Tag: Festivals and traditions

Its festivities are held on 24 August, a holiday that the Catholic Church reserves for the patron saint Saint Bartholomew (work by Jerónimo Hernández from 1568). The Templar presence in the Campo de Tejada area in the early years of the Reconquista is well documented. The strong devotion of these ‘freires’ or ‘Knights Templar’ to the Apostle Saint Bartholomew makes us consider the origin of this devotion among our people.

It was these Knights Templar who first accompanied Ferdinand III the Saint and later his son Alfonso X the Wise in the conquest of these lands. The latter, after conquering Tejada in 1253 and its farmsteads, including Paterna, built the parish church in honour of the Holy Apostle of Jesus on the site of the old mosque that existed in this town, the Parish Church. This is how the devotion of the people of Paterna to this saint began. Later, he would be named patron saint of both the ecclesiastical jurisdiction and the Council, Justice and Regiment of the Town of Paterna del Campo.

Almost 800 years later, his festivities continue to be celebrated, always with the valued collaboration of the local council, which makes every effort to ensure that they are the most popular in the town, where children, young people and the elderly can enjoy themselves in a spirit of healthy coexistence. His Brotherhood no longer exists, but a large group of devotees and the parish priest work to ensure that his cult continues to be celebrated, carefully preparing the most important external act of worship, which is the procession on the night of 24 August, in which the local brotherhoods and the town’s leading civil authorities also participate. Then there are the festive celebrations in the main square, the Plaza de España and other areas of the municipality. Parades, dances, large performances and the release of heifers complement this festival, which lasts several days.

Another of the municipality’s most interesting and splendid festivals is the celebration of the liturgical feast of Corpus Christi, the procession of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament through the streets of this town in the county of Paterna del Campo.

The processional monstrance consists of two sections on a high base. The first section is made of silver and dates from the mid-17th century. In the past, it had other sections made of the same metal, but these were stolen by Napoleon’s troops during their invasion of the peninsula in the early 19th century. These sections have now been replaced by the current ones, made in 1986 and 1988 from silver metal by Hijo de Juan Fernández Gómez de Sevilla.

The Eucharistic procession, organised by the Sacramental Brotherhood of Our Father Jesus of Great Power and Holy Mary of Great Sorrow, includes the participation of children who have celebrated their first Communion this year, representatives of the local brotherhoods and guilds with their corporate banners, and leading authorities. The procession is accompanied by the Paterna Municipal Band.

This ancient devotion to Our Lady of Virtues, patron saint of the town of Paterna del Campo, celebrates its festivities around 15 August, the feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. The town has worshipped its Advocate and Patron Saint since 1448, which is the oldest record of its ecclesiastical constitution. The celebration centres on a Solemn Novena, which usually ends on the first weekend of August, with the last two days of the Solemn Novena coinciding with the Devout Kissing of the Hand of the Blessed Virgin. On the night of 14 August, the Holy Rosary is recited at the feet of Our Lady, culminating in the festivities on 15 August, when the Solemn Main Function of the Institute of the Ancient Brotherhood of Our Lady of Virtues, Patron Saint of the Town of Paterna del Campo, is celebrated. The festivities conclude with the Triumphal Procession of the Blessed Virgin on the night of 15 August.

Its history and tradition date back to the years following the Reconquest by Christian troops in these lands, when it appeared in a cave inside an old well in Pinguete, near the town. According to tradition, a girl fell into this place and was saved by this heavenly image of the Virgin Mary. Its ancient and primitive image was destroyed in the fire that ravaged the parish church in 1934. The current image is the work of local sculptor José Guzmán Vázquez, created between 1984 and 1985. From 1693 onwards, the Brotherhood of Our Lady of Virtues and its image were closely linked to the Discalced Carmelite friars, who founded a convent in the town on that date, until its secularisation in the 19th century.

Religious services are complemented by recreational and festive activities with parades and dances in the Plaza de España until the early hours of the morning, ending with the traditional ‘fire bull’.

These Cruces festivities are celebrated with great beauty and splendour in the first half of September, centred around the religious festival of the ‘Exaltation of the Holy Cross’. Two brotherhoods with their respective chapels host these festivities, which are so dear to devotees of the Holy Cross.

