Romeria Del Rocio

The Romeria Del Rocio Festival took place over the weekend in Javea and is one of the biggest celebrations in Spain. The fiesta dates back to the fifteenth century when a hunter found a statue of the Virgin Mary in a tree trunk near Donana Park. The festivities in Javea began on the Friday with stalls and stages being set up in the park in honour of the Virgen Del Rocio, or the Virgin Mary. She is the patron saint of Almonte and is believed to be able to cure all kinds of disease, as well as mental disorders and infertility.
Thousands of people joined in the pilgrimage this weekend and enjoyed the traditional fiesta. The Romero or travellers were dressed in traditional clothing as they marched by foot or on horseback. The women wore colourful traditional flamenco dresses and the men wore the famous cropped-jackets that are famous in the area. Wearing the wide-brimmed bolero hats the men made an impressive site as they walked along the streets of the town. No motor vehicles are allowed in the procession, so all the Romeros travel by foot, horse or carriages.
The weekend was alive with the Romeria Del Rocio Festival, with singing and dancing taking place all over the fields of Andalusia. All of the people joined together to celebrate their patron saint, and their shouted cries of blessings could be heard from far and wide. “Viva La Reina de la Marisma” was sung by the romeros which means “Long live the Queen of the Marshes”. Fireworks lit the night sky and the fiesta was in full swing over the whole weekend. Hundreds of food stalls were serving local paella and wine and sherry was flowing freely. It was a lively and colourful celebration which was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone there.