 99th year – nearly a century of bringing Cantabrigians of all ethnicities together to eat, drink and honor two of the Italian community’s important saints. Founded in 1926, the Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian was started by a society of the same name, dedicated to the patron saints of Gaeta, Italy, from whence many of its members had emigrated to East Cambridge and Somerville in the early years of the 20th century. For the past 100 years, the society has worked to aid Italian immigrants as they sought to integrate into Cambridge society while retaining important elements of culture, language and religion from their homeland.

Although the purpose of the society has shifted over the past century as the needs of the community changed, the enduring presence of the group – particularly its annual feast – illustrates the continuing importance of ethnic identity as a means of preserving individual and family history and building cross-cultural connections among all Cantabrigians.

At the turn of the 20th century in Cambridge, as in the nation at large, arriving immigrants were eager to assimilate into mainstream American culture as a means to access better employment, housing and educational opportunities for themselves and their families. But even as many of these new arrivals were learning to be “American,” they longed for the traditions they had left behind. Societies such as that of Saints Cosmas and Damian helped to bridge the divide between the old world and the new, providing access to English classes, jobs and housing for immigrants and a place to continue to practice ethnic and religious traditions. Founded in the era before government programs such as welfare or Social Security, these societies served as one of the only safety nets; members pooled their money and effort to help those in need in their communities.

Born in Cilicia in the third century C.E., twin brothers Cosmas and Damian were medical practitioners who treated rich and poor alike, refusing to accept payment. Accused of being Christians at a time the religion was outlawed in the Roman Empire, the brothers were sentenced to death by torture. Having escaped three attempts at the hands of their captors (by seemingly miraculous means), Cosmas and Damian were ultimately beheaded when they refused a final offer to renounce their Christian faith. They soon became the patron saints of Gaeta, a coastal Italian city south of Rome, and were reputed to have worked miracles in the city – most notably interceding to spare its residents from a deadly plague in the 18th century. As many immigrants from Gaeta came to East Cambridge seeking a new home, it should not come as a surprise that these two saints who had held onto their faith and had delivered their devotees from danger in the old country should become equally important figures in this new community.

The Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damien continues to be held in the East Cambridge neighborhood, just a block or so from its original location on Porter Street, and continues to welcome residents and visitors from all ethnic and religious backgrounds to celebrate the Italian culture that has remained vibrant in the city for well over a century. More information about the feast, including a full schedule of events, can be found here. As you enjoy the feast’s food and wine and watch the procession of statues through the streets of East Cambridge, take a moment to ponder the role that these long-standing traditions play in Cambridge’s sense of community and identity.

About History Cambridge

History Cambridge started in 1905 as the Cambridge Historical Society. Today we have a new name and a new mission. We engage with our city to explore how the past influences the present to shape a better future. We recognize that every person in our city knows something about Cambridge’s history, and their knowledge matters. We listen to our community and we live by the ideal that history belongs to everyone. Throughout 2024, we are focusing on the history of North Cambridge. Make history with us at historycambridge.org.

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Beth Folsom is programs manager for History Cambridge.

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