Get in touch with pure Spanish culture — La Feria del Rocío!
One of the most famous Marian pilgrimages worldwide!
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El Rocío is situated north-west of Sanúcar de Barrameda on the edge of the Coto Doñana National Park. The picturesque village that was completely built on sand transports its visitors into a completely different world. During a walk along the sandy roads lined with houses with wooden terraces, you feel like in an old western town. Still today the main means of transport used are horses, carriages and four-wheel-drives. Even the floors of shops arround the pilgrim church,where riding accessories and flamenco dresses are for sale, are made of sand.
Many of the houses are being used exclusively during the pilgrimage “El Rocío” in the beginning of June, when up to 1 million pilgrims visit this beautiful place. This event is the main source of income for the inhabitants, however over the last years more and more people stayed in El Rocío as a base camp for their visit to the Coto Doñana National Park. Opposite the pilgrim church, you find the “Marismas” — a huge wet land where still today you can watch semi-wild horses grazing. Sometimes they even come as close as if they wanted to have a walk through the town.
Pilgrimage
For that event during the Pentecost weekend pilgrims from the whole of Spain and even Europe come in beautifully adorned ox carts, on horse back or nowadays also in 4-wheel-drives to join this very cheerful and sometimes exhausting pilgrimage. Many of them take the route through the Doñana National Park, which is strictly forbidden at other times, or they follow other age-old pilgrim trails. Their ´caravans´ are accompanied by traditional singing and lots of Spanish festive mood, and they sleep under the stars.
On Saturday before Pentecost at 12:00 at midday the brotherhoods present themselves in order of age in front of the church entrance. They are welcomed by the parent brotherhood and sing a song in honour of the Virgin altogether. Undoubtedly, the following festive parade filled with a blaze of colour and emotion is one of the most spectacular moments of the pilgrimage.
On Pentecost Sunday at 10:00 a.m. the episcopal mass is being said at the place called “Real del Rocío”. Afterwards brotherhoods move towards their houses, always accompanied by a sea of colours and the typical Rocío-atmosphere of joy, sense of community and veneration of the Virgin. On Sunday night, the rosary is recited at the place called “El Eucaliptal”. As soon as the cart of the parent brotherhood of the village of Almonte reaches the sanctuary of the church, the famous “Salto de la Reja” takes place. Inhabitants of El Rocío and Almonte storm into the church, shouting “Viva la Virgen”, and they carry the virgin in her gold-embroided cape out through the mass of people. During the parade which lasts until Monday afternoon, thousands of people try to touch statue, cape or plinth in order to receive the Virgin´s blessing.
Don´t miss the Féria del Rocío — one of the most famous Marian pilgrimages worldwide!
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Originally published at www.tlcspain.com on June 3, 2015.
