A Romería (April 25)

Today (April 25) was the Romería de San Marcos, which takes place each year at the Hermitage of the Virgin of the Bridge just outside of Sahagún and located on the Camino de Santiago. It is of special interest and importance to us since this hermitage has been under the care of our Spanish “family” for many generations. Paca, the matriarch of the family, is in charge of maintaining the building and its contents. She does this in spite of her general opposition to the Church and the priests. Every day she and a group of her friends walk out to the hermitage (about 1.5 miles each way) to spend some time, play cards, and visit. Bear in mind that Paca is 82 years of age this year. She is an amazing woman, very young and vital, as you can see in the photo showing her dancing with her daughter, Piedad. 

At the romería, which was attended by nearly one thousand people, (Correction: Make that two thousand) Paca was selling candles to light before the statue of the Virgin. The figure is quite beautiful; her wig is made from hair taken from Piedad some 35 years ago. Women who need some special blessing are given one of the pins that are fastened to the bottom of the Virgin’s costume. This Virgin is known for helping women to successfully bear children.

There was a small folkloric band, which led a procession of the Virgin, who was carried on a small float by a group of women. The crowd followed her around the grounds, returning her to her place of honor inside the hermitage. The place is named the Virgin of the Bridge because there was a bridge over a small stream beside the hermitage. The bridge remains, but the stream has long since been diverted to provide water for the crops.

After the procession the local government distributed small baguettes and a piece of cheese to all the attendees and there were stands selling limonada (a wine and lemon drink similar to sangría), beer, hazelnuts (part of the tradition of the romería) and ice cream. (Another tradition is to eat snails, which are distributed in the afternoon.) There was much dancing, singing, and festivities. These Spaniards just love to party!