What is Pigeon Day? All its history; when and where is it celebrated. The Day of the Dove or the Day of the Virgin of the Dove is one of the holidays in our work calendar, particularly in the Community of Madrid, although it is also one of the most unknown, especially by the new generations.
What is Pigeon Day? All its history; when and where is it celebrated
One of the most important days of how many are celebrated in Madrid, perhaps together with San Isidro, is the dove day or what is also called Day of the Virgin of the Dove that It is celebrated every August 15.
A special day so let’s see why the capital of Spain celebrates a day dedicated to this virgin, When did it originate and how is it commemorated?
All the history of the Day of the Dove; when and where is it celebrated
The Virgen de Paloma is for many the “popular patron saint” of Madrid. It is not recognized as such although the patron saint is San Isidro and the virgin of the city is that of Almudena, but the history of this virgin in relation to the city is so beautiful that it is not surprising that she is so loved and that even have a day of celebration in the Community of Madrid.
The canvas of the original image of the Virgen de la Paloma that we all know, especially the people of Madrid, is apparently a copy of late 17th centuryof the sculptural work of Our Lady of Solitude, made in 1565 by the painter and sculptor Gaspar Becerra, on behalf of Queen Elisabeth of Valois. The image is placed in a beautiful frame placed in the center of the main altar of the Parroquia de la Virgen de la Paloma y de San Pedro el Real in Madrid.
Over the origins of venerationaccording to a 1791 document written by the Marquis of Casa García Postigo, mayor, or what was known in those days as the governor of Madrid, there was an image representing the Virgen de la Soledad that in 1787 it was found abandoned by some children Y a woman named Isabel Tintero would have bought the canvas for the children in exchange for a few coins. Isabel cleaned it up andor placed to venerate him in his house on Paloma Street. The veneration that spread among the neighbors for that image was immediate and Soon Doña Tintero’s house became inadequate to accommodate the large crowd of faithful.
It was decided to build a chapel on the same street, according to the architectural design of Francisco Sánchez. The chapel, built with the financial support of the Royal House, it was completed in 1796 and dedicated to Our Lady of Solitude, but popularly it was immediately called “de la Paloma” by the name of the street.
The Virgen de la Paloma was the object of great veneration and it is said that even María Luigia de Parma, wife of Carlos IV of Spain, devoted herself especially to her and adored her and even came when she had the opportunity to see the canvas in the chapel.
After the French invasion, Isabel Tintero hid the sheet and the Virgin’s jewels and when she died in 1813 she expressed the wish to be buried in the chapel. A wish that did not materialize and Doña Isabel found rest in the San Isidro cemetery.
The cult of the Virgen de la Paloma grew more and more and in 1896 a new church began to be built according to the project of the architect Lorenzo Álvarez Capra. The works finished in 1912 and the church was built in the Gothic style with a Latin cross floor plan while the painting of the Virgin was placed on the main altar.
The Virgin she is not depicted in flamenco-style costumes, as we are used to seeing in images of women depicted in the 17th century. Instead, like the nuns, she wears a white tunic and a black cloak.
The image originally created by Gaspar Becerra was originally placed in the chapel near the Iglesia de los Mínimos de San Francisco convent in Madrid, near the famous Puerta del Sol. That convent, church and property were disposed of in the 19th century in the disentailment period.
The image of the Virgin was later transferred to San Isidro but it was destroyed by fire during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).
What is venerated today is a copy.
The Virgen de la Paloma, in addition to co-patron saint of the Iberian capital, She is the protector of firefighters They solemnly participate in all phases of the procession on the occasion of the festival, on August 15.
Finally, it should be remembered that the Brotherhood of Nuestro Padre Jesús del Puente del Cedrón and María Santísima de la Paloma in Malaga takes this surname from the venerated image of Madrid. The capital of Spain, in fact, has been an honorary brother of the Brotherhood of Malaga since 1945 and, for this reason, a reproduction of the image of Our Lady of Madrid is placed on the front of the throne of the Virgin of Malaga.
When is Pigeon Day
As we have already mentioned, Pigeon Day is celebrated on August 15. This day was chosen in the calendar because coincides with being the day on which the Assumption of Mary or the Assumption of the Virgin is also celebrated.
Where is Pigeon Day celebrated?
Also as we have mentioned, the Day of the Dove is a public holiday in the Community of Madrid, especially in the city of Madrid, where the image wrapped in a traditional Manila shawl goes out in procession while the people of Madrid (and also the firefighters since she is their patron saint) venerate her. In addition, before the procession, a mass is celebrated in the church in which it is located, which receives the same name as the image, that is, the Virgen de la Paloma Church.