Fiestas during the month of July in Águilas

The Virgen del Carmen protects mariners and those who work at sea

On 16th July, Águilas joins other coastal locations in celebrating the festivity of the Virgen del Carmen, organised by the fishermen who form the fishing fleet based in the port, the Cofradía de Pescadores.

The events begin at 10pm on the evening of the 15th, in the Parroquia del Carmen, the church of El Carmen with a serenata in honour of the patrona of the fishermen.

At 11am on the 16th, the traditional Misa marinera is held inside the fishing port, in the auction house of the fish market, attended by local authorities.

At 7pm, the image of the Virgen del Carmen is carried around the streets of the town, before the figure of the Virgen is loaded onto a selected fishing boat and taken out to sea, along with not only the remaining boats of the municipal fishing fleet, but also any pleasure boats which would like to accompany her on her journey.

The day concludes with a social activity, normally an open air dance in the Plaza de Antonio Cortijos, although this can vary depending on the year (and budgets!). All are welcome to attend and enjoy the dance, or watch the procession head out to sea, and anyone with a pleasure boat can take part as well.

Although the celebrations of the Virgen del Carmen are essentially a day honouring the fishermen and fishing fleets of the region, they also have at their core an element of remembrance, and part of the symbolic acts during a marine romería is the act of remembering the deceased, those who have died at sea and the fishermen who have spent their lives working on the sea.

As the figure of the Virgen del Carmen approaches deeper waters, the fishing boat on which she is carried switches off its engine, and slowly all the accompanying vessels in the marine romería surround the leading vessel and the virgen and also switch off their own engines. As silence falls amongst those assembled, simple prayers are said for the deceased and a wreath of flowers cast into the water by the authorities accompanying the Virgen, an act of homage echoed by the participants in the remaining boats who also drop flowers into the sea.

Following this, the Virgen returns to land and her sanctuary for another year.

History behind the devotion to the Virgen del Carmen

The history of devotion to the Virgen del Carmen goes way back in history, 300 years before Christ was even born, to Galilea, and to a mountain called the Mount Carmel, the Hebrew word for garden.

The story recounts that in 300 BC a great drought threatened the livelihood of all those living in the area, and the holy men living on the mountain, amongst them the Prophet Elias,  joined with those praying for rain. Whilst praying on the mountain top he saw a vast white cloud which came from the sea and rose into the air, bringing the much longed for rain.Elias interpreted this as being a sign of the coming of a saviour, who would be conceived from a virgin and would bring a rain of blessings. From then on, the community dedicated itself to praying for the mother of the redeemer, and for her arrival, the result of which was the emergence of the Carmelites, whose devotion was to our Lady of Carmen, the Virgen del Carmen.

The day of 16th July as being the day of the Virgen del Carmen is actually due to an Englishman, a man called Simon Stock who founded various monasteries dedicated to the cult of the Virgen del Carmen across Europe in the 13th century.

On the 16th July 1251, the Virgen is said to have appeared to him holding a scapular in her hands, saying the words: Let this be a sign and privilege for you and for all Carmelites: whoever dies, using the scapular will never suffer eternal fire.

(A scapular is a piece of cloth worn by religious orders, having originated as an apron, but is also a devotional item consisting of two small pieces of cloth, or laminated paper joined by two longer pieces of cloth, normally bearing religious texts. Both bring promises to those who wear them).

By the Middle Ages the Virgen del Carmen had become known as the "Estrella del Mar"  the star of the sea, of particular significance for sailors who are guided by the stars of the sea. The Virgen became associated as the star who guides us through the difficult waters of life to safe port, the port being the love of Christ.

By the 18th century the cult of the Virgen del Carmen was widespread in Spain and towards the end of the 18th century, the Spanish Admiral Antonio Barceló Pont de la Terra (1716-1797) decided to change the patronship of Spanish sailors from that of Saint Telmo for that of the Virgen del Carmen.

There is often a "Barrio del Carmen" in Spanish cities, a district named in her honour, and it´s normal for there to be a celebration of some sort in any Barrio del Carmen on the 16th July. Here in the region of Murcia, acts of homage to the Virgen del Carmen are known to have begun in 1792.

More information about Águilas including beaches, what to see, what's on and tourist information can be found on ÁGUILAS TODAY.