A race that happens in only two places in the world, Jessup and Gubbio, Italy, drew thousands of people to the Lackawanna County community. The annual Running of the Saints was held on Saint Ubaldo Day, the Saturday before Memorial Day. According to the Saint Ubaldo Society, the tradition was started in Jessup in 1909 by immigrants from Gubbio, Italy who were homesick for family and traditions. The race features three teams carrying statues of Saint Ubaldo, Saint George and Saint Anthony on wooden pillars. Saint Ubaldo, the patron saint of Gubbio, always wins.
Race of the Saints: A Jessup Tradition
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Members of the Saint Ubaldo team carry the Ubaldo statue up Church Street in Jessup to the starting area of the race.
AIMEE DILGER
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Members of the Saint Ubaldo team carry the Ubaldo statue up Church Street in Jessup to the starting area of the race.
AIMEE DILGER
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A man wears a St. Ubaldo Jessup/Gubbio headband. The St. Ubaldo race is only run in Jessup and Gubbio, Italy.
AIMEE DILGER
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Team Saint Ubaldo is in the lead coming down Church Street.
AIMEE DILGER
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Three Saints Barber Shop decorated for the event.
AIMEE DILGER
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A young fan watches as the race makes its way down Church Street.
AIMEE DILGER
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Team St. Anthony tries to fix their saint after if was pulled off by a wire that passes over Church Street.
AIMEE DILGER
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Valley View football players lift the 700 pound statue of St. Ubaldo down the steps of St. Ubaldo Society.
Aimee Dilger
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The statue of St. Ubaldo is reflected in a participant's glasses.
AIMEE DILGER
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A St. Anthony team member touches the St. Ubaldo statue.
Aimee Dilger
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A woman kisses the St. Ubaldo relic which is a piece of Ubaldo's lung.
Aimee Dilger
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Rose Fanucci and Betty Paparella kiss the St. Ubaldo relic that is paraded through Jessup.
Aimee Dilger
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Racers stretch before the run.
Aimee Dilger
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The St. Anthony team is last on the way down Church Street.
AIMEE DILGER
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The three teams race back up Church Street during the Race of the Saints.
AIMEE DILGER
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The St. Antonio statue is stuck on a wire over Church street.
AIMEE DILGER
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Racers walk past Three Saints Barber Shop.
AIMEE DILGER
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A woman rings a church bell as the St. Ubaldo statue passes.
AIMEE DILGER
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The St. Ubaldo race happens in Jessup, Pennsylvania and Gubbio, Italy.
Aimee Dilger
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A young Ubaldo fan waits for the race.
AIMEE DILGER