On Aug. 15 every year, Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Assumption, which commemorates the belief that Mary’s (the mother of Jesus) body and soul were taken into Heaven when she died.

For staunch Catholics around the globe, celebrating the day means solemn Masses, parading a statue of the Virgin Mary around and saying the rosary.

For more lackadaisical Catholics or any Clevelander wanting to get in on the action, the Feast of the Assumption means flocking to the Little Italy neighborhood on the East Side. There, festival goers stuff their faces with fried mozzarella, cavatelli, cannolis and any other traditional Italian dish you can think of. 

The Feast of the Assumption is currently underway in Little Italy.  You are welcome to stroll the streets visiting food venders, listening to live music and popping into restaurants for a drink during these hours: 

Friday, Aug. 16: 6 p.m.-midnight

Saturday, Aug. 17: 12-11 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 18: 12-10 p.m.

Find all the details here.

The Feast — as locals call it — has been a huge Cleveland attraction for as long as any Signal Cleveland reporter or editor can remember. The annual festival has been around for countless generations. The festival was only canceled a handful of times, namely during world wars or a global pandemics.

With those obvious hints being said, do you know what year Cleveland’s Little Italy Feast of the Assumption began?

Learn about that below.

Also in this news quiz, test your knowledge on Cleveland’s oldest restaurant (hint: it’s also in Little Italy), Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign plans in Ohio and enrollment at Case Western Reserve University.

Congrats to quiz takers Shannon M., Jack M., Alan L., Johnny M., Richard J., Edgar B., Andy M., Sheila R., Sally S., William H., Jeanette R., Terry C., Marge C., Kari E. and Patricia Z. for getting 100% on last week’s quiz about the cost of a new Browns Stadium, police fines and more.

Good luck this week!