Despite the decision to hold the Festival of Trays being made one year in advance, the ceremonies only begin on Easter Sunday of the following year. The Parade of Crowns is the first solemn act of the Festival of Trays and was formerly intended to announce to the population the next celebration of its biggest festival. In the so-called third cycle of the Festival (after 1950), the Parade leaves Misericórdia faithful depository of the Pendent and Crown of the city of Tomar, goes to the Church of S. João Baptista or Church of Santa Maria do Olival where the Solemn Mass of the Holy Spirit is celebrated in the presence of the Crowns and Pendants that are placed in the chancel.
After Mass, the First parade of crowns follows the itinerary of the Parade of Trays.
As it is a religious festival there are seven departures of Crowns. 7 is the perfect number for the Catholic Church: 7 days a week; 7th day is the full walk (when God rested); 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit; 7 Easter Sundays at Pentecost when the fullness of New Life is celebrated.
The first departure is on Easter Sunday, the second on Pascoela Sunday and the rest every fifteen days until the 24th of June, the last Parade of Crowns before the Festival of Trays. The route of the remaining Crowns exits is variable and has been adapted to the growth of the city with the intention of taking the announcement of the Festival to the majority of the inhabitants.
The streets are decorated with colorful bedspreads on the windows and the floors are green. As the Parade passes by, the people are throwing flowers creating a unique color effect and the atmosphere of joy that is always experienced in years of the Festival of Trays.
To anticipate the Parade and well ahead the man who launches the rockets goes announcing the approach of the parade; then come the pipers and drummers, the Band, the Pendant of the Holy Spirit, the three Crowns of the Holy Spirit of the city, the sixteen Parish Councils represented by a Pendant and a Crown, the members of the different Commissions and the people.
In the other departures, there is a turnover between the sixteen Parish Councils that only rejoin on the day of the Parade of Trays.
After Mass, the First parade of crowns follows the itinerary of the Parade of Trays.
As it is a religious festival there are seven departures of Crowns. 7 is the perfect number for the Catholic Church: 7 days a week; 7th day is the full walk (when God rested); 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit; 7 Easter Sundays at Pentecost when the fullness of New Life is celebrated.
The first departure is on Easter Sunday, the second on Pascoela Sunday and the rest every fifteen days until the 24th of June, the last Parade of Crowns before the Festival of Trays. The route of the remaining Crowns exits is variable and has been adapted to the growth of the city with the intention of taking the announcement of the Festival to the majority of the inhabitants.
The streets are decorated with colorful bedspreads on the windows and the floors are green. As the Parade passes by, the people are throwing flowers creating a unique color effect and the atmosphere of joy that is always experienced in years of the Festival of Trays.
To anticipate the Parade and well ahead the man who launches the rockets goes announcing the approach of the parade; then come the pipers and drummers, the Band, the Pendant of the Holy Spirit, the three Crowns of the Holy Spirit of the city, the sixteen Parish Councils represented by a Pendant and a Crown, the members of the different Commissions and the people.
In the other departures, there is a turnover between the sixteen Parish Councils that only rejoin on the day of the Parade of Trays.
Source: Festa dos Tabuleiros 2011