The Madonna of Mount Carmel (in Catalan, Mare de Déu del Carme) is the patron saint of sailors and fishermen, and for this reason is also the patron saint of many towns in the Mediterranean coast.
Today, July 16th, is Her feast and many villages, towns and cities will be celebrating processions and festivals in Her honour, and in all of them the sailors and fishermen play the most relevant role. In the Catalan Countries, there’s usually a maritime procession where many ships accompany the Image until She reaches town’s port. Then, a group of local fishermen or sailors carry Her image around town. Later, there are concerts of havaneres or sardanes songs.
In the photos above: 1) the Mare de Déu del Carme in a maritime procession in Gandia (x). 2 and 3) fishermen carrying the Mare de Déu in El Serrallo, the fishermen’s quarter of Tarragona (x) and Cambrils (x). 4) the statue in a ship at dusk in L’Ampolla (x)
