La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Every year on July 16 is Virgin of Carmen Day. She’s the patron saint of fishermen so, of course, very popular here in this former (and still) fishing village. She’s also known as Stella Maris (Star of the Sea) and is patron saint of sailors.
It’s our favorite celebration here because everyone is out on the streets to see the statue of the Virgin carried through town on the shoulders of dozens of “sailors” and into the Mediterrean Sea (she floats). There’s a huge fair the week leading up to the procession, which ends when the procession begins. It all takes place within minutes of our apartment and we go every year. I’ve walked into the water a couple of times.
It’s attended by all ages and is a warm, friendly, celebration. Heathen that I am, I ignore the religious core of the story and simply enjoy the festivities. I didn’t get to experience it last year because I had just returned from hospital after my back surgery. This year, I was determined to participate. I saw the crowds arrive from our terrace and then joined them although not from my usual viewing points in the middle of everyone. I got to see the procession arrive and make its way along the Paseo. Then my stomach began to act up and I had to come back upstairs. When the Virgin and the sailors head into the sea, then begins a fireworks display. And that’s where Carmen Miranda (today’s video) comes in. Chica chica boom chic.
Here are photos of what I saw this week and links (if you’re interested) to some past years so you can see it all. (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022).
Cada año el 16 de julio es el Día de la Virgen del Carmen. Ella es la patrona de los pescadores y, por supuesto, muy popular aquí en este antiguo (y todavía) pueblo de pescadores. También se la conoce como Stella Maris (Estrella del Mar) y es la patrona de los marineros.
Es nuestra celebración favorita aquí porque todos salen a las calles para ver la estatua de la Virgen llevada por la ciudad a hombros de docenas de “marineros” hasta el Mar Mediterráneo (ella flota). Hay una gran feria la semana previa a la procesión, que finaliza cuando comienza la procesión. Todo ocurre a pocos minutos de nuestro apartamento y vamos todos los años. Me metí en el agua un par de veces.
Asisten todas las edades y es una celebración cálida y amigable. Como soy pagano, ignoro el núcleo religioso de la historia y simplemente disfruto de las festividades. No pude experimentarlo el año pasado porque acababa de regresar del hospital después de mi cirugía de espalda. Este año estaba decidido a participar. Vi llegar a la multitud desde nuestra terraza y luego me uní a ellos, aunque no desde mis puntos de observación habituales en medio de todos. Pude ver llegar la procesión y recorrer el Paseo. Entonces mi estómago empezó a revolverse y tuve que volver arriba. Cuando la Virgen y los marineros se adentran en el mar, comienza entonces un espectáculo de fuegos artificiales. Y ahí es donde entra Carmen Miranda (el vídeo de hoy). Chica chica boom chic.
Aquí hay fotos de lo que vi esta semana y enlaces (si estás interesado) a algunos años anteriores para que puedas verlo todo. (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022).
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
Who doesn’t love some Carmen Miranda?!
I’m glad you got to see some of the procession, anyway. I don’t think I ever realized what Stella Maris meant. I just never thought about it.
Steve:
Until we moved here, I had no idea the connection between Stella Maris and the Virgin of Carmen.
I am wondering: how is the Virgin retrieved after she floats off? Is there a ceremony for that? Olivia
Olivia:
The sailors go in the water with her (fully dressed). The 2020 link has a decent image of them in the water with her over their heads. As I said, she floats. But they even lift her high in the air at times.
I have probably said it before on this occasion, but – not many virgins amongst that ensemble of sailors, I imagine!
The sheer campery of a Virgin known as Carmen or Stella is probably lost on the Catholic church… [As would the association with Señorita Miranda, no doubt.]
You have a great birds-eye view of proceedings! Jx
Again, I’ve appeared as anonymous even though I logged in! Jx
From your previous post: Congrats on getting rid of your car. No more car headaches living in a city! Where I live, a car is necessary. I think in a way it might be freeing not to have to worry about car ownership. From this post: Sorry your stomach prevented you from seeing more of the procession. You did get some great photos though!
Michael:
I really do love living without a car. We did it for 3 years in Washington D.C. and were able to rent a car every weekend if we wanted for less than it would have cost us for insurance. The first 5 years here without a car were nice. I’m glad I at least got downstairs to see the paso get lit up. Digestion is currently unpredictable due to the meds. Mostly fine though.
I’m sure there are plenty of folks who join in just for the celebration. You seem to have lots of fantastic parades and processions… whether for gay pride, the virgin, or whatever!
Now I have a different Miranda on the brain!
https://youtu.be/dVw06mVcAAM?si=_HateK-qOGdCNENc
Kelly:
What a great musical memory! And, yes, there’s always something going on. We never knew when we’d stumble on a procession in Sevilla. It was a huge surprise to us.
We sure could use a Virgin to intervene here in the States right about now…and a number of hunky men would be a plus.
Frank D:
I wonder which patron saint would be the best for protection of the orange menace and the rethuglican party. I cans find plenty of hunky men right in our neighborhood — if they’d be of any use.
Great fun. That figure is huge! Like carrying a building around the streets. You have some great street festivals. I expect good for tourism too. Sez boud.
Boud:
And that’s not one of the larger statues to be carried around. You should see some of the pasos for Semana Santa (Easter Holy Week). If it weren’t for tourism, this would still be a sleepy fishing village.
Another Virgin shipped out to sea. Oh, the waters must be filled with them.
Bob:
There’s a virgin for every day of the week… plus!
If I ived there I think this too would be my favorite celebration of the town for the year. I just love how it’s so festive and it appears everyone gets in on the fun. I also ADORE Carmen Miranda….one of my all time screen presence and performers…and one of my patron saints of the Casa du Borghese. So much so, I did her one Halloween. Complete with a 6 lb fruit headpiece made by me.
Mistress Borghese:
Maddy, I would so love to see photos of you in your drag days!
So many sailor men!
David:
Coming out of the water in oddly transparent pants.
Before there were Hollywood musicals with all of their glory, there was the Catholic church who certainly believes in opulence and shiny adornment. I feel like Carmen had been warned not to shake her chicka-booms TOO provocatively. She could have made far better use of that tinsel if she had tried. Meanwhile, pobracita Stella Maris cannot shake a thing but my goodness- doesn’t she have all the men anyway?
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
Oh yeah, Carmen definitely was under a chica boom warning. Imagine what she would be like now.
I’ll see your Carmen Miranda and raise you a Minnie from Trinidad…
https://youtu.be/Ip88WsCkYKg?si=U5Q0JA-rMPHuTrNt
I’m sure your festival is fabulous, but as fabulous as a 1940s Technicolor musical with Carmen Miranda? That’s pretty stiff competition!
Kirk:
Carrying a statue of The Virgin into the Mediterranean Sea couldn’t compete with Carmen Miranda.
Here in PEI and in the Maritimes, the celebration is of Stella Maris for all Acadian fishers. The big yellow star on the Acadian Flag represents that fact. We have our celebration on Setting Day end April for all the Lobster fishers who go out to sea.
Laurent:
Do PEI celebrants carry the Virgin into the sea?
I like the one with the red drum.
Urspo:
I had a feeling you would!