Fair of Our Lady of Health
The Fair of Our Lady of Health has its origins in 1284, the year that King Sancho IV granted the privilege to the Council of Córdoba for two live
stock markets could be held annually, one in Cincuesma (Pentecost) and another in Lent, lasting two weeks each. In 1422, the fair of Cincuesma was first celebrated in the early days of May. Later, the Catholic Monarchs reaffirmed the holding of both fairs and in the year 1556, Philip II confirmed the royal privilege granted by Sancho IV two centuries ago.
Actually, the fair begins to be called "Our Lady of Health" in 1665, the year in which two farmers found the image of the Virgin in a small pit in front of the Sevilla Door, whose waters say that return health to all those patients who drink it. To commemorate the discovery a small chapel was erected in that place and became fair, celebrating the first days of Pentecost.
In 1790, th
e schedule of the fair was reduced to 10 pm by Royal Order, because of some disturbances which occurred there. In 1803, the fair was moved off the Galician Door, because they wanted it closer to the bullring that was in the Merced Gardens. However, its final location would be the Victory Gardens from 1820.
In 1895, the Brotherhood of Labradors asked the fair has been changed to May 25 and though his request is approved, it will not prevail until 1905, continuing until today. In the early twentieth century major events were held during the fair, as the Regional Exhibition of Art and Industry, held in 1904, or the First Demonstration of Aviation, conducted by René Barrier and René Simon in 1910.
Coinciding with the arrival in the municipality of José Cruz Conde
, in 1924, the electricity is used for the first time at the Fair, and it appeared the first private booths (small houses made of canvas tents, where there is a bar to eat and drink, tables to sit, and a space for dancing). The chronicle of that year tells us: "... thousands of paper lanterns with color screens, pending cord, crossed every direction steps, like garlands of bright flowers, giving it a truly fantastic appearance."
In 1934, Jimenez Lora on "Trade in Cordoba" wrote: "... on the plain where the gardens of the Duke of Rivas are built today, the booths were installed for performances, the bun shop, closed the frame by the long line of stalls of toys, candy stores and jewelry, also extending along the opposite side of the Paseo de la Victoria "(...)" Gallegos Door was colorful and artistically decorated, and at night, lighting less splendid than now enveloped the vanesha in a somewhat poetic twilight and calm night and Andalusia under the full moon of May flowers ... "
The following year, the director of "The trade of Cordoba" wrote: "... market Mornin
gs with scenes typical of treatment, mischief and gipsy grace, stamping horses parade, car harness, manor cars, flamingos riders, Amazons dressed in the authentic Cordovan hat, Cañero ponies, little shops of Wayfaring and all the confusing babble of the grounds, with curses and their laughter, their cries and songs, under a dazzling sun (...) the juger - Foreigners who came to the City by rail in special convoys called "trains jug" invade the walks, talk about bulls and bullfighters. In the aristocratic Booth of the Friendship rings the jazzband, whose tireless couples dance rhythm; (...) in the thin glass fulgen the emerald crown of our wines that heat injected into the veins, joy and eloquence; in front of the astonished eyes female sculptures parade, wearing summer dresses (,,,) and last nights warm and spring in which the Fair shines like gold (...) Cordoba is not that placid and serene city of Seneca or discrete city of Baroja, the city is seething, passionate and Andalusian is transformed by magic, these days, injecting into their veins vertigo virus and sap from the joviality and joy... "
Fair booths are just meeting places that traditionally, most of them are assembled by Holy Week brotherhoods, clubs, associations, schools of students, public institutions...
Furthermore, the production of posters of Fair has a tradition of over a hundred years since the late nineteenth century, the City encouraged artists to be presented at the poster creation contest, participating renowned artists as Julio Romero de Torres.
