It’s not just an event—it’s an outward manifestation of something felt so deep within the community of Jessup, Pennsylvania, that it can only be described as “anima,” or “soul.” This year, while forces beyond their control caused their event to be canceled, the “anima” of Jessup still shines through.

La Corsa dei Ceri, the annual “race of the saints” in honor of St. Ubaldo, is exclusively held in both Gubbio, Italy, and Jessup, Pennsylvania. Legend states that Holy Roman Emperor Frederick I (Barbarossa) aimed to sack Gubbio in the same way he had pillaged nearby Spoleto in 1155. Upon his return from successful negotiations with the emperor, then-bishop Ubaldo was placed on a platform and paraded through the streets of Gubbio to show the people he was safe.