Greased pole climbing. Greasy pole, grease pole, or greased pole refers to a tall pole that has been made slippery with grease or other lubricants and thus difficult to grip. The city greased up the May 19, 2023 · Several hundred US Naval Academy freshmen have formed a human pyramid to slip and slide their way to the top of a greased-up 6. These traditional events are essentially the same - there is a long pole covered in grease, lard, or some other lubricant, and participants attempt to climb or walk along the pole to get to the other end, where there may be a prize or flag to recover. Perhaps even more important to the winning team are the bragging rights… until next year. Julian's, Malta. But the practice first made national May 15, 2025 · “Grease pole climbing is an old world tradition where back in the day and across Europe poles would be greased, but the poles would be over a body of water usually,” Gambino explained. Whether it’s after a Super Bowl win, at the Italian Market Jun 13, 2024 · And Red Bull is giving Philadelphians the opportunity to show their greased pole climbing skills. Surprisingly the sporting event of climbing a greased-up slippery pole is quite common around the world. Climbing is just second nature in the city — we had a lot of awnings to run on,” said Longo, now 48 and a three-time grease pole champion. , is following in his father’s greasy footsteps; and current pole climbing champs such as Nick Cordisio credit Longo with getting them into this unique team-building activity. “Our Jun 13, 2024 · "This time, it’s not about climbing a greased pole," Red Bull said. The Grease Pole, or Albero Della Cuccagna in Italian, is an old tradition in which teams compete in climbing to the top of a greased pole to reach prizes of meats, cheeses, gifts, and money. More specifically, it is the name of several events that involve staying on, climbing up, walking over or otherwise traversing such a pole. Feb 7, 2025 · PHILADELPHIA (CN) — If Super Bowl LIX ends in green confetti Sunday night, you can be certain Philadelphians will take to the sky. (Santiago Ortiz/Billy Penn) Philadelphians have a thing about climbing greased poles. “We could get up the poles any time with no grease on them. A long-standing tradition of the festival challenges groups to work together to climb a lard-covered pole to reach meats and cheeses at the top, said festival producer Michele Gambino. The Red Bull Championship Run will take place July 27 at Spruce Street Harbor Park in Philadelphia. Feb 10, 2023 · Greased-pole climbing has a decades-old legacy rooted in the city’s Italian immigrants, best witnessed at the annual grease pole climb in South Philly. ” May 6, 2025 · The festival is also home to the greased-pole-climbing competition (you read that right), where teams of festivalgoers attempt to climb a super slippery, 30-foot-tall pole to retrieve prizes like meats, cheeses and other goodies. The greased pole-climbing competition is the festival’s most popular event as hundreds cheer on teams of intrepid climbers trying to reach the salami and cheese at the top to the tune of the Contestants clamber up a greasy pole as the traditional Gostra Festival pole climbing competition takes place in St. The base tier at the bottom comprises the big guys. Some Red Sox fans climbed lamp posts in Boston after the Red Sox won the World Series in 2018. If it is placed vertically, whoever reaches the top first and grabs the red flag is the winner. Feb 1, 2018 · “Growing up in the city, we were always climbing around. The lifelong South Philly resident has his own table at the festival’s new VIP section this year; his 19-year-old son, Frankie Jr. "It’s about sprinting up a greased telephone pole and testing one’s speed, balance, and will, to grab the flag at the end May 16, 2024 · Needless to say, Longo is a bit of a legend around the Italian Market. Report by Victoria Nwos. Jul 29, 2024 · A contestant attempting to scale the grease pole. But the grease pole was a challenge because it had grease on it. 5m-high obelisk. May 21, 2021 · This sport involves climbing a greasy pole! Depending upon the local tradition, the pole is either vertical or horizontal. Pole climbing is now a tradition in Philadelphia celebrated as hometown pride. Each year, the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival returns in mid-May for one full weekend. Feb 9, 2025 · To be fair, climbing the poles isn't exclusive to Philadelphia fans. May 16, 2024 · Longo said in grease pole climbing, those roles especially show in the tiers. Rhys Hoskins, first baseman for the Phillies, told LA Times: “It's just how this city is. The annual tradition is a rite of passage for 'plebes' at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, to officially mark the end of their first year and graduation to Midshipmen 4th Class. Explanations for the strange and at times obscene behavior of Philadelphia’s sports fans have long eluded the rest of the world, and the city’s obsession with climbing greased street poles is no different. Oct 28, 2022 · Philly’s history with greased-pole climbing dates back to the start of the South 9th Street Italian Market Festival in the 1960s. The second tier has tall team members— ideally 6-foot-2, 6-foot Feb 10, 2025 · Pole climbing as a form of celebration. Climbing a greased pole during the Italian Market Festival, or after a sports victory, indicates community and city passion. laaow luqs ntsp xzbem drd shtp eyfoc sqdw hjuln uri