There are few precedents in the religious festivals of recent decades in which the festival has been sought first because yes, the day, the excuse to celebrate a good pilgrimage, and then, in the saints, the saint who fits in this has been pointed out. specific date. And in addition, a field was bought for this purpose, back in 1913, a chapel was later erected, and the sacred sculpture was created for the same festive purpose. The result: an appointment full of cider, songs and fervent devotion to the saint and the newly minted party.
All August 22th, XNUMX The town of Luarca celebrates its San Timoteo festivities. The town of Luarquina is a hotbed of people who gather in the Campo de San Timoteo to sing happy birthday to the saint and enjoy a picnic with family and friends.
The San Timoteo festivities begin on the night of August 21 with a fireworks display and a verbena. Upon awakening on the 22nd, firecrackers are thrown and the parade of clubs begins through the streets of the town. Brass bands from different parts of the Asturian geography accompany Giants and big headeds, who do not hesitate to whip with their handmade whips. The Telma and Pinón dolls, with the Timothy chambrones, are part of the attraction of the parade. They go through the most central streets between the Paseo del Muelle and the Avenida de Galicia, to the amusement of children and adults, and head towards the hermitage.
The hermitage is in the so-called Campo de San Timoteo, full of tents waiting for the pilgrims, who arrive with groups of pipers and brass bands.
The timoteínos are dressed with chambron, The usual is blue and white squares, although today the designs are very varied, not only in colors, but with pirate ships, with floral prints ... wooden staff and the T of bread around the neck.
Once the hermitage is reached, mass is celebrated and the saint is taken out to an outside chapel in procession. The classic song is sung Saint Timothy, eo, eo, eo with numerous air canes, something very typical of the pilgrimage. After the simple ceremony, the rosemary lunch begins, in the fields surrounding the hermitage.
At the end of the afternoon, the public present in the prao would start the march to the Alfonso X el Sabio square, where the night verbena was waiting for him.
San Timoteo is a Festival of Tourist Interest in the Principality of Asturias.
Text: © Ramón Molleda for asturias.com
