It’s an unforgettable sight: more than a hundred people packed into the streets of Williamsburg, lifting a four-ton statue called the Giglio.

It’s a tradition dating back to 1903, when Italian immigrants  brought their customs to Brooklyn as a way to honor their patron Saint San Paulino.

But this year, for the first time since World War II — there will be no Giglio lift. The surrounding two week feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is cancelled, too.

Sonny Mangone, 91, cannot remember a summer without either tradition.

“A dream could come true being a little boy in the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel,” said Mangone.

Mangone is the oldest living past number one Capo — one of the titles for a feast leader. Four generations of his family participate in the feast every year. But Mangone said he knew it was only a matter of time before it was cancelled because of the coronavirus. 

“It’s a heartbreak. It’s something we all look forward to,” said MangoneI.

The loss of the feast is taking its toll on the parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel as well.

Monsignor Gigantiello says the feast accounts for about 75 percent of the parish’s annual funding. 

“It’s a big impact. It’s not just like not having a party. There’s so much background to it and so much emotional and faith involved and tradition that it’s important that we keep this feast alive,” said Msgr. Gigantiello.

The revenue loss is compounded by the cancellation of all church services. Collections during Sunday mass, which already were dwindling, have completely dried up. 

“We have all new hipsters in the neighborhood, the neighborhood has changed and it’s a beautiful neighborhood, but many of them don’t come to church so we rely on the proceeds from the feast to sustain the parish for the whole year,” said Msgr. Gigantiello.

Executive board member Domenic Varuzza is hopeful next year’s feast will be the biggest celebration yet.

“You don’t want to say ‘we’ll do it next time.’ Because there might not be a next time. So I think this has taught us all a real big lesson about that,” said Varuzza.

He says it’s a reminder that family and faith are most important in life.