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San Sebastian in Padul - A day to bring the people of our village together
We didn't know it was the feast day of San Sebastian of Padul the first time it happened.
We were enjoying the peace and tranquility of our garden when, suddenly, we heard voices talking, guitars playing and lots of jollity going on. It was a whole group of Paduleños, (people from Padul), cutting herbs from the hillside, collecting brushwood, and stacking the pieces up nearby. We didn't know that this was an integral part of celebrating the anniversary of San Sebastian of Padul, our patron saint.
Procession of San Sebastian in Padul
Every year, on the 20th January, our village of Padul, which is less than 15 minutes from the centre of Granada city, celebrates the feast day of San Sebastián, our patron saint.
San Sebastian came from the town of Narbona in Galia in the 3rd century. This was the time that the Roman empire persecuted Christians. San Sebastian risked his life because he insisted on comforting and taking food to the imprisoned followers of Christ.
When Sebastian's activities were discovered, under the order of Diocletian, the Roman Emperor, he was stripped, tied to a tree and was "executed" by the roman archers, this is why present day statues of Sebastian picture him pierced by a dozen arrows. However, Sebastian didn't die and later he was taken down and helped back to health by the widow of St. Castulus, St. Irene of Rome, who was one of his admirers.
But once he had recovered, Sebastian searched out Diocletian and publically accused him of the various atrocities he had committed. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Diocletian had Sebastian beaten to death!
Sebastian's remains are now laid in a tomb in the church San Sebastiano in Rome.
Like Saint George, Sebastian was one of the early soldier saints and martyrs of the military. He is a protector of victims of the plague, infantrymen, athletes and archers and is normally depicted as a good looking youth pierced with arrows.
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The anniversary of San Sebastian of Padul is celebrated in enthusiastic style by the villagers. On the 19th of January families and friends take a trip out to the local countryside, cutting and stacking herbs and brushwood to take back to the village later.
While in the campo (countryside) they make the most of the day by singing songs, having barbecues, eating, drinking and generally celebrating life! As the day draws to a close, they tie up the bundles they have collected and carry or drag them back to Padul village.
It really is a sight to see.
Burning the herbs during the day of San Sebastian Padul
Individuals and groups take part, including...
- Young children carrying plucked handfuls of herbs,
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Pet dogs pulling sprigs of herbs tied to their collars, and
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Adults with luggage racks and trailers loaded up and tied securely
everyone takes their offerings to the village and places them onto the ever growing piles around the village.
Even families and individuals who have moved away from Padul return for this feast day if at all possible. Many of them bring small clumps of herbs and twigs with them in order to add to the growing bonfires. Contributing to the bonfires of Padul and San Sebastian is said to bring you a special type of luck durng the year ahead.
The sites of the twelve bonfires are pre-planned to coincide with the processional route, and a couple of days earlier the chosen sites are spread with a good layer of sand in order to prevent the tarmac from melting from the heat of the fires.
And so it starts to get ready.
San Sebastian in Padul
On the evening of the 19th of January, the bells of the Hermitage in Calle Real sound as the Saint is taken from his normal place of standing in the Ermita de San Sebastian and paraded through the streets to the church, ready for his big walk the day after.
On the 20th January, at about 11 o'clock, the procession starts. San Sebastian heads the way, followed by a statue of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus. Music is provided by Padul brass band and the procession of villagers carries up the rear.
Walking alongside the procession is "Lucky", the rocket man. As San Sebastian nears a stacked bonfire, a rocket is fired into the air as a double signal for the up and coming bonfire to be lit. The herbs are alight in no time at all and the wonderful smell of burning thyme, rosemary and gorse fills the air.
Our Patron Saint - San Sebastian of Padul
The other thing that fills the air is the firing of pistols, rifles and shotguns, said to frighten away the evil spirits.
And as you can see in this link, it can be really confusing to anyone seeing the celebrations for the first time.
Once around the village, San Sebastian of Padul is carried back into the church followed by the people. During the service that follows, San Sebastian is "danced" in time with the hymns that are being sung - especially when his hymn is played..
After the service, many will go to the cafés to eat churros and chocolate and to talk about the good time everyone had in this Fiesta in Padul.
And, the job of San Sebastian of Padul is over for another year. He is taken back to the Hermitage to rest and to care for the village again.
And why must we have bonfires spaced out along the route of the procession? Why, to keep the Saint warm, of course. After all, it is January!
Links related to this page
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To find out all about Granada go to Granada information
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