Feast of the Most Holy Christ of the Afflicted
Rain of colour in Bouzas
The seaside town offers a unique fireworks display in Galicia
Witnessing the famous Bouzas fireworks is one of the great classics of the summer festivities in Vigo. On the night of the third Sunday in July, tens of thousands of people look up to the sky over the town, the heart of the city's seafaring town par excellence, to attend one of the most important fireworks displays in Galicia. The rain of colours is one of the highlights of the Feast of the Holy Christ of the Afflicted, declared of Tourist Interest in Galicia in 2004.
For five days Bouzas is fully immersed in its festivities with a varied programme that includes religious processions, the impressive firework display, musical performances, a tribute to the elderly, a parade of "cabezudos", activities and competitions for all ages, and competitions of "faluchos", the traditional boats that in the past used to assist the ships anchored in the town.
The procession, with the image carried by members of the Confraría do Santísimo Cristo dos Aflixidos de Bouzas, leaves on Sunday at sunset from the church of San Miguel , one of the most beautiful in the town for its architecture, location by the sea and transept, which is believed to mark the origin of the town. The first testimonies of the celebration, then organised by the sea guild through the brotherhoods, date back to 1861. Thousands of people flocked to see the march of the religious image, which was followed by the great fireworks display.
The fireworks display, with the image of Christ present in the church courtyard, combines, for half an hour, different musical styles and poetry while the sky is tinged with colour. The fireworks display can be seen from any point of the estuary and also on board boats.
Scholars place the origin of the festival and the Bouzas fireworks 400 years ago, in a maritime tragedy in which a ship was shipwrecked near the town. The neighbours took the image of the Holy Christ in procession and carried it through the narrow streets with the luminaries of the time to give signals to the helpless sailors and guide them to land.
The firework display, visible from any point of the estuary, includes poetry and music of different styles.
The procession and the tirada are the high point of five days of festivities, which begin on the Friday before with the reading of the proclamation. On the same day, the Zona Franca headquarters hosts the ceremony for the naming of the donas and cabaleiros of Bouzas, which rewards those who have stood out in the defence of the town's heritage and traditions.
World Falucho Championship
One of the most endearing events of the fiestas is the tribute to the elderly, which has been held for the last 50 years. Among the attractions, in addition to the parades that flood the town with music, is the World Falucho Championship. In the 1950s, competitions of these boats were already held , but the tradition was lost and was not recovered until 1991.
Sunday is the big day, with the solemn mass, the procession, the tirada and a host of other activities, but the fiesta continues. On Monday, the processions of the Virgen del Carmen and San Telmo, both patron saints of the sea , are held. Dozens of boats accompany the Virgin in a maritime procession; the image of San Telmo awaits her on her return to the beach so that the devotees can continue their march by land.
The events end a day later with the procession of the Pesca Milagrosa, in which an image of San Pedro Pescador dating from 1942 is carried.
