Los Picaos de San Vicente de la Sonsierra
Encyclopedia
Los Picaos are a penance
of the Christian religion, now professed only in the town of San Vicente de la Sonsierra
in La Rioja
(Spain
). It takes place during procession
s and Stations of the Cross
. It consists in the self-flagellation of the back
, of a group of people as an act of faith
and voluntarily, called disciplinantes, by the beating continued with a ball.
On February 17, 2005 the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade of Spain granted the title of Fiesta of National Tourist Interest
to be held the Holy Thursday and Good Friday.
On March 20, 1799 attempted unsuccessfully to abolish this tradition as it was taking place privately.
The clergy of Spain had great reverence, to receive indulgence
s.
In 1998 it received the rank of Regional Tourist Interest. In January 2004 began the process of obtaining the status of National Tourist Interest
, was achieved in February 2005.
Its headquarters is located in the Hermitage of San Juan de la Cerca.
, man
, and that a priest has to stating that they are Christian and its good faith.
The brotherhood (cofradía) assigns each disciplining a brother, for help and accompany it during the penance.
At all times it maintain the anonymity of these people.
Most are people of this town or descendents, although some others have no connection with this and each has found his reason to decide to do this penance.
s, each disciplinante, choose at what time he want to offering, then kneel, pray a prayer
and after standing up, his companion will remove the cape and leave the back exposed. With a mop of cotton held with both hands, Sticking going strong lashes in the back, to lash out strongly above the shoulders, each time by one side of the neck in a rhythmic way.
The partner and the práctico (person in charge of healing the wounds) decide when to stop hitting, to start spotting small bruises. There is no set time, but is usually between ten and twenty minutes leading up to 1,000 hits. The handy "práctico" will cut three times on both sides of the lumbar
back, using a tool called "esponja", which is a ball of beeswax with six crystals embedded in two in two, so it will receive twelve punctures symbolizing the number of apostles. After that the disciplinante hitself a few times, for that the blood that may have accumulated in the area, can escape and prevent further problems.
Once complete, the partner will return to cover the back and put the layer to go to the headquarters of the cofradía where a specialist practitioner will heal any wounds with rosemary
water and a cream in which its composition is secret and passed from generation on generation.
Sacrament of Penance (Catholic Church)
In the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is the method by which individual men and women may be freed from sins committed after receiving the sacrament of Baptism...
of the Christian religion, now professed only in the town of San Vicente de la Sonsierra
San Vicente de la Sonsierra
San Vicente de la Sonsierra is a village in the province and autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain.-References:...
in La Rioja
La Rioja (Spain)
La Rioja is an autonomous community and a province of northern Spain. Its capital is Logroño. Other cities and towns in the province include Calahorra, Arnedo, Alfaro, Haro, Santo Domingo de la Calzada, and Nájera.-History:...
(Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
). It takes place during procession
Procession
A procession is an organized body of people advancing in a formal or ceremonial manner.-Procession elements:...
s and Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross refers to the depiction of the final hours of Jesus, and the devotion commemorating the Passion. The tradition as chapel devotion began with St...
. It consists in the self-flagellation of the back
Human back
The human back is the large posterior area of the human body, rising from the top of the buttocks to the back of the neck and the shoulders. It is the surface opposite to the chest, its height being defined by the vertebral column and its breadth being supported by the ribcage and shoulders...
, of a group of people as an act of faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
and voluntarily, called disciplinantes, by the beating continued with a ball.
On February 17, 2005 the Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade of Spain granted the title of Fiesta of National Tourist Interest
Fiestas of National Tourist Interest of Spain
The category of Fiesta of National Tourist Interest in Spain is an honorary designation given to festivals or events held in Spain and that offer real interest from the tourism perspective.- January :- February :- March :- April :- May :...
to be held the Holy Thursday and Good Friday.
History
It is believed that the tradition began in the late 15th century or early 16th century. Since then has been linked to the Cofradía de la Santa Vera Cruz in the town.On March 20, 1799 attempted unsuccessfully to abolish this tradition as it was taking place privately.
The clergy of Spain had great reverence, to receive indulgence
Indulgence
In Catholic theology, an indulgence is the full or partial remission of temporal punishment due for sins which have already been forgiven. The indulgence is granted by the Catholic Church after the sinner has confessed and received absolution...
s.
In 1998 it received the rank of Regional Tourist Interest. In January 2004 began the process of obtaining the status of National Tourist Interest
Fiestas of National Tourist Interest of Spain
The category of Fiesta of National Tourist Interest in Spain is an honorary designation given to festivals or events held in Spain and that offer real interest from the tourism perspective.- January :- February :- March :- April :- May :...
