Rocco's festival

click for previous year posts 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013

 

Labor Day weekend St. Rocco's puts on a parish festival.  Besides the usual mass schedule, there is a procession, all the carnival stuff, and the event that began the festivals—the greasy pole climb.

 left over confetti

Well, the greasy pole climb at St. Rocco had only three teams, and the pole was far less greasy, and there were contrary instructions announced. After looking at the fotos, i found i positioned myself poorly in relation to the sun. The thin red lines are grease being slung off the poll. In the past, they were globs; this year they were as wispy as candy floss.

 climbing over each other, the other man's limbs become like ladder rungs

 five man high

 a spectator rises above the crowd

 going towards the winning touch

Argument—before the event started, there was repeated announcement on the ground that the winning touch was the bolt (that held the metal braces); the announcer on the megaphone from the rectory window repeatedly said that the metal brace must be grasped; he came down to tell the participants, but they had already celebrated the victory; heated discussion ensued, but eventually the victory stood.