The feast of San Sebastian is celebrated in Madridejos

A TRADITION SINCE THE 16TH CENTURY TO VENERATE SAINT SEBASTIAN, PATRON SAINT OF MADRIDEJOS, WHICH TAKES PLACE IN THIS TOWN. 20 JANUARY

Patron saint of the town of Madridejos. A saint who is venerated throughout Christendom as an advocate against plagues. Her devotion is lost in the depths of the Middle Ages, as plagues were greatly feared. The symbol of the plague is represented by arrows falling from the sky. Saint Sebastian was a Roman military man who resisted death when he was tortured by “asaeteamiento”, that is, he was tied to a tree (orange tree) and arrows were shot at him.

The popular tradition places the origin of San Sebastian as the patron saint of Madridejos in the XVI century, because the people of Madridejos prayed to him during a wave of plague.

A RELIGIOUS FESTIVAL OF REGIONAL TOURIST INTEREST, WHICH BEGINS ON JANUARY 19 AND CULMINATES ON ITS MAIN DAY, JANUARY 20.

On the day of the eve, a large bonfire was held on the esplanade of the hill, later moved to the arroyuelo. Part of the bundles of firewood were provided by the shepherds. At present, the City Council is in charge.

Also on the eve of the festival, the traditional bull of fire is performed, formerly two men covered with a black tarp and the first one with horns throwing firecrackers and rockets all over the square. It is now a safer system for the shell wearer, but new pyrotechnical systems allow the shell to contain more explosive material.

That same night, in the square, the traditional cucaña is placed, where oranges are placed at the top of the soapy stick in commemoration of the orange tree where the saint was killed.

A MEDIEVAL FESTIVAL TO COMMEMORATE THE MARTYRDOM OF SAINT SEBASTIAN AND THE PROTECTION HE EXERCISED OVER MADRIDEJOS IN THE 16TH CENTURY, ACCORDING TO HISTORICAL SOURCES.

On the 20th, the procession from the parish church to the hermitage is carried by the “quintos” who were doing their military service that year. The young men who were going to carve in that year went out on the street singing and sometimes their songs were a bit insulting, referring to the authorities, unmarried women who had become pregnant, “carnudos” etc … custom that had to be removed after the Civil War, as well as the tradition of throwing oranges in front of the Saint that often damaged the soldiers and the image. Nowadays, due to the professionalization of the army, those who should be because of their age are leaving, but there is more and more reluctance to do so.

For many years, an army battalion has been invited to accompany the few local youths who come out to parade, which makes for a very colorful procession. Since 2008 the A.C. Tercio de San Sebastián was established to strengthen, preserve and enhance the maintenance of the military tradition of the local festival and is responsible together with the Ilmo. Madridejos City Council of the organization of the procession and parades in honor of the Saint.

THE RELIGIOUS TRADITION AND THE ETHNOGRAPHIC CHARACTER OF THIS FESTIVITY CHARACTERIZE THIS FESTIVITY OF TOURIST INTEREST, WHICH IS COMPLETED WITH LUDIC AND PROFANE ACTS.

Another tradition is that in San Sebastian is the day to “echar el ojo”, that is, to look for a boyfriend or girlfriend. In the old days, this idea of “echar el ojo” was real, since the waiters would take an eye of some animal they had killed during those days and put it in the apron of the wenches, so she would know that he was courting her.

MORE INFORMATION

https://madridejos.es/festividad-de-san-sebastian/