Alcalà de Xivert
Alcala de Xivet celebrates the festival of its patron saint Mare de Deu dels Desamparats
![[Img #66233]](upload/img/periodico/img_66233.jpg)
On Sunday 13th May, Alcala de Xivert held a festival in honour of their patron, the Mare de Deu dels Desamparats, with the transfer of the statue from its chapel through streets draped with bunting and covered with petals for the occasion, to the parish church, where it will remain until it returns next Sunday.
As is traditional, on the second Sunday of May, men and women of all ages accompany the Virgen de los Desamparados on her grand day. The chapel, dedicated to her worship and, built in 1705, is decorated with bunting.
A retinue of residents dressed in regional costumes, carrying the colourful flowers which are offered to the virgin, takes a route from the calle de los Desamparados on the way to the St. John the Baptist church. The local ‘festeras’ and ‘festeros’, the traditional angels, the scripts, flags and the statue of the Mare de Deu dels Desmparats were accompanied by a large number of residents, the municipal corporation and the Alcala de Xivert Unión Musical Santa Cecilia.
Following local custom, there had been a draw among the members of the association to choose the stewards who lead the events each year, and this year they were Ignasi Juan Martí, Francisco Calduch Ebri, Eloy Jimenez Herrera and Ismael Llopis Sospedra.
Once the statue of the Mare de Deu desl Desamparats had been moved to the parish church, there was a mass, at the end of which the procession passed through the customary streets.
The festivities in honour of the Alcala de Xivert patron will end next Sunday, 20th May, with the return of the statue to her chapel.
![[Img #66234]](upload/img/periodico/img_66234.jpg)
On Sunday 13th May, Alcala de Xivert held a festival in honour of their patron, the Mare de Deu dels Desamparats, with the transfer of the statue from its chapel through streets draped with bunting and covered with petals for the occasion, to the parish church, where it will remain until it returns next Sunday.
As is traditional, on the second Sunday of May, men and women of all ages accompany the Virgen de los Desamparados on her grand day. The chapel, dedicated to her worship and, built in 1705, is decorated with bunting.
A retinue of residents dressed in regional costumes, carrying the colourful flowers which are offered to the virgin, takes a route from the calle de los Desamparados on the way to the St. John the Baptist church. The local ‘festeras’ and ‘festeros’, the traditional angels, the scripts, flags and the statue of the Mare de Deu dels Desmparats were accompanied by a large number of residents, the municipal corporation and the Alcala de Xivert Unión Musical Santa Cecilia.
Following local custom, there had been a draw among the members of the association to choose the stewards who lead the events each year, and this year they were Ignasi Juan Martí, Francisco Calduch Ebri, Eloy Jimenez Herrera and Ismael Llopis Sospedra.
Once the statue of the Mare de Deu desl Desamparats had been moved to the parish church, there was a mass, at the end of which the procession passed through the customary streets.
The festivities in honour of the Alcala de Xivert patron will end next Sunday, 20th May, with the return of the statue to her chapel.
