Yesterday was 29 February. Some of you may recall that it was to be the first quadrennial procession for the Día de San Geraldo (Saint Gerald’s Day). In Ocober, I explained that — due to the challenges he was having communicating in Spanish — Jerry was considering becoming a recluse. He initially said I could roll him out once a year just like the locals roll out the statues of Jesus and Sevilla’s many Virgins. But then he had a better idea. Rather than an annual event, he would schedule his “procession” for leap year, thereby only having to be rolled out of the house every four years.
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| OFFICIAL PORTRAIT OF THE SAINT, 2012. |
Jerry’s sister Linda and her husband Tom are here for a visit — of course, scheduled to coincide with the historic, first-ever, Procesión de San Geraldo. Tom and I, San Geraldo’s loyal servants, went out and spent a regal sum on a very grand ruby- and emerald-encrusted crown for the very grand head of San Geraldo. We presented it to him on bended knee with our heads respectfully bowed. Miraculously, the crown was a perfect fit. However, San Geraldo was sadly disappointed that I did not fulfill my promise of a marching band and a dozen burly men to carry him around town. Maybe in 2016.
Linda has suggested that I nail the crown to Jerry’s headboard so that when he lies in bed at night the crown will hover majestically above his head. I think it’s a brilliant idea. But then, of course, she’s the sister of a saint.
Well, there should have been a parade and burly men hoisting San Geraldo in the air!
That would have been spectacular!
Yes, I was very lax this year. Am grateful to still have my head.
Another procession in Spain!! This will be a great quadrennial event I am sure!! lol
Was it a problem to get Rome to recognize San Geraldo?
Loved this Mitch!
Jim:
Ha! No need to even ask Rome. It runs in the family. Jerry's 22-greats-grandfather was Fernando XXII, a.k.a. San Fernando, whose gold and silver tomb can be found in Sevilla Cathedral. I simply asked him. (A blog post will come about San Fernando!)
Oops! Typo… It was Fernando III (not Fernando XXII). I got the 22 greats confused with the number of Fernando!
Hello Mitch:
We are sure that he is smiling in the knowledge that all the pomp and circumstance is over for another four years!!! But, Jerry's adoring public deserve more….a tour around the square held aloft in a sedan chair is surely not too much to ask…… with fireworks,dancing girls,champagne,marching bands, streets strewn with Seville oranges……!!
J&L:
Jerry would enjoy it all (except, honestly, to having to be out in public) … oh, and nix the dancing girls!
Love this (and LOVE the CROWN!)
Carole:
I did get Jerry to go downstairs and show our friends the crown… but only briefly. Tom and I knew it was Jerry's crown the moment we saw it.
That's all fine and dandy, but I personally have my devotion to Our Lady of the Streets, patroness saint of hustlers and prostitutes. lol
saludos,
raulito
PS: I have a post on Seville coming up and it is dedicated to you.
Raulito:
Our Lady of the Streets? I haven't yet come across that "virgin" in Sevilla.
Can't wait to see your post on Sevilla!
Happy St. Jerry's Day! We were stuck with St. Auguste in France.
Walt the Fourth:
I'm sure St. Auguste is not nearly as much fun.
Mitch – Love this! Jerry looks fabolous! Please bring my devoted love to him, and to Linda and Tom!
Ellen:
Thanks. Will do to all and I'm sure they will send it all back. Mange klemmer, abrazos y besos!
What a lovely photo of your Jerry. He looks like a really nice guy. It would be such fun to hang out with you guys. I will pencil that in on my calendar for the Quadrennial in 2016 in hope of an invitation!
Ms. Sparrow:
First, I love the new picture!
Jerry is definitely more than a really nice guy; the man is a saint (well, not really, but he IS a keeper). We would love to meet you in Sevilla for the next Dia de San Geraldo… if not much sooner!
You're going to need to get a marching band for the next procession! This is a saint who deserves it!
Jenners:
And he loves a parade!
I think Linda's probably stolen my thunder as I WAS going to ask if that crown was a halo-substitute. So I won't!
Raybeard:
The first time I saw Jerry, his head was surrounded by a brilliantly glowing aura. It turned out he was backlit by the garish light of a pinball machine.
That's the funniest thing I've heard in some time, Mitch. What a let down! Have you recovered yet?
Raybeard: It didn't take long for me to see the glow even without the benefit of backlighting!
Sweet! I only hope that Jerry reads your comments. 🙂
Love this pic! Where is the parade?
kisatrtle:
You mean you missed it? It was HUGE!
First of all, what a great picture of a truly beautiful man — a beauty I have faith is internal as expressed by the external. And what a delightful conceit to create that which Spain probably needs LEAST ie. another Saint, but to make this Saint a charming gay man, truly representative of Spain in the modern world! Bravo to all of you who had a part in this.
Will:
Well… it was all The Saint's idea. We just rose to the occasion (a little).
San Geraldo looks magnificent in all this regalia. A gay saint is so in keeping for the 21st century – deserves recognition by all enlightened Spaniards. Bravo Mitch for this truly great idea!
looks less of a saint,.. more of an old queen!
only joking!!!
the cuby poet:
It was Jerry's idea to have an annual (reduced to quadrennial) procession. It was my idea to make him a saint (many would argue that designation).
John Gray:
Be careful. That might be construed as heresy.
Love the crown Mitch.
Did you have to tie him up with all that rope though?
Kinky! 😉
Chris: Yes, but it was in Photoshop this time so he didn't complain.
San Geraldo should know that traditions take years to develop and become ritualized. So it looks to me like you're all off to a good start.
Frank: If Jerry does it once, he calls it a tradition.
It must be tiresome to be related to a saint. But they do give good christmas presents, I hear.
Ur-spo: Truth is, Jerry's sister has been saying for years that I'M the saint.
Do you give fabulous Christmas presents?
Ur-spo: Sadly, no (it's my one and only flaw).
Poor Gerry putting up with the likes of you…wink wink…then again maybe he likes all this attention!
Sophie/Ron: Jerry does like attention, but I can get a bit carried away. Fortunately, he's got a great sense of humor, can easily laugh at himself (he's taught me a lot on that score), and is an extremely good sport.
He has those sparkly eyes that signify a good time will be had by all.
Maria: The first thing I noticed about Jerry — 30+ years ago — were those sparkly eyes. They haven't let me down.