November 26, 2009

Dozens of people gathered at Grace Episcopal Church in Keswick Thursday morning to take part in the 80th annual Blessing of the Hounds.

"I think it's the tradition just like Thanksgiving. It's just a great symbolic festival, and all the families getting together," said Jim Craven.

The event is a fun tradition to kick off the Thanksgiving holiday, and the hounds are blessed before being turned loose on a fox hunt.

For Ginny Semmes, the Blessing of the Hounds is a family tradition. Semmes lives across the street from the church and has been attending the event for 47 years. While she does enjoy the singing and the fellowship, Semmes says her favorite part, after all these years, is still the blessing itself.

"Well my favorite part is when the priest comes out and blesses the hounds and the horses, and wishes everybody a good hunt," said Semmes.

Reverend Julie Norton conducted the ceremony Thursday morning, and she loves the blessing just as much as the spectators.

"I love to bless the horses. While they are taking up the collection I wander around and bless all those wonderful noses. People say 'this one needs special blessing, she's pregnant' or 'please help him, he's a little antsy this morning.' It's just fun," said Reverend Norton.

The money raised by the collection this year will go to the Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA and the Fluvanna County Meals on Wheels program.