Party with the Saints

The Saturday before Memorial Day means a lot of things to a lot of people: the beginning of a long weekend, the unofficial start of summmer, maybe a chance to get away to a vacation retreat. But in the Lackawanna Valley that day means one thing more than any other: La Festa Dei Ceri, the "race of the saints," aka St. Ubaldo Day, Jessup's nearly unique celebration of Italian heritage and muscular Catholicism.

But this year's edition is an extra special one: the cent'anni, the 100th anniversary of the tradition that was brought to Jessup by immigrants from the Italian town of Gubbio.

The 100th-year celebration has actually been going on for months. In January, there was a new year's gala that attracted hundreds of people, then a Mardi Gras "carnavale" in February. Visitors from Gubbio arrived in March, and Linda Bonacci Anelli, the chairwoman of the St, Ubaldo Society celebration committee, threw a party for them.

This month, the St. Ubaldo's society held a "hospitality night" at its cultural center at Third Avenue and Church Street some of which is now open to the public.

Also new this year are the saints themselves: According to reports, brand new carvings are on their way and will be presented to the society next week as a gift from the people of Gubbio.

In fact, although the big day is next weekend, you can get into the St. Ubaldo Day spirit this weekend at two events. There will be a special "feast day," Saturday, May, 16. The event will begin with a 4 p.m. Mass at St. Mary's Assumption Church, 516 Third Ave., followed by a procession to the new cultural center, where a new statue of St. Ubaldo, created by Italian craftsman Giampietro Rampini using medieval ceramic techniques, will be dedicated. A buffet will be served at 6:30 p.m., and at 8 p.m., there will be a rare screening of archival footage of St. Ubaldo Days festivals as far back as the 1920s. From 9-11 p.m., live music will be performed by Sara Marie. Admission is $15.

On Sunday, May 17, the 12th annual Jessup wine-tasting event will be held at at Station Park, Delaware and Church streets, from 1-4 p.m. The product of Jessup's many wine makers will be available for tasting, along with Italian food. St. Ubaldo day flags, shirts and other memorabilia will also be on sale.

There's another party on Thursday, May 21, at the Michael Sterner American Legion Post No. 411, 508 Church St., featuring entertainment by Gabrielle.

On Friday, May 22, St. Ubaldo Day officials, and guests from Gubbio (Jessup is expecting around 50) will lead the annual fireman's parade beginning at 6 p.m., followed by an outdoor buffet at Mariano's Cucina, 414 Church St. Call 840-4371 for more information.

On the big day, Saturday, May 23:

The participants perform a series of rituals throughout the day, some private, some public. For more information, visit www.stubaldoday.com. All over Jessup, private parties begin early and last all day. Visitors looking for something to do during the afternoon might want to visit the carnival put on by Jessup Hose Co. No. 2, next door to their station at 333 Hill St. It opens at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The teams will begin to gather at about 5:30 p.m. at Powell and Ward streets. The procession will begin at about 6 p.m. The runners will circle around and then charge down Church Street in a series of dashes. At the bottom of Church Street, they will turn around and head back up the steep incline, a feat known as "taking the hill. The race concludes at Veterans Memorial Field, Hill and Erie Streets, where the three teams will attempt to be the first to remove their saint from his platform and carry it up an embankment in the park. While the parade through town is not really a "race" - the three teams stay in the same order during the procession - the charge up the hill is a genuine competition and the three teams take considerable pride in victory.

After things, settle down, some spectators and participants will head over to the carnival (across the street from the field). Others may want to take part in the candlelight procession to St. James Church, 605 Church St. at 8 p.m.

Parties will continue throughout the evening. The family of St. Ubaldo can be found at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 5544, 205 Dolph St.; The St. George team can be found, naturally, at St. George's Restaurant, 304 Church St.. The St. Anthony team can be found at Pietro's, 819 Church St.

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