On the early morning of Monday after the Solemnity of Pentecost (declared in 2018 by Pope Francis as the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church) in the village of El Rocio, 55km from Sevilla, people from around Spain and over the world gather around the Santuario de El Rocio to witness the culmination of the Romeria, the Procession of the Image of the Virgen del Rocio.
One of the spectacular highlights of the Procession is the so-called "Salto de la Reja" (Spanish for Jumping to the Fence) where after hours of waiting for the arrival Simpecado of the Hermandad Matriz de Almonte, devotees tried their best to approach the Andas of the Image.
Origins of the Salto de la Reja
The origins of the current Salto are recent, since the form of procession of the Virgen del Rocío by the village it has changed over the years. In 1969 , with a new sanctuary inaugurated, the appearance of the Rocio changes and the procession of the Virgin goes ahead at 8 or 9 in the morning . In 1975, a pair of Almonteños left the fence spontaneously around 5 or 6 in the morning, this being the origin of the current rite, which over the years has become the high point of the Romeria del Rocio.
The Rite of the Procession
The rite begins at midnight of Monday when the Simpecado (badge representing the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary) of the Hermandad Matriz del Rocio, left the Santuario for Plaza de la Donana (adjacent the Santuario) to begin the recitation of the Rosary where the other Simpecados of the Hermandad Filiales awaits.
The Simpecados of every Hermandad Filial (Brotherhoods that are affiliate to the Hermandad Matriz), passes in front of the Santuario-Ermita, in order of antiquity, which is getting added more and more every year (as of this year has 124 Hermandad Filiales, with 1 coming from Belgium). And once the Simpecado of the Brotherhood Matriz de Almonte arrives, it enters the Santuario, and as soon as they saw the Simpecado, the Almonteños jump the fence to carry the Virgin of the Rocio and to begin its glorious procession.
The Procession will do in reverse once the Virgen del Rocio goes out, this time the Image approaches the Chapel of the Filial Hermandades that is part of the itinerary of the Procession, while the ones that is not part of the itinerary, the Simpecado will approach the route the Virgen passes. They will then homage La Blanca Paloma with recitation of Prayers and Salves, and with throwing of Rose petals. The Procession then goes as usual until it goes back to her Santuario by Noon after being in the streets for an average 10-12 hours.
The Hours of the 'Salto de la Reja'
The times of the Salto varies from time to time, taking place in between 2.10am-35am. The record are taken from 1993 (the year St. John Paul II visited the Santuario weeks later) up to present (information may be added in the future) and the time format that will be used is in Madrid Time.
1993 - 1.50am
1994 - 2.08am
1995 - 2.12am
1996 - 2.17am
1997 - 2.35am
1998 - 3 am
1999 - 3.08am
2000 - 3.16am
2001 - 3.32am
2002 - 3.30am
2003 - 3.31am
2004 - 3.10am
2005 - 3.14am
2006 - 3.05am
2007 - 3.02am
2008 - 2.32am
2009 - 2.52am
2010 - 2.50am
2011 - 2.50am
2012 - 3.27am
2013 - 3.25am
2014 - 3.12am
2015 - 3.02am
2016 - 3.01am
2017 - 3.27am
2018 - 2.34am
2019 - 2.48am
2020 & 2021 did not took place due to the Coronavirus Pandemic
2022 - 3.13am
2023 - 2.55am
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