La Fiesta en Mer – Just some neighbours – Solo vecinos?
Hola,
We are lucky to have a small privately owned chapel in the village. During the year this chapel is just standing unobtrusively beside the road. For this weekend the neighbours organsied a fiesta including the “airing” of the local saint as well as a mass in the chapel. We where told it’s just for neighbors, family and friends - about 80 people turned up! thus quadrupling the normal level of inhabitants.
The first day started at about 1pm. We all congregated at the chapel and when the bells rang the saint was taken on a tour round our “aldea”. A mass was celebrated in the small and surprisingly crowded chapel. For us it was another experience on how friendly and welcoming Galicians are. During the sermon we, the “estranjeros” where mentioned, welcomed and applauded on integrating.
The service concluded for those willing to take holy communion. The singing was a bit off key but one was easily transformed back in history when this was a typical Sunday occurrence.
After the mass the socialising started in earnest and you can’t have a fiesta without at least two or three bangs. Time for the boys toys.
Our local farming family had cleared a barn, black plastic sheeting was hung from the walls and tables and benches had been organised from Sober. The “bar” opened and we where off. Still today we Barbara and me, have a slightly sore throat as talking involves raising your voice – otherwise you don’t stand a chance to be heard above the general din.
Food – No party / fiesta without food! Starters (entremeses) where followed by empanada (carne / bonito) and than came the lamb(s). Raised in the mountains, baked in big oven the taste is simply divine. As we are lucky to live in the Ribeira Sacra, which has it’s own denomination, the wine is red, honest and very drinkable.
Just when you think “I’m stuffed” the afters appear. Rosco and cheese, cake and flan. This all needs to be washed down and with the coffee more and more bottles magically show up. Whiskey, Whisky, Gin, Martini, Aguadiente clear or with herbs and a specialty by Pilli’s Coffee liqueur.
The music starts and they are off to “bailar” (dancing). So one can dance, chat or wander off for a while but try not to loose sight of the drinks.
Suddenly it is dark and lights are switched on and honestly when you are involved you hardly notice.
Time flies and soon it’s time for the second seating at about 10 or 11pm. The same procedure as described above. At about 2am we decided that we should stagger home. Thank good this is just about 50 meters and downhill. Funny, but we thought that the camino whad shrunk in width and we where sure we didn’t live that far………
Nursing a slight hangover and giving reason to a good teasing we assembled again at about 1pm the next day. Juan, one of our neighbours, admitted that he drove a tractor at about 8am (water for the cows) but felt rather uncomfortable and thought that there where many more potholes than ever before.
The numbers had dwindled slightly but still about 30 or so sat down to devour left overs, more empanada and even more flan and rosca.
Barbara organised a little tour of our garden and to be nursery, which was appreciated greatly. The plants are still too small to be transplanted otherwise they may all have walked. So please don’t tell me Galicians do not like gardening. They are not as mad as the British, but there is still time to catch up.
Totally exhausted we fell asleep in the early evening, missing the last part of the party (eating again) and woke up to another day of brilliant sunshine.
It was a great weekend and we like to thank all for organising this and specifically for welcoming us and treat us as if we’ve been here forever.
The full slideshow and more pictures are here – Fiesta in Mer the pictures
Un fiesta en Mer (concello Sober – centro de Mundo)
Gracias por invitarse nuestros por la fiesta de San Jose en Mer. No tengo todo las plabras o la confienca para escribir una historia por este fiesta en Castelian o Gallego.
La fiesta no sólo era una gran instrucion en español pero también una demostración de la vida, la hospitalidad y de la amistad muy typico en Galica.
Poco mas “fiestas” y podremos escribir sobre historia en castellian y poco más días en galleo. Muchas Gracias a todo!
Un demostración de diapositiva y muchos más photos están aquí Mer la fiesta en el centro de Mundo
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