Blessing of Bicycles Day in the USA

Every first Sunday in May, the American state of New York celebrates both fun and serious Bicycle Blessing Day The celebration consists of the largest bicycle ride in the United States through the streets of New York, which has become a tradition in its almost 20-year history since 1999 The number of participants is constantly increasing: the last one already numbered about 30 thousand people A special blessing ceremony takes place the day before in the largest and most majestic cathedral Located in the upper part of Manhattan, the Anglican Cathedral of St John the Evangelist can accommodate everyone and their two-wheeled friends By the way, the opportunity to receive a blessing in the first year of the introduction of the tradition attracted only 10 people Such a ceremony may seem, to put it mildly, unusual for a temple rite, but its origins go back to the consecration of chariots, with special emphasis placed on the fact that this is a pious activity that does not bring harm to people After sprinkling with holy water, the action ends with the most severe and sad moment - a minute of silence in memory of the tragically killed cyclists The ceremony is popular not only among professional cyclists and courier service workers, but also among ordinary cycling enthusiasts And the next day, everyone who wants to take part in the race chooses a section of the route for themselves or goes straight to the final, because not everyone can handle the 68 km route passing through the five boroughs of New York Staten Island is the finish line of an exciting route It is there that all fans of cycling can enjoy numerous entertainments - competitions, concerts, exhibitions, festive treats and, of course, children's show programs, because children of all ages are the most devoted fans Those who are interested not only in cycling, but also in history, will be interested in the exhibition in the provincial town of Kopek It can trace the evolution of this type of transport from its first appearance on the streets of New York in 1819 The exhibition includes not only two-wheeled vehicles, but also various interesting gizmos related to this topic True fans of the cycling theme from all over the world not only watch, but also purchase unusual antique models and unique accessories at auction Celebrating Blessing Day is accessible and fun for people of all ages And this is another confirmation that the love for this environmentally friendly mode of transport is growing every year