Feast of Saints Justo and Pastor and Feast of the Pucherillas
Two neighborhoods, two unique traditions.
A heartwarming festival in one of Sepúlveda’s neighborhoods. At 6:45 p.m. on August 5 each year, the Procession of Saints Justo and Pastor takes place, starting at the church named after them and ending at the parish church of San Bartolomé.
It is a very special procession, as the children take center stage—both because Saints Justo and Pastor are depicted as infants and because the children themselves are responsible for carrying their statues in the procession. This is followed by the traditional Mass in honor of the saints and a procession back to the Church of Saints Justo and Pastor, now the Museo de los Fueros. Back in the neighborhood, traditional games for children and adults take place, enlivened by music and the distribution of pastries and lemonade courtesy of the residents.
It is not known exactly when this festival first began, but it is known to date back to ancient times and that, years ago, the children themselves would go around the neighborhood asking for donations to fund the festivities. Today, the neighborhood residents—and especially the El Gremio de los Vinateros social club, located on Barbacana Street—are in charge of organizing it.
Tradition has it that a local woman used to scoop up the oil that neighbors donated for the lamp that illuminated the Virgin with a spoon. The oil was poured into clay containers, hence the name “pucherillas.”
It is a Gothic statue that was purchased by the City Council when the parish priest put it up for sale. It is located in a niche protected by a sturdy grille at the Puerta del Río. Her feast day is celebrated on the night of August 15, when the entire town gathers in the San Esteban neighborhood, in front of the image of the Virgin, to sing the “Salve” in her honor. Afterward, the residents serve lemonade and pastries.