The Fiestas del Pilar

Before we get ahead of ourselves and start talking about Zaragoza's winter festivities, we would be remiss not to mention the city-wide celebration that is The Fiestas del Pilar. If you're going to visit Zaragoza at least once in your lifetime, the week of October 12 is a busy and yet wonderful time to be here.

October 12 may be known as Columbus Day in the US, but it's also the feast day of Our Lady of the Pillar, "in the context of the traditional belief that Mary, while living in Jerusalem, supernaturally appeared to the Apostle James the Greater in AD 40 while he was preaching in what is now Spain."

Note that "Fiestas" or "parties" is plural: this 10-day event includes all manners of gatherings - music, food, dancing, plays, video games, parades, fireworks, etc.... Here's the video!

On October 12 itself, there is an all-day procession of flowers honoring Mary. Thousands and thousands of people, in organized and peaceful fashion, dress up in their personal cultural clothes, and offer flowers to Mary in the center of town. The picture above is what it looks like towards the end of the day. Here is what it looked like in the morning:

You can see there's a stage in front, for each group to perform a dance or song relating to their cultural history.

I don't want to get into a religious debate here. I experienced this as an inclusive, city-wide celebration.

In fact, I was unexpectedly touched by it. There was this communal, sacred space - and it was just a total outpouring of peace and love throughout the city. It was awesome.

That's all I have to say about that....