If there is one image that captures October 12 in Zaragoza, it is that of Our Lady of the Pillar covered by a huge mantle of flowers. The Flower Offering is the central event of the Fiestas del Pilar and one of Spain's most moving traditions.
What the Offering is Like
Throughout the day, thousands of people, many dressed in traditional Aragonese costume, parade to the Plaza del Pilar with a bouquet of flowers. The flowers are placed on a large structure featuring the image of the Virgin until they form a colorful mantle that can be seen for days. Families, associations, regional groups, and groups from all over Spain and Latin America take part.
A Celebration for the Whole Family
The Offering is passed down from generation to generation: grandparents bring their grandchildren, daughters inherit their mother's costume, and families return year after year. The Fiestas del Pilar continue with other beloved traditions, such as the Fruit Offering and the Crystal Rosary.
If You Can't Go to Zaragoza
There are many ways to celebrate the Pilarica from home: congratulate the Pilares in your family, pray for your loved ones, or give her medal as a gift. Because giving a medal is an act of love: it is placing someone you love under the protection of the Virgin.
Discover all our Our Lady of the Pillar medals, handmade in Spain with pearls and natural stones, and read why Hispanic Day and Our Lady of the Pillar are celebrated together.
Marian and Bárbara