Fiesta Through the Years
VIVA! It’s that time of year again. Nope – hockey season hasn’t started. Yet. It’s time for the St. Peter’s Fiesta. What? You have never heard of it. Here is a quick rundown:
Photo courtesy of Google. Gotta love Google!
St. Peter's Fiesta is a five-day festival honoring the patron saint of the fisherman, St. Peter. The festival began in 1927 when a statue of St. Peter was enshrined by fishermen in the heart of the Italian district in Gloucester. Highlights of Fiesta include the blessing of the fishing fleet, an open-air Mass, a carnival, seine boat races and the Greasy Pole and don’t forget your Fiesta Whites. To say it’s a big weekend in Gloucester is an understatement.
My mother grew up in the middle of Fiesta. 2 Fort Square. Down the Fort. The house is still in my family and continues to be an integral part of our family's Fiesta traditions. Ben’s paternal grandfather even ran an Italian sausage cart for years. I’ve been celebrating Fiesta my entire life. From walking in the parade as a child to winning cheesy carnival toys for Ben, I’ve done it all. Including *gasp* not going one year. As we grow up, our fascination and feelings about Fiesta change. Here is how it’s changed for me:
Stage 1 – Childhood
My Aunt Vencie. She was one of a kind. Thankfully her daughter, Christine, is still keeping the Ciarametaro Fiesta traditions alive.
Fiesta is the best! Rides, games, carnivals. My mom would carefully pick out our Fiesta Whites for the Sunday parade. My sister and I would carry the St. Peter’s sign in front the statue. We weren’t allowed to play on the beach during the boat races. Can’t get those white dresses dirty. I can even hear my aunt’s yelling (that’s how they communicate) at my mother for not letting us have fun. My aunt Vencie always put out quite the spread. We would be forced to eat in shifts because of the amount of people coming in and out. We knew from a young age how important St. Peter was to our family. My grandfather was a fisherman. I’m sure St. Peter had something to do with his safe return home after being lost at sea.
Stage 2 – Teenager
A small, very small, ounce of independence. Getting to explore Fiesta without adults – now you are talking! People are everywhere and not just Gloucester residents. The population of Gloucester triples during Fiesta. People are drinking booze everywhere. The opportunity is there to make bad decisions. Hopefully your children are smart enough to make good choices.
Stage 3 – Young Adult
Young Jillian enjoying Fiesta. VIVA!
Oh snap – I’m finally 21! I don’t have to sneak into the Gloucester House or the Old Timers anymore. You might even fall in love with the cute guy working the sausage cart. Introducing Fiesta to your college buddies is the best. My friends still text me and ask when Fiesta is. Drunk people are still everywhere. Just check the Gloucester Daily Times during the weekend of Fiesta. It’s makes for some good reading. My mom and grandmother read this blog so I won’t go into any of my Fiesta indiscretions.
Stage 4 – New Mom mode
Time to switch gears into Mom mode. Ben was only a month old for his first Fiesta. There were multiple trips to the sausage cart and plenty of Fiesta white outfit changes. I even ran my first ever 5K. Over the years, Fiesta has become calmer and I’m okay with that.
It's all fun and games...until you try to beat me at a carnival game. I won. BTW.
Stage 5 – Mom Mode cont.
As Ben grows up, he will go through his own Fiesta journey. Will he row or walk the Greasy Pole? Will he want to bring back the sausage cart? Will he get arrested? Just kidding. Well – kind of. As a parent, I can only hope that he makes good decisions and remembers the importance of why we celebrate every year.
