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Programme of events.
Saturday - The Mysteries
The Rocas will have been on display in Plaza de la Virgen ( Paginas
Amarillas.es ) from 8pm on Friday. Today is a good opportunity to
calmly appreciate the work on las Rocas and to take pictures. In the evening,
at 19.30 the Plaza will stage the Mysteries.
These are centuries old biblical plays. Traditionally, they were performed
on las Rocas but these days they have a stage constructed for them. It's
not a hell of a spectacle and you may find yourself yawning if you stay
long, but it may be worth a quick look.
In conclusion, at 11pm the municipal band will play some traditional
Valencian music and you can enjoy some fireworks.
Sunday
Sunday will have three major events. They are all worth seeing.
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Sunday - 12pm - Cabalgata del Convite
This is a folk parade, taking you back in time to Medieval Valencia.
You will see several centuries old dances performed by Valencians,
including some really obscure costumes. All in all, a very good
show. A curious tradition concluding the Cabalgata is Degolla:
a big bunch of men, dressed as King Herod's henchmen rampage through
the route, symbolising the slaughter of infants. You can even get
(a very light) smack with a plastic baton yourself, if you stand
close enough. It's a hillarious spectacle which will charge you
up for the day. Just make sure you dont stand under balconies -
some residents take revenge on the fiends by pouring buckets of
water over their heads.
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Sunday - 16.30pm - Parade of the Rocas
Some time between 16.30 and 17.30 a few carts will ride through
the city, covering the streets with green branches. They will be
followed by all the Rocas in sucession, pulled by horses. It is
an energetic, crazy ride that whizzes past like a train full of
flowers. The Rocas will be filled with traditionally dressed Valencians
playing folk music. Don't be late though - the whole thing takes
no more than 10 minutes.
The final part of the route, right before the Archbizcopal Palace
is a hill, where another Valencian Corpus fiesta tradition takes
place. Only one horse is left at each of the Rocas and the locals
make bets which horse will be the strongest to carry its load to
the top. It's an energetic, sports-like atmosphere with plenty of
cheering and passions. However, some people would prefer not to
see it: they would consider it an act of cruelty to the horses.
Those horses really do struggle.
At the top of the hill, all of the Rocas gather in front of the
Palace. It is an incredible panorama on the background of stunning
central Valencian architecture.
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Sunday - 7pm - Official Procession
Most Valencian fiestas include an official procession, separate
from dress-up carnivals and other events. The Corpus fiesta procession
is probably the most spectacular of all (some of which, like that
of San Vicente Ferrer, can be a total drag).
You will see plenty of colours and just about every Biblical character,
as well as armies of Old Testament priests and Roman soldiers. The
procession also has its own squadron of impressive carts - usually
depicting beasts - pushed by the participants.
The procession will be overlooked by the top brass of Valencian
politics from the balcony on Plaza de la Reina, and concluded with
all kinds of important local figures and a military band. |
Casa de las Rocas
At other times of the year you can still see the Rocas in their own museum
- Museo de Corpus.
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Corpus
is the third biggest (after Christmas and Easter) Christian festivity
celebrated in many parts of the Catholic word. It appears to be
a party for the sake of the party - in XIII century the Pope simply
told people to have a party on the 60th day after Easter. Every
place interpreted it in their own way, and now the fiesta of Corpus
is a diverse celebration, specific for every location.
