Gasparallia 2019

We love to go out and Celebrate the biggest festival in Tampa, which last for weeks during the month of January, but do you know the history behind why we celebrate.

Gasparilla began in 1904 and was originally celebrated on a Monday in February, but in 1988, celebration was moved to a Saturday so that people from other areas of Florida could come and celebrate. Moving the date immediately made the festival begin to grow. Gasparilla is now one of the country’s largest annual parades/festivals, which attracts about 600,000 people each year. 

Now, have you ever wondered where the name Gasparilla comes from. There was a  legendary pirate named José Gaspar, “last of the Buccaneers,” who terrorized the coastal cites and waters of West Florida during the late 18th and early 19th century. So the story goes that when he died, he left buried treasure along the Florida coast, which was never found.  

In 1904 the first Krewe, whose members recreated the 1st fake pirate attack in the Tampa Bay.  The idea of the attack was to celebrate Gaspar's Terror on the Coast of Florida, as well as bring a little New Orleans' Mardi Gras to the Florida Shores. This first Krewe came into the city on horseback and Captured the City wearing Pirate costumes they rented from New Orleans'. Seven years later the first ship was used to capture and invade the city, but in 1937 the group purchased their own ship which they named, The José Gasparilla I. This event has lead up to where we are today.  

Now to help you get through the next few weeks of Pirates Capturing our city and Invading our Bay, here are the Pirate Terms you will need to know.

"Blimey!" A surprise exclamation.  Blimey! I Had to much Rum last night.

"Take a caulk" or to take a nap. It's time to "Take A Caulk" after last nights adventure.

"Arr!" or "Argh!" They are proclamations of excitement. Arr! That's good rum.

"Dead men tell no tales" not leaving any survivors behind.  

"Scupper that!" It is an angry expression which means "Throw that overboard!"

"Show a leg!" A fun phrase meant to wake up a sleeping pirate.

"Sail ho!" Another ship is in view since the sail is the first thing visible over a horizon.

The most important rule behind Gasparilla is have fun and enjoy the festival....Arr!! We are going to have a blast.