It's as though living in their charming and pretty city leaves Valencians hankering for the challenges and excitement of a war zone.
So the procession in honour of St Vincent Ferrer, one of the city’s patron saints, was a curious anomaly which was all the more worth seeing for that very reason.
It was much more solemn. Quiet even. People genuinely processed, they didn’t sing or dance let alone drink. There weren’t that many of them, even, possibly a testimony to the fact that religious observance, even in Catholic Valencia, is not quite as widespread as one might imagine. And maybe also that spiritual events tend to be predominantly patronised by the wealthy, a suspicion rather underlined by the quality of the clothes many of the participants were wearing.
Still, it was fun.
Horsemen. Or, more correctly, horsepersons |
He deserves the honour. Or was he just working? |
Seeing a street cleaner near the front of the procession struck me as an appropriate honour. Though I think it would honour these valuable people still more if Valencia’s dog owners made more of a point of cleaning up behind their dogs – certainly, our local cleaner, a lovely lady called Marian, complains of how little they seem to care and how quickly they allow their pets to foul the pavements after she’s passed by.
On the other hand, it’s possible that the cleaner wasn’t there to be honoured. He may just have been tasked with clearing up behind the horses.
The costumes were mostly sober black.
Sombre in black, but spritely with it. Great to be that fit at that age |
On some people, black's not so dismal |
Traditional dress |
Traditional dress, massed |
Young friars. Or novices. Apparently |
Goose-stepping along Neatly confirming the link between Church and State |
The senior officers were there too All branches of the services and the police were represented |
Street theatre miracle plays. By children |
It was amusing, and a little surprising, to see Valencians engaging in a celebration without turning it into a party.
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