The drums will once again resound this Holy Wednesday in the town of Hellín coinciding with the appointment of Dr. Juan Valiente as Drummer of the Year, during the traditional ceremony that will take place in Jardín Martínez Parras, starting at 5:00 p.m.
The investiture ritual, as recalled by the president of the Association of Drummers of Hellín, José Luis Jiménez, consists of the imposition of the tunic, the scarf, and the drum on Valiente, a person who was chosen by the Association’s plenary for his values and because he has saved «many human lives» and the people are «very grateful to him.»
Valiente has received the appointment «very humbly» and very grateful, as detailed by Jiménez, who highlights the professional work of the Drummer of the Year 2025 as head of Surgery at the Hospital of Hellín and, altruistically, as president of the Local Board of the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) in the city.
The Drumming of Holy Week in Hellín, declared of International Tourist Interest, comes this year preceded by various activities, among which stands out the «masterful» participation of the town in the National Drum and Bass Drum Exaltation Days, held in Moratalla (Murcia); the Drummer Schools, which closed this Monday, and are an «essential» activity, or the choice of the children’s poster.
In addition, throughout Lent, visitors have been able to enjoy the exhibition ‘100 Drums in Hellín’ at the Museum of Holy Week (MUSS) in Hellín, organized by the Association of Drummers, which has been a «total success» with the public.
Regarding this year, José Luis Jiménez does not mention significant changes related to the drumming and the schedules of passage and cut, which during this Holy Week will be communicated publicly through informative panels, in cases where the drumming coincides with the processions.
At this point, he has stopped to comment on how the Encounter of Easter Sunday will be advanced to 10:30 a.m., while the procession of ascent will delay its start to 4:30 p.m., in such a way that there is time to evacuate the 15,000 drummers who gather at the fairground, a measure already planned for last year, after the problems two years ago, but which could not be implemented due to the rain.
FOOD STALLS AND MORE URINALS
Apart from that, in the Special Easter Week Commission — composed of municipal representatives, political parties, the Association of Brotherhoods and Guilds, the parish priest, and the Drummers Association itself — it has been agreed to enhance this year the installation of public urinals, but also, innovatively, to set up an area with food stalls at the end of Jardín Martínez Parras so that the people of Hellín and visitors can stock up.
As for the weather, the president of the Association of Drummers hopes that it respects Holy Week, although, as he clarifies, «it would have to be a very severe storm for the drummer not to come out to play the drum.» As proof of this, he recalls the descent from Calvario on Good Friday last year, when the procession was suspended, but the rain did not prevent the drums from following their usual route.
«Drummers are stoic» and it is always easy to «take shelter from a downpour» in a doorway or a bar, emphasizes Jiménez, who also acknowledges that if there is no procession, on days like those, «we go around like headless chickens,» highlighting the «symbiosis of the two parts» that exists in those moments when the drummers accompany the procession.
Regarding the controversy sparked by this year’s Drumming poster, which received numerous criticisms especially on social media, José Luis Jiménez points out that «opinions are subjective» and that «a painting is a work of art, which will be more or less liked by people» but that will not change the format of choosing the author who creates that poster each year. «What we will do is advise and follow up with the author» but «the dynamics will remain the same,» he clarifies.
Finally, he has once again called for «order» in recent days, also regarding traditional attire, inviting drummers to «dress well, with their tunic and scarf» and not to wear «strange things.» However, he emphasizes that the behavior of the drummers and everyone is «exemplary» during Holy Week, considering «the amount of people present.»