Valdepeñas is getting ready to celebrate the tradition of May crosses next month by convening the XVII Local Contest, which is held in conjunction with the May Cross of the Coros y Danzas de ‘Fermento’ Association.
During the presentation, the councilor of Neighborhoods and Brotherhoods, Paqui Madrid, began by expressing her condolences for the death of Pope Francis, «a man close to the people and their traditions, such as the May crosses,» she said.
In this regard, she emphasized that «one of the goals set by the Council of Citizen Participation is the promotion of social participation in local festive programming as an integrating element of tradition and leisure, and transmitter of popular culture. The May Crosses setups are part of these customs that are maintained in our locality on the occasion of this festival, thus also supporting the promotion of the city and its culture, so it is proposed to promote these setups.»
Madrid specified that all individuals and collectives-associations of the locality with crosses or calvaries setups can participate in this contest, with a maximum of 20 participants from both categories, and the registration deadline is April 25. Registrations will be done through the electronic headquarters www.valdepenas.es. For more information, you can contact the Council of Citizen Participation – Valcentro Building, C/ Virgen 1, 2nd Floor. Tel. 926 329 200 extension 275.
This year, the same prizes are established for both categories with a first prize of 85 euros and a trophy, a second prize of 60 euros and a trophy, and a third prize of 50 euros and a trophy. In addition, all participants will receive an honorable mention of 40 euros and a trophy.
Paqui Madrid indicated that the XXVII May Cross, which is set up every year at the Inés Ibáñez Braña Auditorium in Valdepeñas, will open its doors on April 30th, thanks to the Coros y Danzas ‘Fermento’ Association, to which she thanked for their involvement in preserving this tradition, also joined by the VI Contest of Mayos and folklore show.
The president of ‘Fermento’, Francisco Fernández, emphasized that «the objective of our association is not only to maintain this tradition but to try to give it more visibility and movement, so we call on everyone to come visit us.»
The activity will begin on April 30th at 9:15 pm with the May to the Virgin of Consolation at the Church of the Assumption, followed by the inauguration and blessing of the May Cross at the Inés Ibáñez Braña Auditorium, which includes a folklore show by the ‘Tierra Roja de Almagro’ group and the Coros y Danzas ‘Fermento’ Association of Valdepeñas.
Until May 4th, you can visit the May Cross of Fermento at the Inés Ibáñez Braña Auditorium, which will maintain the typical aesthetics and ornamentation of the Valdepeñas May crosses, from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm, and from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The awards ceremony for the contest and the closing will be on May 4th at 8:00 pm.