Maider
An ancient ritual
A place I like to go whenever I have a free moment is Rincon de la Victoria, Malaga. Especially for the charm of its people, typical of a Mediterranean coastal town. The customs and maritime traditions are numerous, one of the most popular are the feasts of Carmen, which, as its name suggests is on the 16th of July and the beginning of the fair. The festival del Carmen includes an ancient ritual with large connotations. The sailors go to the church looking for the virgin dressed in the costume of sailor. After the mass, they put a boat on their shoulders and carry it to the beach then into the sea, it is quickly followed by numerous vessels.
Tradition says that you have to bathe in the sea just as the virgin passes in front of you to bring a prosperous year. It takes a fixed route, is removed from the water and is taken down the main street of the village to the church. There are fireworks and the village women say things like: "Viva la Virgen del Carmen, ... pretty, pretty, pretty". The main reason for the tradition is to bring a year rich in fishing. Legend has it that the next day the water is perfectly calm.
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