St. Peter's Fiesta
st peter fiesta fiveday festival honoring patron saint fisherman st peter hosted italian american community gloucester massachusetts festival involves carnival seine boat race greasy pole contest attracts people festival began lifesized statue st peter enshrined fisherman heart gloucester italian district fisherman family began pray patron saint soon plan religious procession june came grew festival today festival held – – greasy pole threeday competition people commonly male attempt cross foot wooden piling extended horizontally foot cold water harbor pole covered bacon fat crisco fish gut lard local restaurant contestant must try retrieve red flag attached end winner carried street gloucester drink free public house stop along route concept greasy pole competition originated sicily th century earlier brought gloucester italian immigrant population fisherman early th century object walk across greased pole protruding platform yard shore platform depending tide anywhere – foot – water pole hang water foot long wide standard telephone pole pole heavily greased biodegradable axle grease mixed anything tabasco sauce oil banana peel various slippery object red flag sometimes italian flag red flag underneath nailed end pole idea run heavily greased pole try grab flag slipping falling water people age – go pavilion beach gloucester st peter fiesta last weekend june walk pole one time predetermined order generally male italian descent although walker may include nationality popularity event strict rule eligible walk sunday event currently held friday saturday sunday pm rule first round greasy pole dubbed courtesy round done walker get chance walk pole generally used get feel exactly greasy pole experienced walker walk small distance dive pole water save injury walker participating walked second round begin courtesy round flag come time three day greasy pole competed fiesta friday newcomer greasy pole event walk friday winner friday greasy pole walk first saturday fiesta saturday people began walking greasy pole friday implemented people greasy pole friday walk saturday winner saturday walk first sunday fiesta sunday also referred championship sunday winner saturday walk first platform former saturday sunday champion greasy pole year past protégés former champion longer walk died longer walk health reason winning fiesta sunday prestigious honor greasy pole walker achieve every year return walk fiesta sunday award generally speaking greasy pole done bragging right trophy given winner close knit town gloucester everyone know done right say free drink night bar danger obviously risky event walking almost frictionless environment anywhere – foot – water narrow pole dangerous several injury minor occurred injury range scrape bruise broken facial bone rib falling landing pole police boat nearby assist someone seriously injured need taken hospital trivia first winner greasy pole natale misuraca died new pole structure shrine point departure walker record greasy pole win belongs salvi benson saturday sunday peter black frontiero straight sunday contest – sunday win super sunday men day friday saturday sunday jake wood first th round friday rd sat nd sun jake started walking total win friday greasy pole implemented derek hopkins became second man win day taking flag nd round day first year eligibility year jake wood accomplished first trifecta anthony matza giambanco known sheriff greasy pole time champ matza famously walked slid end pole stood second triumph jumping water flag hand one man grabbed flag first round breaking courtesy round rule unfortunately incurred wrath anthony matza giambanco promptly punched man nailed flag pole competition continued peter black frontiero walker history competition win three different decade three different announcer mike deliberti big tom brancleone sammy samutzu nicastro joseph joeyd dasilva first walker ever win sea land surf turf champion two win friday fiesta fall classic saturday th anniversary big surprise everyone announcer time sam nicastro joined predecessor big tom brancleone mike dileberti announcing duty joseph joeyd dasilva hold guinness world record fastest time cross footlong pole second set record set guinness world record gone wild los angeles california july greasy pole washed away along platform supported storm september march rebuilt expected ready event past winner friday competition current friday competition introduced help raise money needed replace greasy pole platform damaged tropical storm irene saint peter fiesta committee hosted greasy pole fall classic gloucester high school newell stadium competition featured three greasy pole designated bronze silver gold expected fall classic greasy pole replaced platform last century two time champ joe dasilva first person ever win sea land earned nickname surf turf champion nick avelis saturday pole kyle barry friday pole making three turf champion surf champion well avelis also sunday coffeeblack production — gloucester filmmaking team emile doucette thomas papows michael pallazola – created short minute documentary greasy pole cultural significance small fishing community gloucester massachusetts film documentary educational resource award international documentary challenge hot doc canadian international documentary film festival group plan make featurelength version film due wbztv released hourlong documentary greasy pole entitled love grease family guy episode titled snapple peter decides participate fictional version greasy pole titled st philip greasy pole contest peter describes contest shirtless men try climb across greasy pole episode aired november