July 29th, 2009 Fiesta de Santa Marta Ribarteme Jul 27, 2009
Among various unusual traditions and festivals in Spain Fiesta de Santa Marta enjoys one of the leading places. This holiday is celebrated every year in a small Spanish town called As Neves. Celebrating various holidays related to saints is common practice in Spain. As a general rule, religious processions are the main ingredient of such celebrations, and during that time people carry a statue of the saint, or some other relics and attributes of faith.
Sometimes the whole congregation comes dressed in special clothing which bring out memories of dark films about the middle ages. Pilgrims arriving to As Neves on July 29th will outrun all the fans of gothic traditions – in order to participate in the procession they each have ordered a personal coffin.
In all actuality, the purpose of the celebration is anything but grief – just the opposite. People who lay in coffins, or those who carry them, are doing so to thank heavens for the miraculous salvation from death, bestowed upon them. Why do "lucky survivors" express their gratitude towards Santa Marta in particular? Considering the fact that Marta was a witness to her brother Lazarus' resurrection, this kind of miracles is really her specialty. Pilgrims - some with coffins, other in them – slowly ascend along the pathway leading to the cemetery, to return back and make a circle around town. As expected, the procession is headed by a group of people carrying the image of Saint Marta decorated with flowers. At the feet of the statue there is a small box for the pilgrims to put their donations.
Meanwhile, believers perform church hymnals, and appropriate sounding music can be heard from all around. Along the path of the processional route curious tourists line up to observe things happening before their eyes. For the latter, As Neves organizes an entertainment program of a slightly different nature, with dancing, singing, and circus shows. Souvenir shops pop up all over the places. Here you can buy many different souvenirs, religious statuettes, and all kinds of sweets. In general, the town becomes filled with life, despite the wise ones who say "memento mori".
Back to news