On the one hand, the Brotherhood of the Holy Cross of the Victory of Christ celebrates its festivities on the first weekend of September, notable for its beauty and colour. The current ‘Chapel of the Cross’, dating from 1985, is located on Calle Andalucía and is exuberantly decorated, with spectacular murals decorating its vaulted ceiling from 1987, the work of Malaga painter Antonio Segovia Fernández. In the wonderful surroundings, the Cruz de la Victoria de Cristo stands out, made in sterling silver by the Seville goldsmith Manolo de los Ríos, a source of worship for its faithful devotees.

During this festival, there are several highlights, such as the early hours of Friday morning, when Calle Andalucía is decorated with handmade paper flowers made throughout the year by the older sisters. On Friday night, the Holy Rosary is celebrated with the corporate banner, where the young men dress in their finest attire. On Saturday afternoon, the traditional ‘Romerito’ takes place, accompanied by a parade of colourful floats, as well as the procession of the Holy Cross, which is held on Sunday afternoon through the main streets of the town.

Also on Sunday afternoon, the traditional transfer of the Holy Cross of Victory from its chapel to the Parish Church of St. Bartholomew the Apostle takes place to celebrate its Main Function of the Institute. It is a splendidly colourful event due to the beauty of the Cross and the women in mantillas who prepare themselves for this event, where the young men, young women and Queen wear their finest attire.

Of particular note is the entrance of renowned musical groups with large parades, especially the entrance of the Legion’s drum and bugle band on Sunday morning. In the early hours of the morning, there are performances and dances in the Brotherhood’s marquee.

On the other hand, around the weekend closest to 14th September, the religious festival of the Royal and Fervent Brotherhood of the Holy Vera Cruz de Abajo and Saint Helena Empress is celebrated. Its chapel dates back to 1980 and is located on the street that now bears its name, with its interior decoration last carried out in 2023. Inside, the ‘Santísima Cruz’ (Holy Cross) is enthroned, made of cedar wood, gilded in fine gold and polychromed, created in 1956 by the Huelva sculptor José Oliva Castilla.

One of the highlights of the festivities is the Holy Rosary on Friday night at the doors of the chapel. On Saturday morning, there is a parade and subsequent offering of flowers to the Holy Virgin of Carmen in the Parish Church of San Bartolomé Apóstol, where the Mozos, Moza and Reina de las Fiestas ride in splendid horse-drawn carriages, accompanied by music, to the parish church, ending with the singing of the Salve Marinera at the doors of the church, and their subsequent return to their chapel. In the afternoon, the traditional ‘Romerito’ takes place, which is very colourful, with a parade of horsemen, carriages, beautiful floats (some with movement) and musical accompaniment.

On Sunday morning, the procession of the Santísima Vera Cruz de Abajo is held, leaving from its chapel to the parish church to celebrate its Main Function of the Institute. It is a splendidly colourful event due to the beauty of the Cross and the attendance of the women in mantillas and the Mozos, the Moza and the Queen, who are dressed in their finest attire.

Throughout these festivities, it is worth highlighting the participation of renowned musical groups with large parades. At dawn, there are performances and dances in the Brotherhood’s marquee.

The Brotherhood celebrates its festivities on 15 and 16 July, on the feast day of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in the liturgical calendar. Prior to this, a solemn novena is held in preparation for the festivities, which consist of the Holy Rosary on the eve of the feast day, a solemn Main Function in the morning and the Procession of the Blessed Virgin of Carmen (work of D. Antonio Castillo Lastrucci, 1954) in the afternoon-evening of its day, which has its origins in the influence of the Carmelite presence in Paterna del Campo.

The Brotherhood of the Blessed Virgin of Carmen, Holy Scapular and Blessed Souls in Purgatory was established in the former Carmelite Friars’ Convent in the first third of the 18th century. The Carmelite tradition began very early in this municipality as a result of the founding of a convent of ‘shod Carmelite’ nuns in 1537 and the convent of ‘discalced Carmelite’ friars, founded later in 1693. In 2008, the current Brotherhood added the title ‘Blessed Souls in Purgatory’ in memory of an old Brotherhood that existed since 1630.

In the Marian Year of 1954, the Town Council of Paterna del Campo granted the Blessed Virgin of Carmen the title of ‘Perpetual Mayor of the Town’. In 2004, the same Town Council awarded the ‘Gold Medal of the Town’ to Our Lady of Carmen, due to the great devotion that this municipality has towards the Virgin. In 2010, the Town Council presented her with a new ‘Staff of Mayor for Life’.

The religious services are complemented by recreational and festive activities, with parades and dances in the Plaza de España until the early hours of the morning, ending with the traditional ‘fire bull’.