When April turns into May, the time for celebration arrives, in style with the patron saint festivities of Fuentenovilla. For many years, to encourage the presence of native Fuentenovilleros, who love their town and who return to it frequently, the festivities have been divided into three weekends. The first three of May.
They will arrive preceded, as every year, by the setting of May, always at hand, a centuries-old tradition that is passed down from father to son and that will take place tonight, April 30.
The first weekend of the holidays will be next, and specifically on May 4 and 5. It is the one that the program dedicates to children, with activities for them throughout the Saturday, but also with the presence of what is, without a doubt, Fuentenovilla's sport: hand ball. With the collaboration of GARFE Pelota, and in memory of the Fuentenovilleros pelotaris who paraded the name of their town, La Alcarria and Guadalajara through the best frontons in Spain in the eighties, an exhibition match is held every year, always with the fronton of the town full of public. Some hand-held games are still played there, in addition to racquetball, since the love for this hard and beautiful sport has not completely disappeared.
In 2024, there will be two exhibition matches, one for kids, and another for professionals. The first will pit Pocholo and Viñarás against Alfredo and Diego. In the second, Zabala and Cuairan will compete against Iribarren and Oliden.
On Friday, May 10, last year's successful initiative is repeated, in which the Day of the Peñas was celebrated. The activities are once again organized and financed by the clubs themselves, with the collaboration of the City Council. And, among others, the most successful of last year will be repeated, with brass bands, dinner for clubs and neighbors, and popular games, in addition to the 'Sonico' mobile discotheque. Registration must be completed on Saturday, May 4, from 12 to 2 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. An accreditation bracelet will be delivered at the time of registration.
But the festivities, in honor of San Isidro Labrador and the Virgin of Perpetual Help, will begin on Saturday, May 11. Starting at 6 p.m., the collection of the peñas will take place, in their different locations, so that they can all be concentrated in the Plaza Mayor, next to the Picota. It will be then when the athlete Mónica Cámara, player of the Spanish Beach Handball team, will give the proclamation from the balcony of the City Hall.
In Fuentenovilla, respect for the elderly is something that all residents carry in their hearts. Highlighting this, one more year, the City Council, on behalf of all Fuentenovilleros, is going to honor two of the town's oldest residents: Juan de Lara and Esperanza Rivas. Next, the joy will move to the clubs, which will be visited by the City Council, and the personalities who attend the proclamation, one by one.
And from joy, practically without interruption, we will move on to the devotion of the floral offering to the Virgin of Perpetual Help. And gunpowder, as fireworks are called in Fuentenovilla. They will be launched from Pezuela Street. At midnight, there will be a performance by the large Estrella Central orchestra, and a first nod to the bullfighting festivities, with gunpowder bulls in La Plazuela.
On Sunday, May 12, the first of the big days of Fuentenovilla will arrive, since it is the day of the Virgin of Perpetual Help. That day, there will be a reveille and a parade, decorated by the Fuentenovilla Music Band, a vermouth dance, and also the famous evening procession, in honor of the patron saint of
Fuentenovilla, who will also accompany the local Music Band, directed by Ricardo Piña.
The second big day will come on May 15, the day of San Isidro Labrador, in which all the customs and traditions of the town will be repeated, but this time in honor of the patron saint of farmers, including the most beautiful of them all, such as It is the blessing of the fields. This year, finally, we will not have to ask the sky for rain, since it has been generous with La Alcarria so far in 2024.
In this way, we will reach the third and last weekend of festivities, traditionally dedicated to bulls in the streets. It will be on Friday, May 17, when the running of the bulls and children's cutting contest will be organized. In the evening, there will be a performance by the large Nexus orchestra. On Saturday, May 18, the cattle are scheduled to be released through the streets, from the Bullring, accompanied musically by the Los Divinos brass band. The release will be repeated in the afternoon, with the release of the second cow from the Fuentenovilla Bullfighting Association. Next, there will be an exhibition of cuts and release of cattle. And to top it off on Saturday,
dance, with the La Senda orchestra.
The festivities will end on Sunday, May 19, with a new release of cattle through the streets. The final fireworks, at 4 p.m. on Sunday, will put an end to the festivities of the town of Alcarreña.
The mayor of Fuentenovilla, Montserrat Rivas, congratulates the town's clubs, true architects of the festivities, in which friendships are forged that last a lifetime. “And that is why it gives me so much joy that the celebration of Las Peñas Day continues,” she says. Finally, Rivas appreciates the many months of work of the team that is preparing the festivities, and now finalizing its details. “I want to publicly recognize all these people for their work, starting with the municipal workers, continuing with the volunteers, and ending with the councilor, responsible for the team, Jorge del Moral.”
PATRON'S HOLIDAYS 2024
Saturday, May 4
12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Children's park with face painting
5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Children's park with face painting
11:00 p.m. “Diamante” mobile discotheque in Plaza Mayor
Sunday, May 5
12:00 p.m. Handball
1st Match: Pacheco and Viñarás VS Alfredo and Diego
2nd Match: Zabala-Cuairan VS Iribarren-Oliden
Saturday, May 11
6:00 p.m. Peñas Collection
7:00 p.m. Greeting from the mayor and Holiday Proclamation by Mónica Cámara, player of the Spanish Beach Handball team.
Tribute to older neighbors:
Juan de Lara Cano
Esperanza Rivas Encinas
Visit of Peñas accompanied by the Charanga “EL PUNTILLO”
9:30 p.m. Floral Offering in the Parish Church.
00.00 h. Fireworks on Pezuela Street.
12:30 a.m. Dance with the “Estrella Central” Orchestra.
Sunday, May 12
11:00 a.m. Diana and Pasacalles accompanied by the Fuentenovilla Music Band
1:00 p.m. Solemn Mass in honor of the Virgin of Perpetual Help.
2:00 p.m. Vermouth Dance accompanied by the Fuentenovilla Music Band
7:30 p.m. Procession in honor of the Virgin of Perpetual Help accompanied by the Fuentenovilla Music Band.
Tuesday, May 14
9:00 p.m. Vespers in honor of San Isidro Labrador
Wednesday, May 15
11:00 a.m. Diana and Pasacalles accompanied by the Fuentenovilla Music Band
1:00 p.m. Solemn Mass in honor of San Isidro Labrador.
2:00 p.m. Vermouth Dance accompanied by the Fuentenovilla Music Band
7:30 p.m. Procession in honor of San Isidro labrador accompanied by the Fuentenovilla Music Band.
Thursday, May 16
1:00 p.m. Mass for all the Dead.
Friday, May 17
6:30 p.m. Running of the bulls and children's cutting contest.
Saturday, May 18
11:30 a.m. Release of cattle through the streets. Release of 2 bulls from the Bullring.
1:30 p.m. Music with the Charanga “Los Divinos”
6:00 p.m. Release of cattle through the streets. Release of the 2nd Cow of the Fuentenovilla Bullfighting Association. Next, exhibition of clippings and release of cattle.
00.00 h. Dance with the “La Senda” Orchestra
Sunday, May 19
11:30 a.m. Release of cattle through the streets. Release of 1 bull and the cattle from the previous day after being approved in the veterinary examination. Next we will go from La Plaza de Toros at 2:00 p.m. Music with the Charanga El Puntillo.
8:00 p.m. END OF THE HOLIDAY TRACA