St. Ubaldo Day Race of Saints running 100 years strong in Jessup
Published: May 23, 2009
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share thisCarole Coccodrilli remembers begging her father to bring back La Festa dei Ceri, Jessup's yearly celebration of saints imported from Gubbio, Italy.
"He would say, 'I'm too old. It's your turn to bring it back,'�" she said.
In 1975, she did just that, joining the committee that revived the festival a year later. This year, she's once again involved in a festival milestone - its 100th anniversary.
"It's imperative that we preserve tradition," she said. "This is something that needs to be imparted to our young people."
As always, the festival's main event is the Corsa dei Ceri, or Race of the Saints, which begins today at 5 p.m.
"That's what all the people come to see," Ms. Coccodrilli said.
Between 15,000 and 30,000 people are expected to attend the event, which will be held rain or shine, she said.
"There is no rain date," she said. "Rain or sleet or sun, the race goes on."
This year, a delegation of 30 Gubbio residents - the largest group to visit the borough in 10 years - will attend the festivities, Ms. Coccodrilli said.
They didn't arrive empty-handed, either. They were accompanied by three new saint statues, commissioned by the mayor of Gubbio, and a statue of St. Ubaldo to be housed in the chapel of the St. Ubaldo Society Cultural Center.
Gubbio hosts a similar festival March 15, the feast day of St. Ubaldo. Ms. Coccodrilli has witnessed 32 races there, and attests Jessup's event holds its own.
"We've had to modify a lot of things, but we have not lost the passion," she said.
The festival once served as a way to unite Italian immigrants living in the borough - planning the event called for organizers to meet several times a year.
"It was their common bond," she said.
It's still a unifying force. Even the competition associated with the race is all in good fun, she said.
"There is a fine line of competition here, but it's never with the intent to hurt anyone," she said. "That's not what we're about."
Contact the writer: cbaress@timesshamrock.com Today's events
7 a.m.: Buglers awaken the town.
7:30: Gatherings at St. John's Cemetery, Jessup, and St. Mary's Cemetery, Montdale, to honor the dead.
11: St. Ubaldo Day Mass, followed by the alzata, or raising of the saints.
1 p.m.: Tavola Ceraioli, a banquet to honor runners and Italian delegation.
5: Procession to race starting point at Powell Avenue and Ward Street.
16 posted comments
For somebody like myself, with roots in Gubbio this event is a connection my past. My Great grandmother entered through Ellis Island from Gubbio in 1919 leaving behind 13 siblings. Yes some people will always loose control and make a mockery of things not personal to them. I am sorry you feel it is ridiculous, but it has significants to the lives of many residency who venture home to honor the day. My brother and I came from Philadelphia to take part. I carried as a child in the kids race and for the past ten years as an adult. Please also pass along understanding of the rules. We are not racing to pass...Runners are to carry the saint without dropping him, as well as keeping the platform as level as possible. Teams take pride in placing distance between the saints, or running up close to the saint in front. Jessup differs from Gubbio, we race at the end to take our saint to the top of the hill in memorial feild. In Gubbio Ublado's team tries to close the gate of the Basillica before the other saints enter.
DM Jessup