"
Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla" began as a celebration of the legend of the
pirate Jose Gasparilla in
Tampa in
1904. The
parades and
parties include a
coronation of a "Gasparilla King and Queen" each year. They hold "court", everyone dresses up and has a good time.
The
legend goes a little something like this. Jose Gaspar was a young officer in the
Spanish Royal Navy. When it was defeated in
1783, Gaspar didn't like the prospects available to a low ranking officer on the losing side. He supposedly took over the
Florida Banca by inciting
mutiny among the
sailors and headed to the west coast of
Florida.
Thinking that "
Gasparilla" sounded more exciting that "
Gaspar", he changed his name and his new ship's name to "Gasparilla". In the legend, he settled near
Charlotte Harbor and is credited with naming a few choice islands, like
Sanibel and
Captiva (both incredibly beautiful
resort islands on the
Gulf Coast). Sanibel was named after his second-in-command's girlfriend, Captiva was dubbed its name because that's where he kept his prisoners, his 'captives'. Of course, he named an island after himself, too, Gasparilla.
Or so the legend goes.
Gasparilla kept himself busy
plundering ships of their booty and keeping any pretty ladies aboard as mistresses for his crewe or himself. Its rumored he captured a Spanish princess in 1801, but ended up beheading her because she spurned his affections (duh!).
He kept on pirating until December 21, 1821, when he was fooled into a fight with the
USS Enterprise - who tricked him into thinking it was a merchant ship - and he was defeated, and took his own life. His crewe of 11 were tried and executed, except for one cabin boy who served a jail sentence and was released.
Or so the legend goes.
Much later, research was done by several people to validify the story of Jose Gaspar. The conclusive evidence suggests that the 'cabin boy',
Juan Gomez, perpetuated the stories, ofen inserting himself into different roles, and
embellished a few things.
Further research drudged up a diary of Gasparilla's, which had been taken by his second-in-command and left with the girlfriend, Sanibel. Inquiries into maps of the islands supposedly named by Gasparilla were dated before he got to the area, suggesting he did not name them.
Jose Gaspar may have never been at all, but his legend is a great story and has been instrumental in developing a multi-generational festival and a social group in Tampa.
In order to be an acting part of
Ye Mystic Krew of Gasparilla, you have to be invited and accepted into the organization and be willing to party down in pirate gear every spring. It's not just a small group of people who participate though, the whole city comes out for parades and other festivities. The 'pirates' 'invade'
Tampa Bay and come ashore throwing gold Gasparilla coins (not real) and bead necklaces at the parade goers. There is much music, dancing and beer drinking to be had by all (beer drinking by those over 21 only, thank you).
History of Gasparilla resource: "
Gasparilla 1904 -1979" written by
Nancy Turner, limited printings by the
Cider Press, Inc.