Madrid is getting ready to commemorate this Monday, even though it has been washed with rain, the feast day of its patron, the Virgen de la Almudena, with a solemn Mass in the cathedral that bears her name and with the usual sweets in the shape of a crown.
The archbishop of Madrid, José Cobo, will be in charge of presiding over the religious ceremony, which will begin at 11 o’clock. The slogan chosen on this occasion is "Let’s raise our gaze together", a reminder of the visit carried out last June by Pope León XIV. During the Eucharist, moreover, the renewal of the traditional Voto de la Villa will take place, which will be carried out by the mayor of the capital, José Luis Martínez-Almeida.
At the end of the Mass, the procession is scheduled to leave through the streets near the temple, provided that the rain allows it. To fight the cold, nothing better than to turn to a sweet bite as quintessentially Madrid as the Corona de la Almudena.
Giant Corona de la Almudena in Plaza Mayor
One more year, Plaza Mayor will be the main setting for the celebration of the big day of Madrid’s patron saint, with a huge Corona de la Almudena of about 300 kilos in weight and 25 meters in diameter, from which more than 5,000 free portions will be distributed among residents and tourists.
The initiative, driven by the Asociación de Cocineros y Reposteros de Madrid (ACYRE Madrid) in collaboration with the Ayuntamiento, will begin at 12.30 hours in front of the Casa de la Panadería.
If finally the rain makes an appearance, the organization will move the tasting to the Bóvedas room of the Casa de la Panadería. In that case, the more than 5,000 servings will be handed out at different points under the arcades of Plaza Mayor.
The filling chosen will be the most classic, with custard cream filling and the unmistakable aromatic touch of Anís de Chinchón, one of the ingredients that differentiates this sweet from the traditional roscón de Reyes.
Music, dance and folklore to accompany the celebration
The festive day will be rounded out with musical proposals and traditional dance. A goyesca zarzuela, chotis and pasodoble will be offered, performed by the Agrupación de Madrileños y Amigos Los Castizos. Already in the afternoon, the public will be able to attend different showcases of Madrid and Castilian folklore by the Asociación Francisco de Goya, the Asociación de Coros y Danzas Francisco de Goya, the Asociación Cultural Arrabel, and the barrel organ player Alfredo Pobo with his accompanying partners.
Musical programming will culminate at 19.30 with a zarzuela recital at the Auditorio Sony of the Escuela Superior de Música Reina Sofía. The students of the Alfredo Kraus Chair of Singing Fundación Ramón Areces will perform excerpts from titles such as "Luisa Fernanda", "Doña Francisquita" and "La del manojo de rosas".