According to multiple sources, this event has existed since antiquity and was first documented in the areas surrounding Mediterranean marine communities.
International Blessings of the Fishing Fleet Day is observed annually on the first Sunday of October; this year’s observance falls on Sunday, October 8. Before the fishing season begins, this festival’s primary purpose is to bless the fishing vessels. People pray for a prosperous harvest and the safe return of the entire fleet. Some members of the fishing community even request that the local clergy consecrate the rock lobster traps they construct in private ceremonies. This celebration is conducted on various dates around the world, but its purpose remains essentially the same.
According to multiple sources, this event has existed since antiquity and was first documented in the areas surrounding Mediterranean marine communities.
In one account, Sicilian crusaders carried a beautiful statue aboard their ship. Their ship made a safe landing in the Italian fishing village of Molfetta, located in the Puglia region of southeastern Italy. They believed the statue was responsible for their survival, so they erected a sanctuary in its honor. International Blessings of the Fishing Fleet Day was conceived as a result of their celebration and prayer for continuous protection while at sea. This event, known as ‘Feste della Madonna dei Martiri’ (Martyrs), spread throughout Italy, and then the rest of the world.
Before Christianity, these blessings were granted by local clerics or holy men. This occurrence was subsequently linked to the Catholic Church. Following English custom, some communities hold the event on Mother’s Day in accordance with Catholic tradition. This celebration honors Our Lady of Fátima, the patron saint of Portugal and mothers in their parish, by decorating her statue with ferns and fresh red and white flowers — red for living mothers and white for the deceased — and placing a decorated anchor at her feet.
As part of the more traditional celebrations, an anchor is dropped into the water in honor of the deceased fishermen from that community. Catholic immigrants brought this festivity with them to their new homes as immigration increased. As this event spread, it took on rituals and traditions that varied from community to community. Today, the ceremony is conducted by people of any denomination, depending on the area where the blessing is given. Additionally, these blessings differ by community. The fishing community is granted customary favors. Sailing communities and recreational boaters are blessed with calm waters, sunlight on their bows, and wind in their sails.
The festivities surrounding this day range from modest religious masses, competitions, and feasts to massive parades.
This tradition was introduced by Portuguese immigrants during World War II, and it is celebrated on Mother’s Day.
Although these events are celebrated in both locations, Jacksonville’s events feature more than 150 sailing vessels.
As the blessing is given, people toss a magnificent magnolia wreath covered in red roses in memory of the fishermen and women of McClellanville.
This event is a highlight of the watercraft season in this region, attracting up to one hundred vessels annually.
The Shrine of Our Lady of the Rivers, another moniker for the Virgin Mary, is the official location for festivities; this statue is the fourth-tallest statue of Mary in the world.
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | October 3 | Sunday |
| 2022 | October 2 | Sunday |
| 2023 | October 1 | Sunday |
| 2024 | October 6 | Sunday |
| 2025 | October 5 | Sunday |
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