North End Hosts Columbus Day Bash

Following the lead of almost a century's worth of Columbus Day celebrations, Italians and non-Italilans alike flocked to Boston's North End Sunday for a day of celebration.

"If you've got an Italian name, you celebrate Columbus Day," said Patrick Barrasso, who coordinated the traditional North End parade this year.

Sunday marked the 80th annual Columbus Day celebration for residents of the North End, whose Italian-American ancestors made the day a traditional party to commemorate the European discovery of America.

After the parade, partiers went to a banquet and North End residents and shop owners took a day off yesterday possibly to nurse hangovers.