Tradition carried on another year in the Salem Township community of Crabtree, which observed the 115th annual Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival this weekend. Despite Saturday’s fireworks show and festivities being canceled because of inclement weather, the tradition triumphed with Sunday’s morning Mass, procession and daytime fireworks show, with the Crabtree community gathered outside St. Bartholomew Parish.
Our Lady of Saint Carmel celebrations are a longstanding Catholic Italian tradition commemorating the day St. Simon Stock in the 12th century said Mary appeared to him with the baby Jesus. Maxine and Denis Zuzik, both 79, said putting on the Crabtree festival is a communal effort, which they used to help out with.
