The people of Elche celebrate Palm Sunday with white palms

Elche (Alicante) (EFE).- Thousands of people from Elche took to the streets this morning with the traditional white palms to accompany Jesús Triunfante during the celebration of Palm Sunday in Elche, a Festival of International Tourist Interest since 1997, and which marks the beginning of Passion Week.

The good weather has accompanied this April morning, in which more than 60,000 people have been part of the massive procession of Domingo Ramos where the people of Elche wear their best clothes for the first time, since according to the saying “Diumenge de Rams, qui no estrena no tea mans” (Palm Sunday, who does not premiere has no hands).

Minutes before the start of the procession, the traditional blessing of the palms took place at an altar set up on the Paseo de la Estación, next to the Municipal Park. Added to this rite is the custom of hanging blessed palms from the balconies of houses, as a symbol of protection throughout the year.

The sea of ​​clapping to the rhythm of the drums of La Caridad and the Samaritana Bugle Band set off with members of the brotherhoods and sororities, cultural entities of the city and the municipal corporation, as well as the clapping artisans participating in the white palm in the different modalities.

PUIG: EMBLEMATIC CELEBRATION

Together with the members of the municipal corporation, the president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Ximo Puig, has taken a procession this year, who has highlighted that Palm Sunday is an “emblematic” celebration in Elche and that it is in the “soul” of all Elche residents .

This year a reproduction of the curly palm painted by the author José María López Mezquita has also paraded in a painting dedicated to the celebration of Palm Sunday in Elche in 1930.

This year, the throne of Jesus Triumphant, adorned with the traditional white palm, has been carried on the shoulders of a staff of bearers from the different brotherhoods and brotherhoods of the city. The procession was closed by the San Miguel Arcángel Musical Group from Pulpí (Almería).

Palm Sunday in Elche was declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest in 1997, but its first recognition dates back to 1371, according to documents from the city’s Municipal Archive.

ELABORATION OF THE WHITE PALM

The palm trade is included in a notice from the Cabildo books of 1429, and according to tradition, it is the grandparents and godparents who are in charge of buying it for the little ones, either smooth or curly, from a few centimeters to the thickest. heights that exceed 3 meters.

In Elche there are about a dozen workshops and individuals who work in the production, which requires a process of conservation of the palm tree and the palms that lasts all year, to achieve the unique yellow color that allows its plaiting.

At this time, the eye of the palm tree begins to be closed with artisan ropes in the shape of a cone to prevent the photosynthesis process and maintain the whitish color, and months later they are covered with a black hood, which allows them to receive some light so that the specimens continue to grow.

From the month of October until January the palms are cut, and then a selection process is carried out by size and quality, they are brushed and placed in swimming pools with chlorine and water to bleach them.

The palms are kept in chambers with sulfur until they are shipped as smooth palm or until the beginning of the braiding for Palm Sunday.

Approximately 200,000 white palm trees are produced each year and a large part of them are directed outside of Elche. For centuries, and commissioned by the Elche town hall, they have been delivered to illustrious personalities, this year to Pope Francis, the King and Queen of Spain, the President of the Government and of the Generalitat Valenciana.

The day before Palm Sunday, the Palma Blanca Contest takes place, a contest in which the best palm works are presented in the categories of miniature, handicrafts, flap and handicraft workshop.