26 May 2009
In middle America (US of America, that is), you might find parents out with their young children on a late May afternoon at a neighborhood park playing catch. In middle Sevilla, you find parents out with their young children on a late May afternoon in a neighborhood plaza practicing for religious devotions. The relaxed, easy going, playful spirit of the activity in Sevilla is remarkably similar to that in middle America.
Plaza de San Lorenzo is very much off the tourist path in Sevilla. It is a few blocks west of the south end of Alameda de Hercules. We sought it out yesterday because one of our guide books recommends it as one of the loveliest plazas in the city. That might be right. It is cozier than Plaza del Salvador and it doesn't feature such a large open space. Instead, there are two rows of London plane trees to provide shade, benches for sitting, and a large statue of the sculptor Juan de Mesa (1583-1627). 
The north side of the square is bordered by Iglesia de San Lorenzo. He was martyred by being burned by the Romans in 258 and in the church he is depicted holding a grill! The top picture is from the lintel above the door to the church, which is shown from across the square in the second picture. The marble statue of Mary holding baby Jesus is one of the least spectacular altar pieces inside the church and the easiest one to photograph decently.
This time of year is the celebration of "Cruces de Mayo" or Festival of the May Crosses. I've already written a bit about the processions. They feature a float carried by people on which are some religious items followed by a marching band sometimes with brass instruments and always with drums. The most impressive one that we've seen carried the large statue of Jesus of the Sacred Heart, which went past our apartment on Saturday 16 May (see 17 May blog entry).
Yesterday evening, in the Plaza de San Lorenzo, we saw one of many of these processions that we've witnessed involving small children. Moreso than any other, though, this even seemed like something between play acting and a dress rehearsal, rather than a real procession. With a couple of fathers coordinating and a few mothers consoling, children jostled for position as potential float bearers. Some had brought whatever toy drums they had from home to be in the procession, which dutifully traveled back and forth along the front of Iglesia de San Lorenzo, with the float half carried and half guided by proud fathers.
No comments:
Post a Comment