Fiestas del Pilar
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Fiestas del Pilar | |
---|---|
Genre | Festival |
Date(s) | 12 October |
Frequency | Annual |
Location(s) | Zaragoza, Spain |
Patron(s) | Our Lady of the Pillar |
Fiesta of International Tourist Interest | |
Designated | 2019 |
The Fiestas del Pilar are an annual festival celebrated in the city of Zaragoza, Aragon, in honour of the patron saint of the city, the Virgen del Pilar (Our Lady of the Pillar). The week long festival takes place every year, usually, beginning the weekend of or before
A wide variety of events are organized by the City Hall, with private companies and organizations organizing their own sponsored events, shows, contests, and other activities.
While veneration of the Blessed Virgin in Zaragoza can be traced to at least the 12th century,[2] the introduction of 12 October as the local feast day in remembrance of the Marian apparition was introduced by the city council in 1640,[3] and approved by the Holy See in 1723.[4] The
Religious celebrations
Solemn Mass of Infants
The first Mass of the day, on October 12, is the Solemne Misa de Infantes, or Solemn Mass of Infants, celebrated in the Saint Chapel of the
The Offering of Flowers
This is the high point of the festival, and a demonstration of the people's devotion to the
The popularity of the Offering of Flowers in Zaragoza is evidenced by the large number of groups that take part each year (378 groups in 2005) and the duration of the parades, which can usually last for over eight hours. In 2009, a record number of 450,000 people took part in the flower parade.
The Flower Offering tradition started in 1952, when a group of City Hall functionaries went on a field trip to visit a festival outside of Zaragoza - the Magdalena Festival in Castellón de la Plana. Based on what they had witnessed there, they decided to embark on creating a similar festival for Zaragoza, which they launched in 1958.
Around the Virgin's mantle, the Cross of Lorraine is usually depicted with red flowers against a background of white flowers, a two-tiered cross, insignia of the original crusader Templar Hospitallers Order of Jerusalem. This cross of flowers is an offering made by the local General Royo Villanova Hospital, a tradition they started in 1960, on behalf of incurable patients with tuberculosis who were unable to attend. The hospital's Cross of Flowers is placed at the mantle, in a formal ceremony, by the Queen of the Festival and her Court of Honour.
Pontifical Mass
After the Offering of Flowers, a Mass is celebrated in the Basilica del Pilar at midnight, followed by a parade.
The Offering of Fruits
On the morning of 13 October, the Offering of Fruits takes place. This tradition, akin to a harvest festival, first took place in 1949, and was a precursor to the offering of Flowers. A parade takes place with a similar route to that of the Offering of Flowers, in which people bring to the Virgin a variety of fruits, primarily produce from the region of Aragon, as well as other regions in the country.
The Glass Rosary parade
The Glass Rosary parade, or Rosario de Cristal, is one of the most unusual parades in the world. Originating in 1889, it combines both
Right up until 1926 the glass floats, lit up by candles, were carried on people's shoulders, and it wasn't until 1940 that electricity was used to illuminate them.
The Glass Rosary parade always starts at sunset each October 13 proceeding from the Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús (Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus), and follows a route around the main streets ending at the city centre.
Other celebrations
The Town Crier (Opening speech)
The Town Crier (or Pregón) announces the opening speech of the festival. The proclamation is on the Saturday before 12 October from the balcony of the City Hall. Rather than using a designated town crier, every year well-known or well-respected personalities of Aragon are selected and awarded the honour of proclaiming the opening of the festival.
- 2017 - Kase.O [5]
- 2016 - Luisa Gavasa[6]
- 2015 - Carmen París
- 2014 - Braulio Cantera
- 2013 - Oregón Televisión
- 2012 - Teresa Perales
- 2011 - Plácido Díez
- 2010 - Álvaro Arbeloa
- 2009 - José Antonio Labordeta
- 2008 - Guillermo Herrera
- 2007 - Lita Claver "la Maña"
- 2006 - Amaral
- 2005 - César Lainez
- 2004 - Javier Coronas
- 2003 - Carlos Pauner
- 2002 - Enrique Bunbury
- 2001 - Bigas Luna
- 2000 - Javier González Ferrari
- 1999 - Andoni Cedrún
- 1998 - Paco Ortiz
- 1997 - Raúl Gracia "el Tato"
- 1996 - Imperio Argentina
- 1995 - Arantxa Argüelles
- 1994 - Víctor Fernández
- 1993 - Fernando Escartín
- 1992 - Epi
- 1991 - Pilar Lorengar
- 1990 - Soledad Puertolas
- 1989 - Javier Tomeo
- 1988 - Eduardo Foncillas
- 1987 - Luis del Val
- 1986 - José Luis Borau
- 1985 - Javier Moracho
- 1984 - Antonio Saura
- 1983 - Conchita Buñuel
- 1982 - Antonio Mingote
- 1981 - Francisco Yndurain
- 1980 - Ildefonso Manuel Gil
Comparsa de gigantes y cabezudos
The
General Fair of Zaragoza
The General fair takes place in the Exhibition Hall of Zaragoza. A series of pavilions dedicated to different types of products, such as food, furniture, cars and science are on display for public viewing, and various shows and events are organized to entertain visitors.
Activities for children
Outdoor
Funfair and circus
The
Concerts
During the festival many stages and venues are set up all over the city, for
Beer Fest
The Beer Fest, known as "Oktoberfest", takes place in the Theme Park of Zaragoza, under a big awning. German products and large amounts of imported beer are on offer. Waitresses are dressed in German costumes with a traditional German orchestra playing in the background. The Beer Fair is visited by about three thousand people a day.
Fin de fiesta
The festival ends with grand finale of an outdoor concert in Paseo de la Independencia and a
References
- ^ Holiday guide to Zaragoza, Spain by The Guardian
- ^ March, J.M. (1911). "Nuestra Señora Del Pilar" from New Advent: The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
- ^ Nogués y Secall, Mariano (1862). Historia crítica y apologética de la Virgen nuestra señora del Pilar de Zaragoza, Madrid, 68.
- ^ J. Collin De Plancy (1852), Legends of the Blessed Virgin, London, p. 261.
- ^ Video, Speech by the singer Javier Ibarra Ramos a.k.a. Kase. O
- ^ [1] Video, speech by the actress, Luisa Gavasa