Blessing of the Fleet
blessing fleet tradition began century ago mediterranean fishing community practice began predominantly catholic practiced christian blessing local priest pastor meant ensure safe bountiful season port event brought immigrant held strongly christian religious belief event part ritual vary community range simple ceremony multiday festival including church service parade pageantry dancing feasting contest tradition blessing ship old performed launching new vessel christening well regular practice ensure protection ship crew origin practice grounded among jesus calling fisherman apostle well miraculous catch fish intervention jesus tradition blessing boat seems particularly common mediterranean blessing boat th century italy survive blessing often performed specific day guardianship different saint st peter gruissan occitanie birżebbuġa malta st vito mazara del vallo sicily virgin carmel various place spain cartagena la savina ibiza tradition putting celebration patronage virgin carmel spain introduced antonio barceló th century therefore celebration often take place th july saint day include image virgin carried one boat practice however also known northern europe reformation priest yarmouth would bless fishing ship yearly priest would afterwards preach fishing sermon th century hebrides additionally blessing new vessel every time crew ship changed priest would go board speak blessing sprinkle boat holy water time russian ship bound siberia never left port without blessed priest current practice blessing fleet u appears emerged th century fishing industry developing along gulf coast spread decade world war ii possibly first blessing fleet took place biloxi mississippi followed blessing la batre alabama brunswick georgia late provincetown massachusetts custom started fourth july typically date tradition rooted portuguese community first blessing fleet australia took place typically boat cleaned meticulously decorated flag proceeding blessing vessel blessed holy water dispensed aspergillum priest standing auspiciously placed boat boat process blessing catholic church differentiates blessing general boat well specifically fishing boat date blessing ceremony fixed take place typically either spring early summer ceremony also offer opportunity remember men woman died sea pray successful year fishing state australia port fishing community tradition blessing fleet port fairy victoria queenscliff victoria stanley tasmania ulladulla new south wale fremantle western australia tradition blessing fleet spread along eastern seaboard great lake region annual blessing fleet festival held throughout community along gulf coast year boat parade local water receive blessing priest opening shrimp season shrimping industry long history area become intrinsically tied local individual community identity th annual blessing fleet portuguese immigrant introduced event new home brunswick georgia around time world war ii blessing held mother day honor lady fatima patron saint portugal mother parish event begin morning mass ceremonial may crowning statue lady fatima followed parishioner parade around hanover square adjacent church procession led knight columbus honor guard men carrying statue statue base decorated fern fresh red living mother white deceased mother flower anchor made red white flower also placed statue base celebration move waterfront shrimp trawler freshly painted decorated circle waterfront working boat usually matched equal number recreational watercraft priest st francis knight columbus honor guard board one boat priest sprinkle holy water blesses boat pass procession boat judged decoration prize awarded best last boat blessed boat move east river st simon sound flower anchor laid upon water memory local fisherman perished sea darien georgia held annual blessing since blessing held darien river sunday afternoon spring date varies scheduled coincide falling tide rising tide could drive boat bridge—a reminder always mercy weather celebration darien begin early week activity include evening prayer service fishermens fish fry threeday festival art craft food vendor many family kidoriented event live entertainment firework saturday night local cleric various denomination stand ready darien bridge bless boat turnaround move darien river back atlantic begin spring shrimping season celebration jacksonville florida simple ceremony first held held palm sunday orthodox priest blessing fun festive boat parade participant go overboard decoration typically vessel participate blessing ranging ship kayak event also commemorated st augustine florida since mcclellanville sc held lowcountry shrimp festival blessing fleet annually since event held fishing community municipal landing jeremy creek mcclellanville first saturday may year blessing fleet ceremony ageold tradition boat parade past dock local clergy pray safe bountiful season clergy give blessing beautiful magnolia wreath covered red rose tossed water memory honor mcclellanville fisherman typically time year boat preparing opening season freshly painted cleaned looking best boat decorate festival usually loaded people love ride parade quite picturesque remainder day filled family entertainment childrens game local seafood dish boiled fried shrimp dinner shrimp kabob frog stew clam chowder fish stew barbecue annual blessing fleet seafood festival mount pleasant sc pay tribute local shrimping fishing industry offering boat parade live music craft show many free activity picturesque ravenel bridge charleston harbor backdrop festival held last sunday april every year continuing tradition begun magwood family local shrimper started festival every year net proceeds festival donated local nonprofit organization blessing fleet portage de sioux missouri year history held year third saturday july front shrine lady river blessing fleet nation capital one premier event region boating season held spring along washington dc southwest waterfront hosted port washington yacht club supported several yacht club marina area marked th year blessing taken place activity land well water event exciting display pageantry seamanship draw boat year first blessing fleet celebration held eve two year anniversary large fire threatened many boat well life crew event advertised locally sign well facebook event feature trout boil portion proceeds benefiting algoma fire department pastor chris jackson performing ceremony blessing fleet planned annual kick event adding rich history lake michigan trout salmon fishing historic port city aguadilla puerto rico commemorated one hundredth anniversary blessing fleet known locally el paseo del virgen del carmen july tradition inheritance spanish colonialism spain patron saint fleet lady mount carmel parish saint charles bartholomew established aguadilla adorned image virgin first blessing initiated augustinian friar juan de gorostiza festivity include celebratory mass procession waterfront followed passage boat aguadilla nearby beach blessing fleet portage de sioux mo lowcountry shrimp festival blessing fleet city jacksonville official web page slideshow blessing fleet thousand island darien blessing fleet website mount pleasant blessing fleet seafood festival web page