El Rocío has its own language. Those who have lived it since childhood speak it without thinking; those who come from outside hear «el Quema», «el simpecado» or «la reja» and get lost. We have gathered the twenty most frequently used words at the pilgrimage, explained in two lines.
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The Virgin
- Blanca Paloma. The Virgin of El Rocío's most beloved name. Her feast day is Pentecost, the day of the Holy Spirit, which is represented as a dove. Hence the cry of the entire pilgrimage: «¡Viva la Blanca Paloma!».
- Queen of the Marismas. Another of her names, because of the Doñana marshes that surround the village.
- Pastora. This is what she is called when she wears the shepherdess outfit, with a hat, which she wears during the transfers between the village and Almonte.
The brotherhoods
- Mother Brotherhood. The one from Almonte. It is the one that takes care of the Virgin and her sanctuary and organizes the pilgrimage.
- Filial brotherhood. Each of the Rocío brotherhoods from other towns and cities. There are more than a hundred, also outside Andalusia. The oldest is the one from Villamanrique de la Condesa.
- Simpecado. The banner of each brotherhood, with the image of the Virgin embroidered or painted. It is what the brotherhood carries to the village and what the Virgin «visits» in her procession.
- Carreta. The cart, pulled by oxen or mules, in which the simpecado travels. Many are made of silver and covered in flowers.
- Medal and cord. Each brotherhood has its medal, which the brothers wear around their necks hanging from a cord in the brotherhood's colors. By the medal and the cord, you can tell where each rociero is from.
Our Virgin of El Rocío with Pearl and Lilac Enamel
The path
- El camino. The days of pilgrimage to the village, on foot, by horse or by cart. For many rocieros, it is the most important part of the pilgrimage. «Hacer el camino» is going to El Rocío.
- El Quema. The ford of the Guadiamar River through which the brotherhoods from the Seville path pass. There, those who make the path for the first time are «baptized» with the river water and a rociero name.
- La Raya Real. A long sandy path among pine trees, between Villamanrique and the village. It is one of the hardest and most beautiful stretches.
- El Ajolí. The wooden bridge through which the brotherhoods from the Seville path enter the village. Crossing it means you have arrived.
- Tamborilero. The musician who accompanies the simpecado playing the flute and the tambourine at the same time. It is the sound of El Rocío.
- Rocío Sevillanas. The sevillanas that speak of the Virgin, the path, and the village. They are sung around the candle, at the stops, and in the brotherhood houses.
The village
- El Real. The great esplanade of the village, next to the hermitage, where the Pentecost mass is celebrated.
- La presentación. The act in which each brotherhood, upon arrival, presents itself with its simpecado before the hermitage and the Mother Brotherhood, in order of seniority.
- El salto de la reja. In the early morning of Pentecost Monday, the people of Almonte jump the altar gate to bring out the Virgin in procession.
- Almonteño. The resident of Almonte. Only the people of Almonte carry the Virgin on their shoulders.
Outside the pilgrimage
- Rocío Chico. The festival on August 18 and 19 in the village. It commemorates the vow that Almonte made in 1813 in gratitude to the Virgin for her protection during the War of Independence.
- La Venida. Every seven years, the Virgin leaves the hermitage and spends nine months in Almonte. The latest one started in August 2026. We tell you about it in The Coming of the Virgin of El Rocío to Almonte.
And one more word: medal
In addition to the medal of their brotherhood, many rocieros wear a medal of the Virgin of El Rocío all year round: the one for the path is kept until May, the other is never taken off. Ours are designed in Madrid and handmade in Spain, with pearls, natural stones, and enamels.
Discover all our Virgin of El Rocío medals.
Marian and Bárbara