In 1994, after many proposals, it was decided to move permanently to the Fairground of Arenal, a place that offers visitors something that the ancient sites of the city did not have: space. the Cordovans can boast a compound according to the needs of the event.
stock markets could be held annually, one in Cincuesma (Pentecost) and another in Lent, lasting two weeks each. In 1422, the fair of Cincuesma was first celebrated in the early days of May. Later, the Catholic Monarchs reaffirmed the holding of both fairs and in the year 1556, Philip II confirmed the royal privilege granted by Sancho IV two centuries ago.
Actually, the fair begins to be called "Our Lady of Health" in 1665, the year in which two farmers found the image of the Virgin in a small pit in front of the Sevilla Door, whose waters say that return health to all those patients who drink it. To commemorate the discovery a small chapel was erected in that place and became fair, celebrating the first days of Pentecost.
In 1790, th
e schedule of the fair was reduced to 10 pm by Royal Order, because of some disturbances which occurred there. In 1803, the fair was moved off the Galician Door, because they wanted it closer to the bullring that was in the Merced Gardens. However, its final location would be the Victory Gardens from 1820.
In 1895, the Brotherhood of Labradors asked the fair has been changed to May 25 and though his request is approved, it will not prevail until 1905, continuing until today. In the early twentieth century major events were held during the fair, as the Regional Exhibition of Art and Industry, held in 1904, or the First Demonstration of Aviation, conducted by René Barrier and René Simon in 1910.
Coinciding with the arrival in the municipality of José Cruz Conde
, in 1924, the electricity is used for the first time at the Fair, and it appeared the first private booths (small houses made of canvas tents, where there is a bar to eat and drink, tables to sit, and a space for dancing). The chronicle of that year tells us: "... thousands of paper lanterns with color screens, pending cord, crossed every direction steps, like garlands of bright flowers, giving it a truly fantastic appearance."
In 1934, Jimenez Lora on "Trade in Cordoba" wrote: "... on the plain where the gardens of the Duke of Rivas are built today, the booths were installed for performances, the bun shop, closed the frame by the long line of stalls of toys, candy stores and jewelry, also extending along the opposite side of the Paseo de la Victoria "(...)" Gallegos Door was colorful and artistically decorated, and at night, lighting less splendid than now enveloped the vanesha in a somewhat poetic twilight and calm night and Andalusia under the full moon of May flowers ... "
The following year, the director of "The trade of Cordoba" wrote: "... market Mornin
gs with scenes typical of treatment, mischief and gipsy grace, stamping horses parade, car harness, manor cars, flamingos riders, Amazons dressed in the authentic Cordovan hat, Cañero ponies, little shops of Wayfaring and all the confusing babble of the grounds, with curses and their laughter, their cries and songs, under a dazzling sun (...) the juger - Foreigners who came to the City by rail in special convoys called "trains jug" invade the walks, talk about bulls and bullfighters. In the aristocratic Booth of the Friendship rings the jazzband, whose tireless couples dance rhythm; (...) in the thin glass fulgen the emerald crown of our wines that heat injected into the veins, joy and eloquence; in front of the astonished eyes female sculptures parade, wearing summer dresses (,,,) and last nights warm and spring in which the Fair shines like gold (...) Cordoba is not that placid and serene city of Seneca or discrete city of Baroja, the city is seething, passionate and Andalusian is transformed by magic, these days, injecting into their veins vertigo virus and sap from the joviality and joy... "
Fair booths are just meeting places that traditionally, most of them are assembled by Holy Week brotherhoods, clubs, associations, schools of students, public institutions...
Furthermore, the production of posters of Fair has a tradition of over a hundred years since the late nineteenth century, the City encouraged artists to be presented at the poster creation contest, participating renowned artists as Julio Romero de Torres.
In 1994, after many proposals, it was decided to move permanently to the Fairground of Arenal, a place that offers visitors something that the ancient sites of the city did not have: space. the Cordovans can boast a compound according to the needs of the event.
Text: P.R.M.
Traslated by Sara Moretti
Art, Culture and Tourism in Cordoba