According to historians, the early image of the Virgin of Las Rocinas is believed to be 13th Century, its size being that of marine sculptures of that time. It was hidden in an old tree and discovered by chance by the hunter Gregorio Medina in the 15th Century. This is his story.
At the start of the 15th Century, Gregorio Medina, a hunter from Villamanrique, met up with friends in La Rocina from where they started off on a day’s hunting. The group headed out of town with dogs, traps and guns, carrying bags on their shoulders. Arriving at the hunting grounds, they separated having drawn lots for where they would hunt. Gregorio was lucky to be given the area known as Las Rocinas, an area in which everyone liked to hunt. Game frequently took refuge in the woods there from the sounds of the dogs and hunters.
Gregorio entered the woods finding the thick trunks of the old trees which were the hiding place of many an animal. Busy as he was searching for prey, he was surprised by the persistent barking of his dogs around a 100 year-old tree. Curious about why they were acting in this way, he approached and, pulling aside the vines surrounding the trunk, he was astonished to find a small sculpture which at first he took to be a doll.
He was tempted to take it home with him but, as he was putting it into his bag he noticed written on the back the words ‘I am Maria of Remedios’. He realized that it must be the statue of Our Lady which had amazingly stayed hidden for centuries, through wind and rain. He replaced it in the tree knowing it to be something special and set off on his way to the nearest village of Almonte where he told everyone of his discovery.
Many of the villagers immediately set out and on reaching Las Rocinas found all as Gregorio had described. They prayed to the Virgin and, believing it was meant for their village, intended taking it there. However, word had spread quickly through the surrounding villages, even to the rest of the group who had been hunting in the area.
In order to resolve the question of where the Holy Virgin should rest, they used traditional methods. According to custom, two oxen yoked to wagons were placed by the tree and all watched to see in which direction they would walk. However, neither ox moved, refusing to go in any direction, staying stubbornly beside the tree! This was taken to mean that the statue should remain where it was. Money was raised to build a small hermitage. The image, once restored was placed inside, overlooking the stream of el Madre de las Rocinas.
Songs were sung and handed down through the years by word of mouth, telling of the discovery and how she was to bring miracles for everyone.
Each year, during the weekend of Pentecost, the villagers and townsfolk from all around prepare to go on a pilgrimage, dressed in traditional costumes, with oxen pulling carts carrying statues of the Virgin of Rocio. Walking miles, camping overnight, they finally reach their destination.
