THE HOLY CROSS. FERIA

DETAILS

Denomination: The Holy Cross.

Place: Feria. Badajoz

Date: From 1 to 3 May

Most interesting moments:

The performances of La Entrega.

The Procession of the Crosses.

How to get there: You can get to Feria by the N-630 and the A-66, along the road which links the latter to Feria at Villafranca de los Barros, and by the N-432.

THE HISTORY

The origin of the Holy Cross Festival in Feria, an interesting anthropological example of the conservation of mediaeval customs, was, in principle, the celebration of the birthday of Ana de la Cruz Ponce de León, wife of the fourth count Pedro Fernández de Córdoba y Figueroa on 3 May.

The usual celebration of the day of the Holy Cross in May became progressively associated with this verified fact with the passing of the years, thereby combining a historical anniversary closely connected with the town of Feria with the exaltation of the Holy Cross. This is undoubtedly one of the oldest popular religious manifestations in Extremadura.

THE FESTIVAL

Since the Middle Ages, the custom has been, some days before the festival, for the women and children, called coritas, to begin to make their crosses in secret with the wish to make the most beautiful one; once they are finished, they are carried to the parish church, where they are exhibited from 2 to 3 May, the date of the festival.

Photo: Feria street decorated with crosses and flowers

The festival continues with two further traditions: the performance of La Entrega (Handing Over), which depicts the search for the Lignum Crucis by Saint Helena, the mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, popularly explained in 96 verses which finish with praise and compliments for those who organize the festival:

"Our Superintendent
Lives this solemn Entrega
Which we celebrate today
We praise the Holy Cross
Ends in the Sky flag."

The second event takes place in the morning on 3 May, when the whole town takes part in the procession of crosses decked with flowers. Two long lines of brotherhood members, accompanied by a procession of children and youngsters who carry their crosses, leave Saint Bartholomew’s Church and go through the town, before the attentive gaze of the majestic castle, which seems to observe this secular festival, so deep-rooted in Feria and abandoned in other parts of the Peninsula.

While the procession goes on, the "corita" woman sings songs and tunes, learnt and handed down from generation to generation:

"Who has placed such an evasive white dove?
A needless question, my Superintendent
You are the insignia, the most beautiful on the third of May, covered in roses"

Some songs with an Arab flavour describe these customs, so deep-rooted in this town of Badajoz:

“Four crosses I have seen, with this one of the Holy Church five, it takes the vito.