, was achieved in February 2005.
Cofradía de la Santa Vera Cruz de San Vicente
The organization of the events associated with this tradition, are managed from its inception by the Cofradía de la Santa Vera Cruz. No one knows the exact date of foundation. On June 19, 1551 were presented their statutes, which was filed the tradition that existed until then.Its headquarters is located in the Hermitage of San Juan de la Cerca.
Disciplinantes
Volunteers who wish to undergo this penance, they must meet the requirements of being adultAdult
An adult is a human being or living organism that is of relatively mature age, typically associated with sexual maturity and the attainment of reproductive age....
, man
Man
The term man is used for an adult human male . However, man is sometimes used to refer to humanity as a whole...
, and that a priest has to stating that they are Christian and its good faith.
The brotherhood (cofradía) assigns each disciplining a brother, for help and accompany it during the penance.
At all times it maintain the anonymity of these people.
Most are people of this town or descendents, although some others have no connection with this and each has found his reason to decide to do this penance.
Clothing
- White tunicTunicA tunic is any of several types of clothing for the body, of various lengths reaching from the shoulders to somewhere between the hips and the ankles...
knee-length, with an opening in the back. - A white girdleGirdleA girdle is a garment that encircles the lower torso, perhaps extending below the hips, and worn often for support. The word girdle originally meant a belt. In modern English, the term girdle is most commonly used for a form of women's foundation wear that replaced the corset in popularity...
around his waist. - White hoodHood-Apparel:* Hood , type of head covering** Article of Academic dress** Animal hood, something used in costume play or part of an animal transformation fantasy** Bondage hood, sex toy-Anatomy:* Hood , flap of skin behind the head of a cobra...
with eye holes. - Brown capeCapeCape can be used to describe any sleeveless outer garment, such as a poncho, but usually it is a long garment that covers only the back half of the wearer, fastening around the neck. They were common in medieval Europe, especially when combined with a hood in the chaperon, and have had periodic...
with a white cross.
Discipline
During the processionProcession
A procession is an organized body of people advancing in a formal or ceremonial manner.-Procession elements:...
s, each disciplinante, choose at what time he want to offering, then kneel, pray a prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
and after standing up, his companion will remove the cape and leave the back exposed. With a mop of cotton held with both hands, Sticking going strong lashes in the back, to lash out strongly above the shoulders, each time by one side of the neck in a rhythmic way.
The partner and the práctico (person in charge of healing the wounds) decide when to stop hitting, to start spotting small bruises. There is no set time, but is usually between ten and twenty minutes leading up to 1,000 hits. The handy "práctico" will cut three times on both sides of the lumbar
Lumbar
In tetrapod anatomy, lumbar is an adjective that means of or pertaining to the abdominal segment of the torso, between the diaphragm and the sacrum ...
back, using a tool called "esponja", which is a ball of beeswax with six crystals embedded in two in two, so it will receive twelve punctures symbolizing the number of apostles. After that the disciplinante hitself a few times, for that the blood that may have accumulated in the area, can escape and prevent further problems.
Once complete, the partner will return to cover the back and put the layer to go to the headquarters of the cofradía where a specialist practitioner will heal any wounds with rosemary
Rosemary
Rosemary, , is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple or blue flowers, native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, which includes many other herbs, and is one of two species in the genus Rosmarinus...
water and a cream in which its composition is secret and passed from generation on generation.
Dates to be performed
- During Holy WeekHoly WeekHoly Week in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter...
- Holy Thursday
- During the procession of the Holy Supper, around 19:30.
- In the Holy Hour. 23:00.
- Good FridayGood FridayGood Friday , is a religious holiday observed primarily by Christians commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and his death at Calvary. The holiday is observed during Holy Week as part of the Paschal Triduum on the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, and may coincide with the Jewish observance of...
- After the procession of the Stations of the CrossStations of the CrossStations of the Cross refers to the depiction of the final hours of Jesus, and the devotion commemorating the Passion. The tradition as chapel devotion began with St...
at about 11:30. - During the Holy Burial Procession that starts about 20:30.
- After the procession of the Stations of the Cross
- Holy Thursday
- Cruz de Mayo, May 3 if it is Sunday and if not the following Sunday. The Stations of the Cross begins around 18:00.
- Cruz de Septiembre, September 14 if it is Sunday and if not the following Sunday. About 18:00.