Festival where people who "near-death" gather to celebrate and express gratitude for life

Festival for those who “near-death”

The event is held annually for those who have had a near-death experience in the previous 12 months, to celebrate and express gratitude for life, for not taking their lives.

In addition to the coffin-carrying ceremony, the procession of the statue of Saint Marta de Ribarteme is an indispensable part of the festival. According to legend, in ancient times, thanks to the help of Saint Marta de Ribarteme, people were able to kill a ferocious dragon. Since then, Saint Marta has been known as the power that brings victory, even in situations close to death. Therefore, the festival is a way for people to remember Saint Marta de Ribarteme, the patron saint of those who are lucky enough to escape death.

The origins of the festival remain a mystery, but locals believe it dates back hundreds of years. Initially, the ritual of carrying coffins with living people inside was performed by pagans. But from the 12th century, when the Catholic Church tried to eradicate pagan beliefs, this ritual was incorporated into Christian rituals.

For centuries, the festival has been celebrated as a religious pilgrimage. The Catholic Church here has not been able to escape from its outdated beliefs and concepts. For the local people, it seems that evil spirits still exist in their beliefs.

In addition, there is a strong sense of community in most parts of Spain, especially in the isolated region of Galicia. Despite rapid development, people still value their traditions, beliefs and way of life. For many, the festival is an opportunity to live in harmony with one another as it gives people a chance to give thanks.

Therefore, the festival La Fiesta de Santa Marta de Ribarteme is considered the Church's efforts to maintain faith in this small town.

An unforgettable experience

Like a funeral, silence fell over the Galician air. The crowd parted, allowing the coffins to take the lead. The band followed behind, playing mournful tunes. But inside all the coffins were living people. People who had been close to death but had survived in the past 12 months.

The event started at 10am. The coffins carrying the lucky ones who “returned from the dead” were carried by friends and family around the village, church, cemetery and then back to the church again.

As the crowd passed, the church bells began to ring, the coffins were taken to the town cemetery, then carried back and circled the church three times. Then the statue of Saint Marta de Ribarteme was brought out of the church and paraded with the coffins, while the crowd began to sing: “Virgin Santa Marta, star of the North, we bring you those who have come close to death.”

As the procession reached the church and the coffin was lowered into the ground, a wide range of emotions could be seen. While some people smiled with joy, others shed tears.

The atmosphere on the day of the festival is somewhat mournful, the next day everyone will have a party and dance and sing enthusiastically. Those lying in the coffin will now tell everyone about their experiences of “death”.

This strange event attracts so many people that on the day of the festival, the streets of Las Nieves are packed with people. What started as a local festival has become a world-famous festival with thousands of people attending. They crowd the small streets of the village of Santa Marta de Ribarteme, to witness this festival with their own eyes.

Thanks to that, the stone benches on the small hill next to the church were usually empty, but thanks to the festival, they were filled. Street vendors had the opportunity to sell a large amount of wine and many different food stalls, the aroma of grilled meat and boiled octopus with a little chili powder made the atmosphere of the festival even more exciting.