Since coming to the University of South Florida in the fall of last year, there are few events I have heard more about than Gasparilla. From the minute I stepped back on to campus following winter break, my friends were already pining outfit ideas on Pinterest and planning out our day. To me, nothing sounds better than heading into the city dressed as a pirate to spend the day with my friends and enjoy the city we live in.
Photo courtesy of Pinterest
With all the talk and excitement surrounding the festival, described as the best day of the year, I wanted to learn more about the history and why the people of Tampa Bay celebrate this event so passionately. What I learned was that underneath the surface of eye-patches, fishnet stockings, and black thigh high boots, there was a rich history filled with swashbuckling rogues, treasure and mystery.
The name Gasparilla comes from a man by the name of José Gaspar. He started off his naval career as a respected Spanish officer, but eventually turned pirate after a member of the royal family falsely accused him of stealing precious jewels. Gaspar, now dubbed Gasparilla “last of the Buccaneers” started to dominate the waters along the southwest coast of Florida.
Throughout the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Gasparilla seized and ravaged around 400 ships collecting quite a fortune in the process. As time went on, and the United States acquired control of Florida, the constant presence of the Navy made being a pirate exceedingly complicated. As a result, there was mounting pressure for Gasparilla to retire.
Eventually, he succumbed to the pressure and began dividing up his fortune, but while in the process he spotted what he thought was a British merchant ship passing by. Intrigued by the possibility of one last score, Gasparilla and his men sailed after it. In an instant, the merchant ship raised an American Flag, lowered the cannons and started firing. By the time Gasparilla had realized he had been tricked, it was too late, and Floridablanca, his ship, was sinking.
Gasparilla went down with his ship, and it said that his treasure is located all along the west coast of Florida.
Photo courtesy of Treasure Beaches
The story of how Gasparilla met his demise circulated around Tampa Bay, so the leaders of the city decided to celebrate the defeat of the pirate and the evil he stood for. That celebration became known as Gasparilla.
Today, the celebration is carried out by the Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla who participate in a fake invasion of the city of Tampa. The people and residents of Tampa go out in their boats with the intention of stopping the invasion, but they eventually surrender and join the Krewe in their plan to take Tampa. Then the pirates of Ye Mystic Krewe meet the mayor at city hall and get the key to the city. With the key to the city in their possession, the pirate Krewe celebrate taking over the city with a huge party, Gasparilla.
Photo courtesy of TampaBay.com
While you and your friends are getting ready to party down on Bayshore Boulevard, remember the story of Gasparilla and why it is such an important event in Tampa.
Gasparilla takes place on January 26 of this year and it is a great way to get off of campus and have some fun!