Church Clergy & Town Officials at the Blessing of the Fleet Gloucester, MA 1950s

City: Gloucester State: Massachusetts Country: United States Source: Bodin Collection Approx. Date: 1950s Photographer: Unknown Catholic priests and attendees are gathered for the "Blessing of the Fleet" ceremony to celebrate the annual St. Peter’s Fiesta in Gloucester, Massachusetts. The priests are in the middle of conducting the blessing of the fleet, in which the town's fishing boats are blessed for the year to ensure the safety of its passengers. Towards the background is one of the many fishing boats that is blessed for the year. There are many American flags that are connected to its poles and wave valiantly in the wind, as well as many nautical flags that decorate the wiring.  The St. Peter's Fiesta in Gloucester honors St. Peter, the patron saint of fisherman, and is sponsored by the city's Italian-American community. The festival spans for five days and features a variety of activities, one of the most notable being the greasy pole contests. In this event, participants clim