December 5 to 17 Annual Fiestas de la Virgen in Yecla
Rigid tradition, the smell of gunpowder and the deafening sound of arquebus fire in the early December fiestas of Yecla
There are many fiesta traditions in Spain which seem bizarre to those from elsewhere in Europe, and the Fiestas de la Virgen in Yecla, which are held every December, are one of those where the most importantn advice to anyone attending is DON'T FORGET TO TAKE EARPLUGS!
Many of the traditions in these fiestas date back to around 400 years ago, and for this reason the noisy weapon of choice which is fired (not in anger) in the streets is the arquebus. Over 700 "tiraores" (shooters) and “cargaores” (loaders) accompany the figure of the Virgen in procession through the streets and the proceedings are absolutely dominated by the pungent smell of gunpowder, the flare of fire and the overwhelming crack of gunshots.
The events schedule varies very little from year to year, so deep-rooted are the traditions, and in 2023 the program includes the following:
Tuesday December 5
This is the day of the “Acto del Beneplácito” opening ceremony in the Town Hall, when the President of the Asociación de Mayordomos officially requests permission from the municipal authorities to declare the fiestas under way. 18th century Alabardero soldiers and drummers noisily invite the residents of the town to join in the celebrations.
12.30: The Beneplácito begins in the Auditorio Municipal, when the President of the Mayordomos, José Luis Soriano Morata, requests permission from Mayoress Remedios Lajara Domínguez to hold the fiestas in honour of the Purísima Concepción (Immaculate Conception), patron of the city.
The dignitaries then raise the flags at the Town Hall and 15 rockets are launched, answered by another 15 from the Santuario del Castillo.
Wednesday December 6
This is a national holiday (Constitution Day) and it begins early in Yecla when muskets are fired to announce the beginning of the celebrations. This is followed by a Mass in the Basílica de la Purísima, and in the afternoon the soldiers involved take part in the kissing of the flag (El Beso de la Bandera).
8.50: The group sets out on a route along Calle Niño, Calle Martínez Corbalán, Plaza de España, San
Francisco, Calle Pascual Amat and Calle Miguel Golf to the home of the Mayordomo del Bastón (the head Mayordomo, who carries a large stick to indicate his importance!).
9.05: The route now follows Calle Miguel Golf, Calle Colón, Calle San Antonio, Calle Rambla and Calle Historiador Miguel Ortuño to the home of the Mayordomo de la Bandera.
9.30: The flag is presented and five minutes later teh committee heads to the church of San Francisco.
10.00: Misa de Pajes, a Mass for the pages of the processions, followed by a march to the station for the Kissing of the Flag.
17.40: The batallions gather at the church of San Francisco: no more are admitted after 18.20.
18.30: The flags leave the church of San Francisco to be borne aloft in the "Marcha Real". Route: Calle San Francisco, Martínez Corbalán, Plaza Mayor, Plaza Concejal Sebastián Pérez. The flags are then returned to the home of the Mayordomo de la Bandera.
Thursday December 7
This is the day when the figure of the Patron of Yecla is brought down to the town. Events begin early with the “Alborada” in the courtyard of the Basílica. The soldiers then make their way up to the Santuario del Castillo, firing their arquebuses all the way, before bringing the Saint down to her temporary home in the Basílica, again, firing their muskets. On leaving the Santuario high up by the castle, the “Mayordomo” waves the Virgin’s flag in a ceremony known as the “Paso de la Bandera”, a spectacle which is repeated when the procession arrives at the Basílica.
5.20: The Mayordomo de la Bandera leaves for the home of the Mayordomo del Bastón, and 30 minutes later they both head for the Basílica de la Purísima, where the "arcas cerradas" (isolated arquebus shots) are held at 6.00.
More shots are fired during the return journey.
8.10: La Bajada. The dignitaries set out to collect the figure of the Virgin, with the firing of arquebuses beginning at 9.05 in Calle San Francisco before the climb up to the sanctuary begins. Route: San Francisco, Martínez Corbalán, Plaza Mayor, Plaza Concejal Sebastián, Santo Cristo, Barco de
Ávila.
18.05: The offering begins as the dignitaries set out before the official route to the Basilica begins.
Friday December 8
This is the biggest day of the annual Yecla fiestas, the feast day of “La Purísima”, which begins with a parade of all the soldiers and continues with the procession of the figure of the Patrona of Yecla through the streets of the town. During this procession the Mayordomo once again performs the Paso de la Bandera on leaving and re-entering the Basílica, accompanied by the deafening sound of hundreds of arquebuses.
The Official Mass and the Proclamación de Clavarios
8.30: The dignitaries begin their long day with a walk to the Basilica de la Purísima, where Mass is held at 10.00. They then proceed to the Plaza Concejal Sebastián Pérez for the Proclamación de Clavarios, who are then escorted to their homes by musicians and assitants.
Procession of the Virgin
16.35: The dignitaries again set out first, but the procession starts at 18.15. When it is over the procession continues along Calle San Francisco, Calle San Pascual, Historiador Miguel Ortuño, Calle Maestro Mora, San José, San Francisco, Parque de la Constitución, Miguel Golf. Of course, more arquebus fire accompanies the proceedings, as well as music, before the rout econtines along Infanta María Teresa, General Cabanellas, Trinquete and Primero de Mayo.
Sunday December 10
10.45: Children gather for their own floral offering to the Virgin Mary, with the processional route starting at 11.00 and running through Plaza Mayor, Epifanio Ibáñez, Niño Jesús, Hospital, Placeta Ortega, España and San Francisco to the Basílica de la Purísima.
12.30: The fiestas dignitaries gather at the Basílica de la Purísima to start a parade to the Paza Mayor, where at 13.00 they are officially received by the Town Hall.
19.00: An exhibition is officially opened of "400 years of the cult of the Immaculate Conception in Yecla" .
Sunday December 17
This the day on which the figure of the Virgen del Castillo is returned to her sanctuary and after a solemn Mass the Mayordomo once again leads the way, accompanied by the soldiers and arquebuses.
The Virgen is carried out of the Basilica and positioned in the doorway,saluted by each of the “tiraores” and their “cargaores” as they pass, loosing off shots from the centre of town right the way up to the sanctuary, before herself joining the procession as thousands of people slowly wind their way up the hillside. There is an almost surreal air of fire and smoke in the air as the procession climbs uphill on its 2-kilometre route, taking around 3 hours due to the volume of those firing guns and the number of people accompanying the Patrona on her journey.
On arrival at the sanctuary the Virgin is paraded three times around the old pine tree before being taken inside, and her annual visit to the town officially ends with more flag-waving and gunshots.
When the soldiers return to the town the Entrega de Insignias ceremony is held, in which the “Clavarios” become “Mayordomos”. One of these is the “Mayordomo del Bastón”, who represents Captain Martín Soriano Zaplana, and another is the “Mayordomo de la Bandera”, who carries on the tradition of the standard-bearer back in 1642. All of those forming part of this group are dressed in black trousers, hats and neckties and white shirts.This final ceremeony welcomes in the new recruits who will be allowed to bear arms and participate the coming year.
The procession begins this year at 9.10 but the climb up to the sanctuary does not start at the Basílica until 17.45.
