The Mayordomo de la Bandera complies with the tradition of playing the flag in front of the Virgen del Castillo and among the smoke of gunpowder
Gunpowder flooded everything to cover the arrival of the image of the Patron Saint of Yecla at the end of the act of La Bajada. It was the culmination of one of the most emblematic moments of these festivities declared of National Tourist Interest. There, at the end of the ceremony, dozens of harquebusiers offered closed chests while the procession led by the Mayordomo del Bastón, José Antonio Marín, was slowly approaching the end of the long journey that began at the top of the hill of the Castle.
The look was directed at the Mayordomo of the Flag, Juan Puche Forte, who played the badge in front of the image of the Virgin of the Castle without losing sight of her face. Around the Patron Saint many people gathered to take shelter from the shots of gunpowder from the arquebuses, which did not stop until the image of the Patron Saint reached the altar and the Mayordomo stopped playing the Flag.
Hundreds of ‘tiraores’ made the ascent unloading their harquebuses through the streets of the town
This year there was a novelty in the atrium area. The works carried out by the City Council allowed the public to sit on a raised stand to be able to visualize this moment with which the act of La Bajada culminated.
With the traditional hymn to the Virgen del Castillo, inside the basilica, a morning ended, which began at about 9:00 a.m., with the ascent to the sanctuary on a sunny day, very pleasant in terms of weather and without the dreaded wind for those who shoot gunpowder. Hundreds of ‘shooters’ made the ascent unloading their harquebuses to pick up the image of the Virgin.
The ringing of bells
At the top of the city, through the door of the temple, the image of the Patroness carried on a litter appeared in the midst of an incessant ringing of bells and gunpowder shots. There were ten minutes to eleven in the morning when the first game of the Mayordomo began, receiving the Virgin on her knees while José Antonio Marín continued firing his arquebus.
The mayoress Remedios Lajara shouted the three cheers of honor, at noon, from the balcony of the City Hall
It was the first time that the Mayordomos carried out their established role in the festivities with the image of the Virgin in front. It was, once again, a moment full of emotion, tears and joy for the hundreds of residents who filled the esplanade of the Cerro del Castillo to experience it firsthand.
On the descent, the image passed through the interior of the Old Church as usual before starting the final stretch of the route.
At about one in the afternoon, the procession with the image of the Virgin arrived at the Plaza Mayor. From the balcony of the City Hall, the mayoress of Yecla, Remedios Lajara, shouted the three cheers in honor of the Patron Saint while the procession stopped for a few minutes. On that balcony were also the Minister of the Presidency and Yeclano, Marcos Ortuño, and the president of the Regional Assembly, Alberto Castillo, among other authorities.
A good part of the 1,300 kilos of gunpowder was fired yesterday morning in La Bajada. Fortunately, the gunpowder came out of the arquebuses without notable incidents and they fell silent at 1:38 p.m. when the image of the Virgen del Castillo reached the main altar of the basilica.
Floral offering of the squads and oath of the Clavarios
If the morning was crowded, the afternoon was not far behind. Hundreds of bouquets of flowers in honor of the Virgen del Castillo, contributed by the different squads of arquebusiers, and some by neighbors who do not belong to any of them, gathered at the main altar of the basilica to configure what will be the adornment floral throne of the Virgin. With these flowers, the image of the Patron Saint goes out in procession this afternoon at another very remarkable moment of the celebrations, which will culminate throughout tonight. This morning, on one of the big days of the celebrations, the Clavarios of these patron saint festivities will be sworn in, who will become the mayordomos for next year. The oath will be in
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