During the days of April the 18 till the 21st., there was celebrated with
great enthusiasm by the attended public, this grand
annual pilgramidge.In this great event there are
pilgrims from all around Australia, making for a very
emocional reunion of past friends and new compatriots
as many of them have not seen each other since they
arrived in this great country many years ago.
The Romeria (pilgramidge) starts in the region of Clare Valley in S.A.,
where all the devoted are greeted by the Mayor of the valley, followed by
the leader of the brotherhood of this pilgramidge.
Here they welcome each other and the new pilgrims
are presented a medallion for their part in the
upcoming events. Once the ceremonies are concluded
the leader of the brotherhood announces the start of
the pilgramidge by saying in spanish, " Romeros en
marcha", which roughly translated means "Pilgrims
march". Initiating the start of the four day pilgramidge. It is very well
organised and is escorted by the local police to take care of the traffic
as they travel through the valley honoring their patron Saint Rocio,
hence the name.The patron Saint Rocio is carried in an elaborately decorated
horse and cart, that carries the Patron Saint , followed by a cavalcade
of other similarly decorated carts and also by the pilgrims usually singing
and dancing in honor of her. Also amazingly decorated and trained Andalucian
horses follow the pilgramidge and travel up and down the parade which can
stretch out for a kilometer at a stretch.The parade is a sea of color
traditional Andalucian dresses, adorned by complimenting hats and bonnets.
In the four days of the pilgramidges duration the pilgrims walk approximately
30 kilometers, there is an overwhelming atmosphere of faith, happiness
and hope,especially since the dancing, singing and
general merry making continues for every step of the
way. Whern nightfall arrives, there is programmed
into the festivities atypical flamenco extravaganzas
accompanied again by a culmination of food, drink
and dancing which carries on into the early hours.
During the pilgramidge there is a variety of vineyards,
winerries (which get visited frquently by those that require liquid
sustanance), a few olive plantations and also a variety of fighting
bulls breeding stables, that accompanied by the atmosphere of
the pilgramidge gives us all a sense of beeing home in Andalucia.
On the last day there was an air of seriousness as we attended atypical flamenco mass, finalized with a wave of choir singing sung by a group of 15 people dressed in flamenco costumes and surrounded by the myriad of pilgrims there at the church, it was very uplifting and emotional finale.
Finally the Pilgramidge of the Rocio finished at the Clare Valley Showgrounds,
where state and local government officials gave out prizes to the winners of a
literary competition initiated by the pilgramidge organization. From there on
in a variety of performances from different flamenco dance groups are enjoyed
by all finishing in a grand finale by all the performers.
There should be a special mention made as to all the gastronomical delights typical to the andalucian region for example the 26 Paellas where prepared for the final days activities at the showgrounds at Clare Valley.
On a final note the leader of the brotherhood gave a heartfelt farewell to all the pilgrims wishing them a safe jouney home, since many of the attendees came from all points of Australia clocking up thousands of kilometers in the process.
The pilgramidge was originally founded by the current leader of the brotherhood, Mr. Joaquin Artacho, commencing in 1991, there are now six brotherhoods around Australia representing each their state of origin, founded from the original in Clare Valley. It is also interesting to note that this pilgramidge is the furthest held from its origins in Spain, and the only one that mimicks the pilgramidge from Almonte in Spain.
