Sunday Nearest February 2
Nuestra Señora de Belén, Gines, Seville, Andalucia, Spain
On
a Sunday near the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple on February 2
(Candlemas, Candelaria in Spanish), the statue of Our Lady of Bethlehem descends
from Gines' parish church on a gilt litter carried by members of the Sacramental
Brotherhood, a group of men and women who sponsor various devotional activities
throughout the Catholic church year. This "Salida Procesional"
(literally, processional exit) takes the image of Gines's patron saint from its
rococo altarpiece, out of the church named for her, and into the town streets,
which have been decorated with arches of colorful cut paper, Spanish flags, and
flags of green, which is the Virgin's color here. Accompanied by town officials,
confraternity members, many children, and a marching band, the huge litter holds
a silver crescent moon beneath Our Lady's statue and calendabra around it.
Spectators shower the procession with petals as it goes by.[1]
At the feast-day mass on February 2, children born or baptized in Gines during the past year are presented to Our Lady of Bethlehem, as Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the Temple. This ceremony may be followed by that of the besamanos, when devotees may come close to the statue and kiss its hands in sign of reverence to the Mother and Child represented. Priests bless baskets of rosquillas, traditional doughnuts, for distribution on procession Sunday.
The statue, made by an unknown sculptor in the 1600s, is of the candelero type, with carved head and hands mounted on a frame draped in sumptuous vestments.[2] This allows for some variation in the dress and posture of the statue for different occasions. For the Salida Procesional, the standing Virgin wears a dress of white silk brocade and the Child a white baptismal gown. She holds the Child with her left arm, and in her right hand sometimes holds a "vela rizá," a candle decorated with elaborate wax flowers, instead of her usual scepter.[3] For the besamanos, the statue is displayed seated, the right hand held out, with the fingers curving downward (holding nothing).[4] For Corpus Christi, the feast commemorating the presence of Jesus in sacramental bread and wine, Our Lady of Bethlehem, in a blue mantle, holds a chalice in both hands.[5]
[1] "Ntra. Sra. de Belén, Patrona de Gines," Proyecto Patrona, proyectopatrona.blogspot.com/, posted Feb. 8, 2011
[2] "Nuestros Titulares," Hermandad Sacramental de Gines, www.sacramentaldegines.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=56&Itemid=61
[3] Manuel P. Rodríguez Rodríguez, "Procesión de la Virgen de Belén de Gines," Hermanos de las Aguas, www.hermanosdelasaguas.org/procesion-de-la-virgen-de-belen-de-gines/. Photo posted Feb. 5, 2013 (detail, above).
[4] Ntra. Sra. de Belén, Patrona de Gines: Misa de La Candelaria y besamanos de Ntra. Sra. de Belén, Proyecto Patrona, proyectopatrona.blogspot.com/2011/02/la-virgen-de-belen-patrona-de-gines.html, posted Feb. 3, 2011
[5] Emilio San Martín Castaños, "Virgen de Belén, Gines (Sevilla) | María Santísima, Primer Sagrario," Flickr, www.flickr.com/photos/132978633@N04/41470321075, photo May 2018
Also commemorated this day:
 | Notre Dame de Yagma, Kadiogo, Centre, Burkina Faso. Diocesan pilgrimage to Lourdes grotto, usually on the first Sunday in February. |
| Candelaria, San Pedro Pinula, Jalapa, Guatemala. Parade. |
| Madonna Liberatrice, Rome, Italy, Church of Santa Prassede |
| Madonna di Portosalvo, Torre del Greco, Napoli, Campania, Italy. Festa (first Sunday in February). |