This weekend, more than 100,000 people will descend upon the island to celebrate a tradition that began in 1963. Known as the “birthplace of the modern shrimping industry in America” Fernandina Beach will feature a parade, fine arts and crafts, music, and best of all, food!
As Bubba described in Forrest Gump, “Shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sauté it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it.”
I don’t know if shrimp will be prepared in every form or fashion Bubba described, but you can trust that it will be a main attraction at many of the booths. Regardless, the weekend generates a tremendous amount of excitement and anticipation for a celebration…around shrimp.
Trust me, there is nothing wrong with celebrating shrimp (and I will be the first in line for some coconut shrimp), but I was reminded this week of the feasts and festivals that were declared for God’s people (
Leviticus 23). These celebrations reiterate that God enjoys, and promotes, a good party. But before you use that statement as a disclaimer, remember God throws down for all the right reasons! The celebrations were communal and commemorative - they drew people together and kept alive the miraculous stories of how God provided for his people. There are solemn and serious implications of what was, and what is to come - symbolism of sacrifice and triumph, all worth truly reflecting and celebrating.
It’s easy to get caught up in the activities this weekend and miss the significance of the shrimp boat designs and nets developed here that radically transformed the shrimping industry and made Fernandina “the source” of shrimp around the world in the 1950’s and 1960’s.
Whether you’re looking forward to the parade, the music, the art, or the food (don’t forget the funnel cake and lemonade) I encourage you to pause and celebrate the historical significance Fernandina Beach.
Most importantly, as you bite into one of those succulent shrimp, remember the ultimate celebration (and feast) we, as believers, will enjoy one day…
“On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.””
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭25:6-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬
