Pilgrimage
It is the site of an annual pilgrimage on 29 July in which those who have experienced a near death experience express their gratitude by visiting the church Santa Marta de Ribarteme, the patron saint of resurrection.
Thousands of people descend on As Neves from 10 am on the day of Santa Marta. It is usually impossible to get a seat in the church but those who cannot get in to the packed church can listen to the service relayed over loudspeakers.
Those who have passed through a near-death experience use coffins as their emblems; they either carry them or place themselves in the coffins and are carried by friends or family. After noon mass, the pilgrims walk to the town cemetery and then return to make a procession throughout the town.
As in many pilgrimages, there is a mix of solemnity and celebration. While pilgrims chant "Virgin Santa Marta, star of the North, we bring you those who saw death", Gypsies play instruments and vendors sell food, especially the local delicacy of cooked octopus. During the day, and even more so at night, fireworks are set off by those in the procession to mark their progress through the town.
Read more about this topic: As Neves
Famous quotes containing the word pilgrimage:
““Come hither, Son,” I heard Death say;
“I did not will a grave
Should end thy pilgrimage today,
But I, too, am a slave!””
—Thomas Hardy (1840–1928)
“The ripest fruit first falls, and so doth he.
His time is spent; our pilgrimage must be.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)