Celebrating Provincetown's Portuguese Heritage

The Blessing of the Fleet is a ritual that originated in Portugal, a seafaring country.  From the late 15th century through the 16th century, Portugal dominated the maritime history books with the accomplishments of noted explorers such as Vasco da Gama (1498) and Ferdinand Magellan (1519-21).  It is only right that the Blessing of the Fleet is often combined with festivities celebrating the rich tradition of the Portuguese. 

The members of the procession carry a statue of St. Peter to MacMillan Pier. cctoday photo.

After attending the Blessing of the Fleet in Gloucester, Mr. Arthur Bragg Silva set out to bring a similar festival to Provincetown.  He was, successful in his efforts and the first Blessing of the Fleet was held in 1947.  Although the events that make up the celebration differ throughout the world, two common themes remain: the safety of the sailors and pride in tradition.

The Legend of the Rooster

The ornately painted rooster (right, courtesy of the Portuguese Festival) is from Barcelos, Portugal, a town known for its pottery and crafts. It was in Barcelos that the legend of the rooster flourished. According to folklore, a traveler was accused of theft, arrested and sentenced to be hanged. When his pleas of innocence fell on deaf ears, he asked to speak to the judge. He was brought before the judge who was enjoying a meal of roasted rooster. The traveler told the judge the rooster would rise up and crow as proof of his innocence. A startled judge looked on as the rooster rose and crowed in the man's defense! The story still symbolizes victory for those who fight for justice.

In previous years, a mass was held at St. Peter's in Provincetown.  Sadly, St. Peter's Church was destroyed by fire in January of 2005.  Plans are under way to rebuild the historic church.  This Sunday the 26th, mass will be held on Fisherman's Wharf in Provincetown.  From there, the annual processional will make it's way to MacMillan Pier.   The procession of fisherman touting banners with the names of their boats travels toward the pier carrying a statue of St. Peter.  Although St. Anthony is typically called upon during fleet blessings, St. Peter is honored as the saint of the local church and as a fisherman as well. 

The rooster. Courtesy of the official festival site.

Joining the procession are traditional Portuguese dancers and performances by St. Anthony's Band of Cambridge and Groupo Folclorio.  Once the procession arrives at the pier, boats of all different shapes and sizes--from fishing trawlers to inflatable rafts--will be blessed by a member of the clergy during this year's 58th Blessing of the Fleet. 

The days prior to the blessing are filled with celebration and revelry.  The festival showcases the religious, cultural and nautical traditions of the Portuguese people.  The buildings of Provincetown are adorned with banners, flags and decorations and the streets are filled with song, dance, food and activities for all ages. 

Don't miss one of Cape Cod's best parties complete with parades, entertainment, traditional cuisine and fun.  Highlights on Friday include the Homecoming Clam Feed at the Bas Relief on Bradford Street.  Saturday's highlights include the kids games and cookout from 9am-12pm at Motta Field, entertainment and food all day on Ryder Road and the 2005 Festival Parade at 3pm from the Cape Inn to Franklin Street along Commercial Street.  Sunday's activities culminate with the 58th Blessing of the Fleet.  A full schedule of events is available at http://www.provincetownportuguesefestival.com/.