Amblés Valley in Spain Celebrates “Dancing of the Flag”

OCTOBER 13, 2024 — Today, in the town of Niharra, Spain, 15-year-old Sonsoles Fernández proudly took center stage at an outdoor plaza, gripping a sacred flag—a tricolor of purple, white, and red—as church bells rang through the air. In front of a massive crowd and an even larger statue of the Virgin Mary, Sonsoles skillfully performed the ancient ritual of the dancing of the flag (el baile de la bandera), twirling the flag around her body with grace and precision, until the flag furled and unfurled three times upon its mast.

This flag dance is part of a 200-year-old tradition celebrating the harvest and devotion to the Virgin Mary, who is honored as the patron saint of the Amblés Valley under the title Our Lady of Sonsoles. Today marks the Big Offering (Ofrenda Grande), celebrated every year on the second Sunday of October. The event follows the Small Offering (Ofrenda Chica), which took place the previous Sunday, and will be followed by the Last Offering (Última Ofrenda) on the third Sunday. This three-week-long celebration brings together the faithful from across the valley in a demonstration of devotion and community.

The tricolored flag of purple, white and red bears the inscription “Cofradías del Valle de Amblés” (Brotherhoods of the Amblés Valley) and “Ntra Sra De Sonsoles 2010” (Our Lady of Sonsoles 2010). At its center are two suns, symbolizing the appearance of Our Lady of Sonsoles and the Holy Child to local shepherds, shining with such brilliance that they were mistaken for two suns.

For Niharra, hosting the Big Offering is a momentous occasion. The celebration rotates annually among 15 towns in the valley, meaning Niharra will only host this event once every 15 years. Today, pilgrims from surrounding towns and across the Amblés Valley descended upon Niharra to witness the flag dance and pay their respects to the Virgin Mary, whose image had been carried out from the church for this special occasion.

The dance is a demonstration of strength, rhythm and balance. Sonsoles had been practicing since May, perfecting her technique to honor her family’s deep-rooted devotion. Her father, Juan Antonio Jiménez, had been the flagbearer exactly 15 years ago, just a month after Sonsoles was born. It is no coincidence that she was named after Our Lady of Sonsoles. After Sonsoles finished her dance, her sister Irene Jiménez took hold of the flag and performed the same ritual at the back of the church, continuing the tradition for another generation.

Sources:

  1. Niharra ofrece el baile de la bandera a la Virgen de Sonsoles, Diario de Ávila, 13 October 2024 (Link)
  2. Desde Muñopepe, segundo baile de bandera en Sonsoles, Ávilared, 13 October 2013 (Link)
  3. SANTUARIOS, ERMITAS Y HUMILLADEROS EN LAS PROVINCIAS DE ÁVILA, SALAMANCA Y ZAMORA, Junta de Castilla y León (Link)
  4. Una mujer practica por primera vez el juego de la bandera ante la Virgen de Sonsoles, 20minutos, 13 October 2008 (Link)
  5. Duruelo protagoniza el baile de la bandera con tres abanderados, Ávilared, 8 October 2023 (Link)

Image: Ávilared