Fading Spanish town keeps light on native saint

SUMMARY

The procession of El Vítor, as locals refer to the festival, celebrates the night when the remains of a celebrity missionary from the 16th century, Toribio Alfonso de Mogrovejo y Robledo, returned to the wind-swept Spanish town.

By APOct 3, 2019 12:01:52 PM IST (Published)

Villagers carry the carving of Saint Toribio during an afternoon procession in Mayorga, northwest Spain. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

The procession of El Vítor, as locals refer to the festival, celebrates the night when the remains of a celebrity missionary from the 16th century, Toribio Alfonso de Mogrovejo y Robledo, returned to the wind-swept Spanish town. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Yielding burning wineskins as torches, neighbours of Mayorga, in northwestern Spain, have been marking for more than three centuries the night when the remains the local saint returned home. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

A villager dressed up in old clothes and wearing a hat takes part in the procession of El Vítor in the town of Mayorga, northwest Spain. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Villagers take part in the procession of El Vítor in the town of Mayorga, northwest Spain. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

A villager dressed up in old clothes and wearing a hay hat takes part in the procession. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Villagers take part in the procession of El Vítor in the town of Mayorga. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)

Villagers watch fireworks during the procession of El Vítor in the town of Mayorga, northwest Spain. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)