Procession of the ascent of the Holy Christ of Agony

It's Sunday; it's been fifteen days since we lowered his sacred image to the parish church of san carlosThe bells announce that it is seven o'clock in the evening; the band begins to play the first chords of the Spanish national anthem; the Anderos, not without effort, cross the church entrance together with the Morenet, they are already in the street; the procession has begun.

Two very long rows of faithful flank the itinerary; barefoot people; pilgrims; all together, accompanying Christ in his Agony Sovereign, to her hermitage at the foot of the mountain, where she will remain until the start of the next festival.

Last night all the comparsas celebrated their Ordinary General Assembly, although we all call it Creuà -crusade-. But no, this creuà has absolutely nothing to do with the expeditions that the Church sent against the Moors in the Middle Ages. In Valencian -our language- we use the expression creu i ratlla -cross and line- to indicate the end of one stage and the beginning of the next. And, also, some time ago, the fees that each festival-goer contributed to his comparsa, the treasurer or "quoter" would write down the payments on account in one, he would make the note in the card that he had for each festival-goer and also in the card that was in the possession of the festival-goer himself. This action was called -translated into Spanish- "quotar a la raya". Also in that time of shortages, people bought in the shops and it was usual to pay off the debt little by little -a la raya-. Today, the comparsas issue receipts to their members through banks and savings banks. Obviously, this is more modern, easier and more convenient for the people in charge of the comparsa's finances and also for the comparsa member himself, but -obviously also- before, having to go and pay contributions was a perfect excuse to go to the comparsa every Saturday or Sunday, have a soft drink or a bar and chat with friends.

At the Creuà, an account is given of everything that has happened during the festive period, that is: from the Creuà of the previous year until now; everything that has been done is reviewed, its pros, cons and possible improvements; the financial accounts are approved; the people who are finishing their positions are said goodbye to and those who are going to occupy them are welcomed. One festivities are over and the next ones begin: there is no truce; the Phoenix is reborn from its ashes.

When the Christ arrives at the hermitage, the wide esplanade is full of people; the Image stops at the door; the religious advisor of the Society of Festeros -and parish priest of the church of San Carlos-, from the pulpit outside the hermitage, has a few words of reflection on the festivities that have ended and on those that are beginning at that very moment; the public draw takes place -by lot- of the llumeners who next year will have the honour of carrying the Christ's float in this same procession up to the hermitage; we sing the hymn to the Most Holy Christ of Agony; a fireworks display is set off; the band sounds and the Christ is brought into the hermitage and placed on its altar. The new festivities have just begun.