One of the festivals with a long religious tradition is that of Our Lady of Fatima. The image arrived in Vega de San Mateo in 1950, and since its arrival, this commemoration has been celebrated every year with a week of religious ceremonies, with the Virgin being taken out in procession.
Each day, a different neighborhood or street is decorated, windows are decorated with white and blue flags, and doors and sidewalks are filled with plants and flowers from around the world, hydrangeas, ferns, etc. The first day, the route covers the Hoya Viciosa area, C/ La Palma, and returns via Cifuentes, usually on Sunday. Monday is the Lechuza (Owl's Day), and on Tuesday and Wednesday, it travels through the town's streets: Placetilla de la Caldereta, Dr. Ramírez Cabrera, Jacinto Rodríguez Mejías, Urb. El Pintor, and the market area. On Thursday, he visits the Higuera neighborhood. On Friday, it reaches El Chorrillo, La Bodeguilla, Acequía Marrero, La Veguetilla, and Calle Principal, and finally on Saturday, it reaches El Retiro and Los Chorros, returning via Calle La Feria and Calle Lourdes.
In the past, it was said that May 13th was also the day of the Pirates (cars used to transport passengers). All the cars that could fit would be lined up in front of the church's promenade, and when the image appeared in the church atrium, they would all begin to honk their horns simultaneously in greeting.
The last day of these religious festivals is Sunday, called the Mass for the Sick. The sick come from all over the island to ask Our Lady for healing. The Mass is always concelebrated according to the number of attendees; once it is over, the image of the Virgin is dismissed to her atrium.
