At that hour when night owls are moving with clumsy steps looking for a place to take shelter from the rays of the sun, things continue to happen in the streets of a town in celebration. And it is that, when for some a day that has been extended until dawn ends, for many others a new day begins with a programme of events that continues. One of those days is August 16th and in La Puebla de Híjar it is not just any other day, it is the one that honors the patron saint San Roque and the saint has a very imposing chapel arch dedicated to him on the street of the same name.The image is always there in its niche but every August 16th it goes out to tour the urban center of Puebla in the procession in its honor. This Friday it did it again because the neighbors on the street don’t ignore him. They are always watching over him.
There were still some disoriented people wandering the streets looking for their club or their house to rest on this Friday at nine in the morning, when Consuelo Sanz was vigorously sweeping her door. Her concern at that hour, despite her ninety years and her recent eye operation, was to leave the street clean before the procession. Among the remains of the party there was some rubble from a wall in a dubious state that the woman moved to the sidewalk. An hour and a half earlier, mass had already been celebrated in that chapel with the saint presiding and there was barely a little more than another hour left before the procession began and then mass in the church.
Alejandro Sierra soon joined her, waiting for the others to take the saint down from the chapel and place him on his pedestal.The truth is that it is a beloved tradition and we do everything voluntarily. Everyone already knows what to do and there is no shortage of volunteers, for the moment, because all hands and help are well received and I hope more people join so that this does not stop.“She reflects. Consuelo, who is going to get ready to go to the procession, smiles when she remembers times past. “There was a lot of partying here, a long table of appetizers was set for everyone and there were a lot of people,” she says. Before she puts down the broom, the municipal brigade arrives, which works hard every day and also at parties, and behind them comes the Lideba truck with its high-pressure water guns for the toughest debris. With the street now clean, Consuelo leaves to get ready and go to the procession.
Meanwhile, Alexander’s reinforcements arrive and within minutes the saint is taken down from the chapel, bolted to the pedestal, with the dust removed and the basil bunch on the staff replaced with a new one. At its feet is a floral arrangement and more basil that leaves a trail of fresh perfume as it advances. This year it has new lanterns, as well as. «Everything is paid for by the will that people contribute and they give you their donations from the heart. This time it was the turn of lanterns because before the pandemic we were looking and we never decided, but it was about time, before the flag was also renewed… There are always ‘little details’ in addition to the maintenance of the chapel all year round,” adds Mercedes Suñer, another of the neighbors. Between her and her husband Miguel Asión, Alejandro Sierra, Paco Alonso, José Carlos Castañosa and Javi Sauquillo they have arranged and carried the patron saint on their shoulders in the procession. Antonio Cerdán has taken care of carrying the flag, and Adolfo’s family has been supplying basil as they have been doing for years in an altruistic way.
Before 11:00 more neighbours start arriving. There are also the Gimeno sisters who also know how to place and prepare the basil, and there are also the Azofra dulzaineros without whom nothing would be the same. They They mark the passage of a joyful, summer procession in which the smell of basil purifies and clears the minds of those who join the procession.This year the sun was shining but there was a pleasant breeze that spread the scent of the plant even more. First the patron saint was taken to the church, where he met with the priests and the 26 Mozas de Fiestas who escorted him in the procession through the streets wearing their baturras costumes, a detail that was supported by some other families. On the way back, and after the celebration of mass in the church, back at the chapel the giants joined in the festivities. With their dances they put the icing on the cake of the celebrations for San Roque on a radiant morning.
La Puebla, which celebrated its anniversary this Wednesday Chupinazo, proclamation and floats, the festivities continue until Sunday.
