The Ponteareas Corpus Christi Carpet Makers Association has announced it will craft a floral carpet in the Plaza de las Pasiegas for the Corpus Christi Thursday in Granada. This initiative, undertaken at the invitation of the City Council of Granada, strengthens the bond between the two cities through tradition and faith, and is considered a "gift from the association to the people of Granada".
The presence of the Galician carpet makers in Granada symbolizes the convergence of two major Corpus traditions in Spain: the historical solemnity of Granada's Corpus and the renowned ephemeral floral art of Ponteareas, declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest. Both cities thus reaffirm their commitment to preserving their cultural and religious heritage.
The carpet, measuring eight meters in diameter and covering approximately fifty square meters, will be made from natural materials including thuya, eucalyptus, dried pampullo petals, and bamboo reeds. White and red colors will be achieved using around 2,000 carnations. The design will replicate the rose window of Granada Cathedral and the stained-glass window with the dove, symbolizing the Holy Spirit.
“"it is a gift from the association to the people of Granada"
A team of 20 carpet makers will begin work in the early hours of Thursday to ensure the carpet is finished before the procession departs. The Corpus Christi procession is a public holiday in the city, and the procession will be led by the Custodia of Granada Cathedral, accompanied by civil and religious authorities, representatives of brotherhoods and confraternities.
The Corpus festivities, over five hundred years old, have historically served as a period of community and celebration for the people of Granada. This year, the floral carpet joins an extensive program of cultural and festive events, acting as a "symbol of union between Andalusia and Galicia, between two ways of living and feeling a celebration rooted in centuries of history and popular participation".
The tradition of floral carpets in Ponteareas (province of Pontevedra) is one of its foremost examples, with over twenty carpets covering kilometers of streets. The passage of the procession over these ephemeral artworks is one of the most emblematic moments. The expertise from Ponteareas, declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest and a Cultural Heritage Asset, now extends to Granada.
The international candidacy titled "The tradition of creating floral carpets and ritual compositions with natural materials" has been submitted by the Spanish Ministry of Culture to UNESCO for potential inclusion in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
