ARCHIVED - 3rd February Fiestas of San Blas, Santiago de la Ribera

This includes the popular Romería and a free concert for the youngsters

The Romería de San Blas is held every 3rd February in Santiago de la Ribera, the main residential area of the municipality of San Javier on the shore of the Mar Menor, and is the only non-maritime Romeria in the Mar Menor. ( ie, the only one on land)

The origins of the celebration date back to the 16th century, when the Trinitarian monks brought their devotion to San Blas and the celebration of his feast day to San Javier and La Ribera.

The main event this year, ie the Romería, is taking place on a Tuesday, so the weekend is dedicated to pre-celebrations, with Sunday taken up with a Fiesta Rociera, offering all Sevillanas fans a chance to dance and enjoy a spot of neighbourly dancing beforehand. There is also a youth concert on Saturday with a number of live bands. All of this takes place around the hermitage of San Blas, where the peñas set up their "encampment" in their relative groups.

This year the Festival of La Candelaria is on Monday 2nd, during which the service to bless this years newly born children will take place in the hermitage of San Blas at 5pm.

On Tuesday morning stalls are set up in the park area around the hermitage of San Blas, which is behind the Avenida Luis Federico Guirao. These sell the normal selections of crispy coated nuts, sunflower seeds and popcorn, but are also garlanded with brightly coloured ribbons and coloured cords, holding little terracotta figures of San Blas, many of them painted gold.

Traditionally terracotta figures were placed above the bed of children in the family, in the belief that they would keep throat infections at bay, and these little figures are still sold at this Romeria.

Participants will also distribute bread rolls which have been blessed inside the church: these are also believed to keep throat infections at bay.

At 10 a.m. the bells of the parish church, La Iglesia de Santiago Apostol, in Calle  Oshea, close to the seafront, joyfully announce that the image of San Blas is beginning its journey to the hermitage, accompanied by neighbours and visitors, many of them clad in typical "huertano" clothes.

The saint emerges from the church, carried on a wooden throne, decked with flowers, and accompanied by hundreds of local inhabitants.

If you´ve never been to a Romeria before, they´re actually very enjoyable. The figure of the saint is carried slowly and the crowd follow, with music playing and all enjoying a festive atmosphere. There´s always music and food, a relaxed crowd enjoying a good walk and even though this is essentially a religious event, it has an atmosphere of festivity which many are surprised to find when participating in their first Romeria. However, once you´re hooked, they become an enjoyable day out and residents will travel from all over the region to participate in various Romerias

When the Romería arrives at the Hermitage of San Blas, the Huertana Holy Mass is performed. This is a colourful and joyful ceremony, enlivened by the choir of Santiago Apóstol, and offerings of fruit and flowers from the surrounding countryside.Its very crowded inside the church, so if youre intending to attend the mass, get inside before the saint arrives, otherwise theres no chance of getting in. The Misa Huertana is a sung mass, with folk music accompaniment, so its actually quite enjoyable even without the religious element. After Mass, the revellers begin a long day of feasting in the encampment they’ve erected for their various peñas, and a paella is offered to all those who took part in the event.

Participating is easy: just wait at the door of the church at Santiago de la Ribera with everyone else and then follow the saint, enjoying a walk in the sunshine with Santiago de la Ribera’s oldest resident.

Click for start point, Iglesia de Santiago, Santiago de la Ribera

Click for Hermitage of San Blas

To read a report following participation in this romería, Click Romeria of san blas

To read more about the History of the cult of San Blas in San Javier, click The Cult of San Blas in San Javier

Programme 2015

Saturday 31st January
14:00h. Concert Blasfushion 2015, with the bands: Materia Primo, Salamandra, Malavergüenza, Barzul y Tebas. Free of charge, in the area near to the hermitage of San Blas

Sunday 1st February, Day for neighbourly get together
10:00h. Distribution of ingredients for the participating peñas to cook the popular and calorific dish of Migas (Prior registration at the Civic Centre Principe de Asturias up to 31st January).
12:00h. Exhibition and carriages competition . Horses and dressage competition with prizes for the best dressed and best dressage. As this is a Rociera event, there will also be Sevillanas music and dancing, along with a display of Rociera dance by the school of dance, Dance Yaiza
2.30 The peñas present their plates of Migas for judging and everyone tucks in.

Monday 2nd February

10:30am. The day of the Candelaria. Blessing of the young children and mass at the hermitage of San Blas.

Tuesday 3rd February, Day of san Blas.
10:00h. PILGRIMAGE OF SAN BLAS (From the church of Santiago Apostol in Santiago de la Ribera to the hermitage of San Blas
On arrival, mass is held inside the church in the form of a typical Misa Huertana, or sung mass
After this, the participants spread out and go back to their peñas to enjoy a bit of time together before lunch.
14:30 pm. Giant Paella for all. With the collaboration of Estrella de Levante.
18:30pm. Firecracker to end the festivities