Traditional Pilgrimage of San Roque
22 ABR 2022
Plaza de la Iglesia, 1 • 30540 BLANCA
Information
The traditional Pilgrimage in honour of the patron saint San Roque is one of the biggest days in the calendar for every blanqueño which, together with the Running of the Bulls in the August Fair, forms part of the most relevant festivities in the municipality. The day begins at 7 a.m. with the arrival of the Tío de la Pita (i.e. the guy of the whistle) to the town, who crosses through the streets until he reaches the Plaza de la Iglesia. The pilgrimage begins at 8 a.m. from there with the saint accompanied by more than a thousand of the faithful to his hermitage, located about 5 kilometres from the town centre, in the Campo de San Roque area. At 11 a.m. a “huertana” mass is celebrated, enlivened by the group Peña Huertana El Ciecón, and officiated by the local parish priest, as consiliary of the Brotherhood of San Roque. Once it is over, thousands of blanqueños and visitors spend a day of conviviality tasting the traditional “mona” and passing a sprig of thyme through the sores of the saint, to later enjoy family meals in the field of San Roque. Our elders tell us that since 1739, the pilgrimage has been repeated, year after year, on the Friday following Good Friday, except for the sad period of civil war from 1936 to 1939, when it was not held.
Origins
Tradition tells us that Blanca was spared from a plague epidemic thanks to the intercession of San Roque and a vow was made to build him a hermitage and that at least one of the members of each family would go there one day a year on pilgrimage, and this has been done since 1828.
The chapel dates from the mid 18th century and has three naves, the side naves being lower. It is of neoclassical style, in polychrome stucco that imitates the qualities and tones of jasper stone. The most significant feature is the decoration of the interior of the dressing room where San Roque is placed.
Text by Ángel Ríos Martínez, Official Chronicler of Blanca.
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