Blog

The Greased Pole Around the World

The Greased Pole Around the World

Every year IBA holds a weekend long cultural festival, Festival Betances, in which people from all over New England come to the South End to enjoy live music, food, arts and crafts, sports tournaments, a parade, among other activities. This year it will be held on the weekend of July 17th through the 19th. One of our biggest attractions is our own version of the Greased Pole. [caption id="attachment_3163" align="aligncenter" width="436"]DSC_0425 3 IBA's Greased Pole[/caption] Some call it Greasy Pole, others Grease Pole, but they all share the same concept. It is exactly what one would imagine, a pole covered in grease. Now this doesn’t sound too exciting, but a whole different array of games and competitions revolve around this pole. Its origins stem from 19th Century Sicily, and it was brought over to the U.S by Italian immigrants. A community of Italian fishermen settled in Gloucester, MA and started celebrating their traditional Italian feast of Saint Peter’s, that has as the main attraction the Greased Pole. This Greased Pole in particular is horizontal, its base is set on a platform in the ocean which is about 200 yards away from shore and about 40 feet tall. Festival organizers cover the pole with axle grease, and then they get a little creative throwing other slippery things in there like banana peels or Tabasco sauce. A flag is tied to the end. [caption id="attachment_3162" align="alignnone" width="692"]"Greasy Pole" in Gloucester "Greasy Pole" in Gloucester (Source: Wikimedia Commons)[/caption] Those who dare (and pass the strict rules determining eligibility) participate in the contest. The object is to run down the pole and grab the flag without falling into the water. Hundreds stand on the shore observing man after man fall into the ocean, only having made it a couple of steps. IBA’s greased pole is vertical, we hold a contest to see who can climb to the top of the slippery pole. This type of contest is held in numerous fairs around the U.K, and in some islands a horizontal pole over water, like the one in Gloucester, is erected each year. Canada also participates in the fun with both versions of the greased pole, and in a Nova Scotia festival, the first person to grab the flag wins a $100. Other countries like Spain also do the Greased Pole, but they call it “Cucaña.” The Netherlands and the Philippines have their Greased Poles well. The physical contest has its dangers, and many precautions are taken to insure the safety of the participants. Mostly, it is incredibly fun to watch and a worthwhile experience to add to your list this summer. [caption id="attachment_3164" align="aligncenter" width="692"]After participating in IBA's Greased Pole competition After participating in IBA's Greased Pole competition[/caption] Does this sound like something you would like to try? If you think you have what it takes, come test your strength at our festival, but first, you must contact Ana Colon here. If the Greased Pole doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, come ready to taste delicious food from around the globe, show off your dance moves and enjoy live music. Keep your eyes and ears open, we will be announcing our headliners soon! For updates and further information go to our event site here....