THE FEAST OF SAN BLAS 3RD FEBRUARY

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Today is the fiesta of San Blas in Montanchez. Starting from the Ermita de San Blas the procession makes its way to the Plaza de España and then back to the ermita. The girls, of all ages, are dressed in typical folkloric costumes, colourful apliquéd woollen skirts, heavily embroidered shawls, white stockings and black shoes. They carry trays of various cakes and sweets on their heads and kept up a lively step in tune with the band. Many of the crowd wear a red ribbon tied around their necks in honour of San Blas the protector of all throat related afflictions.

San Blas was a doctor and bishop living in Sebaste (Armenia), in the 3rd and 4th centuries. In his striving for perfection he took refuge in a cave near the summit of Mount Argeo. A victim of the generalized persecution of Christians, he acquired his unusual patron-saint status on his way to prison, when he healed a boy who was in agony with a fish bone stuck in his throat. San Blas is often shown with the instruments of his martyrdom, iron combs. The similarity of these instruments of torture to wool combs led to his adoption as the patron saint of wool combers in particular, and the wool trade in general. He may also be depicted with crossed candles. Such crossed candles are used for the blessing of throats on the feast day of Blas which falls on the day after candlemass. The red ribbon may relate to the beheading which ended his torture in 316.