FESTIVITIES OF FOYOS
PATRON SAINT FESTIVITIES
The patron saint festivities take place from the 14 to the 18 of August, every day similar events:
- Day 14: Inmaculada Concepción Day. It used to be celebrated on the 8 of December, but it was moved to August around 25 years ago because of a better weather in August than in December. The events are mostly organized by 18-year-old girls.
- Day 15: a day dedicated to Virgen María de la Asunción, honoured at the local church of Foyos. The origin of this festivity is unknown but it dates back to the times of Jaume I. The events for this day are organized by 50-year-old married women.
- Day 16: a day dedicated to San Roque, the patron saint of the town. It is believed that San Roque was named the patron saint as a result of an epidemic in the municipality. The events for this day are organized by 30-year-old men.
- Day 17: a day to honour Virgen del Patrocinio. She was named a patron saint of the town on the 17 of August, 1830 after a flood in Foyos. The events for this dat are organized by 40-year-old men. The statue of the Virgin was restored in 1995 and it was when the people found out that it was originally a Romanic carving dating from the 13th century after the outer layer of the carving. For this reason, it is thought that this virgin was already worshipped at that time.
According to the people of the town, in times of the Arabic settled in the region Virgen del Patrocinio was already worshipped, but the statue was buried to keep it safe. The legend tells that between the 15th and 16th centuries a priest found it under a bell ringing. The statue was given to the town the municipalities of Foyos and Moncada because of the place where it was found, being a hermitage built there.
- Day 18: day of Santísimo Cristo de la Sangre. Celebrated every year since the hermitage hosting the statue Cristo de la Sangre was restored after being destroyed during the Spanish Civil War. In 1940 a religious fraternity carried out the restoration of the hermitage on the same place where the original one used to be, one kilometre away from the centre of the town. This fraternity, made up of peasants from the area, used to organize the festive events every year to honour this christ. Currently, 50-year-old men organize them.
VIRGEN DE INVIERNO FESTIVITY
The festivity of Virgen de Invierno takes place on the second Sunday of November since 1867. The town council prepares all the events recalling the flooding of the town.
According to what the people say, the people of the town sought refuge at the church when the flood happened and along with the priest they prayed to Virgen del Patrocinio for help.
The events start early in the morning with a the traditional fanfare, a parade through the town. Once the parade is over, the people of the town have hot chocolate and ensaimadas (typical sweet pastry) for breakfast at the main plaza. Past noon, they cook calderes (rice with beans dish) outdoors for everyone. In the evening, there is a procession putting an end to the festivity.
Date: second Sunday of November.
9 OF OCTOBER FESTIVITY
To celebrate the day of the Community of Valencia, Foyos organizes a full week of cultural events with the collaboration of many entities from the municipality. These events started to be held 25 years ago. One of the symbols of this festivity is the paella, the traditional Valencian dish cooked for everyone during these days.
Date: 9 October.
SAN ANTONIO ABAD FESTIVITY
Although the day of San Antonio is on the 15 of January, Foyos celebrate it generally the second weekend of January. This festivity is organized by the conscripts, even though the military service is not obligatory nowadays in Spain.
On the eve of this festivity, the people in charge of the organization of the events prepare the typical caldera (rice with beans and turnips) for everyone in the town. Once the sun goes down, a big bonfire is lit up in the middle of the town's plaza using old and useless things as well as some people bear sparklers (the so-called coetà).
On the 17 of January, there is the tradition of blessing pets, there being many pets in the streets of the town.
Finally, the festivity ends with a procession and fireworks.
Date: second weekend of January.
EASTER FESTIVITY
Although it has an unkown origin, this festivity is called Obreria de la Virgen María del Patrocinio. Only a few families celebrate it and it consists in attending to the altar before the virgin's statue during the whole year and cover the expenses for the maintenance and decoration of the church, especially for Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday.
Attending to the so-called Encuentro (the Encounter) is also a requirement. It consists in a meeting at a small enclosure decorated with flowers at the town's plaza commemorating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
THREE WISE MEN FESTIVITY
The Fallas associations and the town council organize the Three Wise Men Parade. It starts on the old Barcelona road and finish on the avenue of Foyos. The parade goes through the main avenue of the town until the town hall, while the Three Wise Men throw toys and candy for the children.
Once at the town hall, the Three Wise Men wave at all the people there from the town hall's balcony and then they give some presents personally to the children who wrote a letter for them visiting home by home.
Date: 5-6 January.
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