Weather forecasts predicting storms for Saturday, May 9, proved accurate, with heavy rainfall in Madrid. However, the inclement weather did not deter the Royal and Illustrious Brotherhood of Our Lady of Rocío of Madrid from carrying out its annual pilgrimage. Participants had to equip themselves with raincoats and umbrellas to protect against intermittent downpours, leading to an unexpected surge in sales of these items in the bazaars near Cascorro.
Each year, on the designated date for this religious and popular festival, a Rocío mass is held in the Embajadores temple, home to the Royal Brotherhood. At the end of the ceremony, around midday, the procession of the carriage carrying the 'simpecado' begins, pulled by two oxen. This year, just minutes before noon, a cloudburst began, but the brotherhood members and onlookers endured it stoically. Although the rain seemed to threaten the carriage's departure, it proceeded as the members sang their repertoire of popular songs and the flute and drum band protected their instruments to keep them playing.
The most complex maneuvers, such as lowering the carriage to the street and then hitching it to the oxen, were made more difficult by the rain. A dozen brotherhood members were responsible for pulling the shafts to navigate the church's access stairs, receiving applause from the faithful upon their success. The parade then formed, following its usual route along Toledo Street, Puerta Cerrada, and Segovia, heading towards Casa de Campo. It was anticipated that the end of the pilgrimage would be challenging due to the waterlogged ground.
The sky granted a respite for the meeting of the 'Simpecado' with the banners of the Collegiate Church of San Isidro. The carriage paused for the banners to approach, while the faithful sang. After this ritual, the pilgrims continued their descent along Segovia Street, again under intermittent showers.
The Rocío pilgrimages held by various brotherhoods across Spain precede the grand week of Rocío de Almonte, which takes place on the weekend of Pentecost Sunday, this year on May 24. The date of this celebration varies annually, as it depends on Holy Week. Occasionally, in Madrid, it coincides with the San Isidro festivities, blending secular and religious parades. This year, the parade of giants and 'cabezudos' was not scheduled to dance in this area, and the rain would have prevented their participation due to the fragility of the figures.
The Madrid brotherhood has been based in San Millán y San Cayetano since 1970, where its chapel houses the Blanca Paloma throughout the year. This tradition was initiated in 1958 by a group of residents from Huelva living in Madrid. Two years later, on October 11, 1960, the Bishop of Madrid-Alcalá, Dr. De La Higuera, signed the Decree of Canonical Constitution of the Brotherhood.
