El Palmar Celebrates 50 Years of Water Procession
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El Palmar Celebrates 50 Years of Water Procession
- The Romería del Santísimo Cristo de la Salud, a unique aquatic procession in El Palmar, celebrated its 50th anniversary on August 4, 2026, drawing over two hundred boats to the Albufera lake.
- This tradition began in 1976, a year after the Virgen de los Desamparados made a similar procession, and is marked by the blessing of the waters by the parish priest, Antonio Jesús Teruel.
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El Palmar, a village within the Albufera Natural Park near Valencia, Spain, marked the 50th anniversary of its Romería del Santísimo Cristo de la Salud on August 4, 2026. This annual event involves carrying the image of the Christ of Health from the Jesuset de l’Hort parish church to an embarcadero, where it is placed onto a traditional boat. More than two hundred boats then accompany the image across the waters of the Albufera lake.
The procession, which began in 1976, was inspired by a visit from the Virgen de los Desamparados in 1975, which also involved a procession by boat across the Albufera. A central moment of the romería is when the boats gather in the middle of the lake, known as “el lluent,” where the parish priest blesses the waters. This blessing is a plea for a prosperous year, good fishing, and a successful rice harvest, reflecting the village’s deep connection to the lake and its resources. The ceremony also includes prayers for the sick, the elderly, and the community’s well-being.
As the sun sets, the boats return to El Palmar, and the image of the Christ of Health is carried back to the church in a procession through the streets, accompanied by cheers and applause. The festivities in honor of the Christ of Health continue for several days, culminating on August 6, which is the Feast of the Transfiguration. This romería has been recognized as a Provincial Tourist Interest Festival, highlighting its cultural and traditional significance. El Palmar is known for its fishing and rice-growing traditions, and the Albufera is considered the birthplace of paella.