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Our Lady of the Pillar in one minute
In Spain, celebrating a saint's day is still a very popular custom. And few things fit the day better than a medal of the devotion or the saint who gives their name to the person celebrating it: a small gift that can be worn every day and has centuries of history behind it.
Altarpiece of All Saints (Adoration of the Holy Trinity), Albrecht Dürer, 1511 (Wikimedia Commons, public domain)
So you don't miss any date, here are the most celebrated name days and holidays, with the corresponding medal for each.
Autumn
- September 8 – Our Lady of Covadonga. The Little Saint, patroness of Asturias. For the Covadonga and for any Asturian at heart. View Covadonga medals.
- October 12 – Our Lady of the Pillar. The patron saint of all the Pilars, Pili and Pilarica, and the feast of Hispanidad. View El Pilar medals.
- October 28 – Saint Jude Thaddeus. Patron saint of difficult causes, highly revered in Spain and Mexico. View Saint Jude Thaddeus medals.
- November 1 – All Saints. The day when all saints are celebrated, including those who do not have their own date on the calendar.
- November 27 – Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal. Feast day of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, one of the most gifted medals in the world. View Miraculous Medal.
An idea for October 12: our Our Lady of the Pillar medals
With rhodochrosite
Rubies and enamel
Pearl and green enamel
With dark turquoise
With lapis lazuli
With quartz
Winter
- December 8 – Immaculate Conception. Patroness of Spain and patron saint of the Immaculate, Inma, Concepción and Concha. View Immaculate Conception medals.
- December 12 – Our Lady of Guadalupe. Patroness of Mexico and the Americas, and the patron saint of the Guadalupe and the Lupe.
Spring
- Second Sunday in May – Our Lady of the Forsaken. Patroness of Valencia and patron saint of the Amparo. View Los Desamparados medals.
- May 13 – Our Lady of Fátima. For the Fátima and for anyone with a special devotion to the apparitions in Portugal. View Fátima medals.
- Pentecost – Our Lady of El Rocío. Her feast day is tied to the Pentecost pilgrimage, so it changes every year. The patron saint of the Rocío. View El Rocío medals.
Summer
- June 13 – Saint Anthony of Padua. Patron saint of the Antonio, Toni and Antonia, and protector of engaged couples. View Saint Anthony medals.
- July 11 – Saint Benedict. Patron saint of Europe and patron saint of the Benito. His medal is one of the oldest and most recognizable. View Saint Benedict medals.
- July 16 – Our Lady of Mount Carmel. One of Spain's most celebrated patron saints: Carmen, Maricarmen, Mamen, Carmela… View Mount Carmel medals.
Tips for choosing
- Order in advance. Our medals ship within 24–48 hours, but demand increases in the weeks leading up to the major holidays. It's best not to leave it until the last day.
- Choose the stone based on the person. Pearls for a classic style, colored stones for someone who wears the medal as just another piece of jewelry.
- The chain is included. All our medals come with an adjustable gold-plated chain, so they arrive ready to gift.
Facts you can check
If you're gifting for El Pilar this year, here are a few things about Our Lady of October 12 that you can check:
- October 12 is Spain's National Day by Law 18/1987, of October 7. Its sole article states: "October 12 is declared a National Day of Spain, for all purposes." Source
- On February 8, 1913, King Alfonso XIII signed the order proclaiming Our Lady of the Pillar the patroness of the Civil Guard. Source
- The Flower Offering is younger than it seems: the one considered the first took place in 1958. In 1965, the El Pilar Festivals were declared of National Tourist Interest. Source
- Goya painted two frescoes in the Basilica of El Pilar: The Adoration of the Name of God, in the vault of the choir stall facing the Holy Chapel (1772), and the dome Regina Martyrum, commissioned in 1781 and painted in less than two months. Source
Can't find the devotion you're looking for? Take a look at all our medals, handmade in Spain.