Fiesta patronal
Encyclopedia
The Fiestas patronales are yearly celebrations held in countries influenced by Spanish culture.
A fiesta patronal is usually dedicated to a saint
or virgin, who is the patron
of whichever city holds the fiesta. Usually, town members adorn the town streets with colorful decorations and other things. In big cities, there are particular fiestas for each neighborhood, usually about the patron saint for the local parish
.
Depending to the budget of the town, the fiestas patronales may last just one day (the day of the saint being honored) or nine days called el novenario. Most Latin American countries dedicate the first day to the saint or virgin being celebrated; in Puerto Rico
, the musical and entertainment festivities begin right away.
Most Fiestas patronales feature verbena
s, live entertainment by famous international or local singers, amusement park
s, and street vendors, among other things, during the celebration.
Fiestas patronales are not national holidays, because they only reflect the celebration of one city or town and are religious celebrations. They d refelct the cities national athems
A fiesta patronal is usually dedicated to a saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
or virgin, who is the patron
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of whichever city holds the fiesta. Usually, town members adorn the town streets with colorful decorations and other things. In big cities, there are particular fiestas for each neighborhood, usually about the patron saint for the local parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
.
Depending to the budget of the town, the fiestas patronales may last just one day (the day of the saint being honored) or nine days called el novenario. Most Latin American countries dedicate the first day to the saint or virgin being celebrated; in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, the musical and entertainment festivities begin right away.
Most Fiestas patronales feature verbena
Verbena (fair)
In Spanish-speaking cultures, a verbena is a country fair, modest amusement park, or a dance party, especially one held at night. An old tradition, they usually take place after dark in the summer...
s, live entertainment by famous international or local singers, amusement park
Amusement park
thumb|Cinderella Castle in [[Magic Kingdom]], [[Disney World]]Amusement and theme parks are terms for a group of entertainment attractions and rides and other events in a location for the enjoyment of large numbers of people...
s, and street vendors, among other things, during the celebration.
Fiestas patronales are not national holidays, because they only reflect the celebration of one city or town and are religious celebrations. They d refelct the cities national athems
Examples
- Spain
- Fiestas del PilarFiestas del PilarFiestas del Pilar are an annual festival celebrated in the city of Zaragoza in honour of the patron saint of the city, the Virgen del Pilar . They take place the week of the 12th of October...
around 12 October in ZaragozaZaragozaZaragoza , also called Saragossa in English, is the capital city of the Zaragoza Province and of the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain... - La MercèLa MercèLa Mercè is the annual festival of the city of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. It has been an official city holiday since 1871, when the local government first organized a program of special activities to observe the Roman Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Mercy, La Mare de Déu de la Mercè in...
around 24 September in BarcelonaBarcelonaBarcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... - Fallas around 19 March in ValenciaValencia (city in Spain)Valencia or València is the capital and most populous city of the autonomous community of Valencia and the third largest city in Spain, with a population of 809,267 in 2010. It is the 15th-most populous municipality in the European Union...
- Bonfires of Saint JohnBonfires of Saint JohnBonfires of Saint John is a popular festival celebrated around 24 June Saint John's day throughout many cities and towns in Spain; however, the largest is in Alicante, where it is considered the most important festival in the city...
around 24 June in AlicanteAlicanteAlicante or Alacant is a city in Spain, the capital of the province of Alicante and of the comarca of Alacantí, in the south of the Valencian Community. It is also a historic Mediterranean port. The population of the city of Alicante proper was 334,418, estimated , ranking as the second-largest... - San FermínSan FermínThe festival of San Fermín in the city of Pamplona , is a deeply rooted celebration held annually from 12:00, 6 July, when the opening of the fiesta is marked by setting off the pyrotechnic chupinazo, to midnight 14 July, with the singing of the Pobre de Mí...
around 7 July in PamplonaPamplonaPamplona is the historial capital city of Navarre, in Spain, and of the former kingdom of Navarre.The city is famous worldwide for the San Fermín festival, from July 6 to 14, in which the running of the bulls is one of the main attractions...
- Fiestas del Pilar
- Puerto Rico
- El Salvador
- Yucuaquín, El Salvador (and Somerville, MA USA) 4 October "El baile de los negritos" Fiesta Patronal de San Francisco
See also
- Calendar of saintsCalendar of saintsThe calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
- Holy WeekHoly WeekHoly Week in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter...
- CarnivalCarnivalCarnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
- Fiestas Patronales Dominicanas