El Prólogo: Fiestas de La Veguilla

Las Fiestas de la Veguilla de Benavente, declaradas de Interés Turístico Regional, son las festivities held in honor of the Virgen de la Vega.

La celebración se realiza el lunes siguiente al lunes de Pascua (lunes de aguas o lunes de Pascuilla en algunas localidades). In this festival is done from decades ago tradicional petición del Toro Enmaromado, siendo este el Prólogo o antesala de nuestras Fiestas del Toro Enmaromado, las cuáles se celebrarán 51 días después.

The source de las Fiestas de la Veguilla de Benavente lo encontramos en una romería para efectuar un voto a la Virgen, por lo que tuvo durante varios siglos un carácter eminentemente religioso. Sin embargo, contaba con otros aspectos más profanos como concentraciones populares (petición del toro enmaromado),distribución de alimentos (bread), verbenas, y otra serie de festejos que se fueron agregando y conformando con el paso de los años hasta dar forma a las fiestas actuales y sus principales actos:

The Request of the Bull Enmaromado

The square and the town Hall are decorated especially for The Festivities of la Veguilla de Benavente, to go to the Rocks with their flags and emblems flying from the balconies of the Consistory.

The plaza vibrates to the full during the traditional request, insisting in a series of messages, petitions, among which stands out for its reiteration:

¡TORO!

The Bread of the Veguilla

Small piece of white bread about 250 grams with a hallmark manufactured by the different local bakeries.

During the years of the post-war civil Spanish, the bread was delivered by social assistance. For distribution were prepared lists of the needy and gave them a voucher for the removal of the bread. In the present time and for several decades, it is given to everyone who applies until you deplete stocks.

The Procession of the Virgen de la Vega

The Rocks Officers of the Bull Enmaromado of Benavente, carry on the shoulders of the Patron: The Virgen de la Vegathrough the streets of Benavente.

Está tradicional procesión, se realiza cada año el día de La Veguilla por la mañana y marca el comienzo de un día intenso de hermandad, cultura y tradición.

Coronación de Representantes de la Juventud y de la Infancia

Esta costumbre tiene su origen en 1964, cuando se eligió a la primera reina y damas de las fiestas del Corpus. Desde 1974 esta elección y coronación se celebra todos los años con motivo de las fiestas de la Veguilla adaptada a los nuevos tiempos.

For this event were decked out especially the Teatro Reina Sofía with motifs alluding to the city, its festivals, its monuments, etc

Chronology of the Feast of the Veguilla

S. XV

First references to the pilgrimage and procession of the Virgen de la Vega in the municipal records of the Council of Benavente

1520

Begins to appear between the costs of parties to the Council of Benavente vote, pilgrimage and function of the Vega, to be held in the sanctuary of Cimanes by the town of Benavente.

S. XVI-XVII

Roots of the festival of Cimanes de la Vega. Reconstruction of the Chapel-Shrine of Cimanes under the patronage of the Counts of Benavente.

1700

Because of the temporal and the idea of the paths begin to apply the commutations of the vote to make in the Sanctuary of Cimanes.

1710

Prayer for calamity to make from the Chapel of Solitude, outside the walls of the villa de Benavente

1711

Switching of the vote, which is true in this year in the Chapel of the Loneliness.

1724

Commission of the guilds from Benavente to agree on prayer to the Virgen de la Vega.

1729

Switching of the vote, which is celebrated this year in the Rosary Chapel of the Convent of Santo Domingo de Benavente.

1734

Queries are made to the switching of the vote, and prayer by public calamity.

1744

Harmony with the Cabildo of San Vicente de Benavente.

1754

Real Provision and stagecoaches on the way to bring you and always carry that vote on it. Suit for restitution of the image of the Virgen de la Vega to his Sanctuary in the midst of the Council of Benavente and the other peoples of the vega.

1757

Concordia on the prayer. Commutation of the vote.

1792

Recognition of the Patronage of the Virgin of la Vega in the town of Benavente. Switching of the vote.

1823

Petición de Conmutación y traslado del voto a la Ermita de la Soledad de Benavente, trasladando la pequeña imagen que de la Virgen de la Vega posee el Ayuntamiento en la Iglesia de San Nicolás en Benavente.

Restitution temporary vow at the shrine of Cimanes de la Vega, suppressed by the city Council prior Constitutional.

1841

Transfer of the religious function and the image in procession to St. Mary of the Quicksilver in Benavente to greater solemnity.

1849

Agreement between the Municipality of Benavente and the Cabildo mayor of St. Vincent on the switching and order to celebrate this villa the vow to the Virgen de la Vega.

1856

Repair of the litter of silver of the procession of Corpus Christi for carrying in procession of the Patron saint.

1861

The Corporation distributes alms to the needy of the Village on the occasion of the celebration of the feast of the Patron saint.

1924

Approval of the regulations of the Association Pious of Our Lady of la Vega for the restoration of the vote in Cimanes de la Vega.

2004

The department of Tourism of Castilla y León declares to the Festivities of the Veguilla character Regional Tourism, which includes among its components the traditional Act the Request of the Bull Enmaromado.