Feast of the Virgin of the O

Is the big party of cervera and is its patron.

Formerly it was celebrated with a mass in honor of the patron, sometimes with three priests. After the mass the Virgin was taken in procession. The neighbors gave him presents like jars of honey, sticks and bouquets of flowers, which were auctioned together with the Child after the procession. The proceeds were used for the needs of the church. The fact of auctioning the Boy and the offerings did not suppose that the strongmen stayed with them, everything was returned to the church after the auction.

Is celebrated on December 18 and 19 (although nowadays it is coincided with the next weekend, so that the cerveratos that live outside the town can be attended) The procession and the auction continue, as well as activities for the children, a concert with dulzaineros come from Segovia and a great popular chorizada. In the old days, young men and women were gathered together and they traveled the town of Ronda. This custom has now been lost.

December 31 New Year’s Eve

La LuminariaIt is prepared and lit the Luminaria, ancestral ritual with which it comes to revitalize the sun at the beginning of the year, or maybe burn everything old, ushering in a new year.

It is one of the few villages that still has this tradition.

The young men gather at the ring and the bells, in the morning and go to the field, to the “Carrascalejo” to loads of firewood that at present is collected with tractors. When they go for the firewood, the mayor takes meat for all and they roast it there for lunch. The campfire is prepared in the area known as “Las Eras”, behind the shelter and, at 12 o’clock at night, the Luminaria is lit.

Around the fire the whole town meets to sing carols and dance most of the night.

Carnival

Carnavales Cervera de BuitragoIt has its direct origin in the Middle Ages and is closely related to Lent, a period of sober and rigorous preparation of Holy Week. Carnival broke with the rigid moral and social rules. This party served as a parenthesis before one of the most austere periods of the year in Christian society: Lent.

It lasts 4 days, from Fat Sunday to Ash Wednesday. On Fat Sunday and Carnival Tuesday came the “Heifer” (young man disguised as horns that chases people). Formerly, the young men went through the houses collecting handkerchiefs, scarves, etc., to dress the heifer and at the same time they asked for the alms of the cow, with which all the waiters made a dinner together.

Easter

It is celebrated with sobriety and rigor. One or two days before Holy Thursday a monument is built inside the Church, adorned with flowers of the field. The procession that takes place the night of Good Friday is perhaps the most astonishing. They see the image of the Virgin completely of black, of Dolorosa, and they take it out with the stilts, as well as the Christ, each one traveling a different path, going to meet in the square. Participants illuminate the road with candles and lanterns.

Corpus Day

This day is celebrated one of the most important and beautiful processions of Cervera. The streets are especially cleaned and decorated with embroidered sheets, bedspreads and handkerchiefs.

With branches they made bows through which the images passed. The neighbors made three altars in which they stood the figures they carried. The girls, the Immaculate Conception, the young men took and prepared the altar for the Sacred Heart of Jesus and another of the whole town for the Tabernacle.

The girls went first, with baskets, pulling a cantueso in their wake, and decorating the way with a carpet of flowers.

Summer

The last weekend in July are celebrated in honor of the Virgin of the Remedies.

25th of July, Saint James the Apostle

Día de Santiago ApóstolDay of St. James Apostle The Brotherhood, called the Blessed Sacrament and Animas, under the patronage of the Apostle James (who since 1954 congregates the Confraternity of the Apostle and the Brotherhood of the Animas), is in charge of preparing the Saint and lemonade to offer The inhabitants of the village. In addition this Brotherhood is in charge of offering masses of deceased and help in the burials to the relatives of deceased.