…All the way
If you happen to be in Fatima on 13 May or 13 October to see the place quietly, you are in for a surprise. It is so crowded that you wished you picked another day. Esther and Maarten, friends of us have experienced this. They quickly left the place.
I walked to Fatima and went to the all celebrations from start to end. Way too much for me, but if you go together with the Chief Pilgrim, his wife, and Jean, of course you go all the way.
Experiencing the Pilgrimage to Fatima
Yes, they are experienced. I just joined them, in the caminho and there a night at Fatima. They took their camping mattresses with them to the procession and advised me to bring my sleeping bag to the square. Okay, no problem, I think. At 18:30 the normal Fatima praying start, The Chief and the rest pray for half an hour. I walk around by myself. After praying, we reserve our place and sit on the floor and wait. Every minute it gets busier and colder. At 21:00 all will start. As you can imagine, it is bitterly cold after sunset. Luckily, there is a supermarket close by and we have some small bites to eat, at least we are not hungry and cold.
Square Lights Up
Finally it is 21:00. Everyone holds a candle. During the prayers, the first row light their candles and it continues until the whole square is lighted: row by row, with thousands of candles. An amazing sight, and during the singing and prayers the lights go up and down, all together.
Normally I would have seen all in a few minutes especially after a while of being extremely cold, I would be ready to go. This time: No chance, we are here to stay. The procession, singing, praying, singing and praying again. Around 24:00 the Chief Pilgrim said: Let’s go to our tents. Aaah finally.
Square Turns into a White Waving Sea
Next morning 9:00 it starts again. Similar singing and praying, and again there was the procession with all the flags of the countries that participate.
Really remarkable: Yesterday it was so cold that we needed sleeping bags to protect us against the cold, and this morning, really: the first aid continuously saved people who fainted because of the heat. Portugal: a country of extremes, whether you like it or not.
White Sea Waving Good Bye
Around 12:00 when the procession started, all persons have a white handkerchief in their hands to wave good bye. Thousands of moving white cloths wave. Again an extraordinary sight. A very strond vibe is moving around there. Also unbelievable to see such a good bye for the people that walk in the procession, since I see them recording all with their mobile.
There was also one part that everyone had to hold each others hand. This was again a very strong and comforting moment. If you saw the whole square and thought of Covid, it was not the best sight. I used my mouth mask for all that is worth.
Well I saw it all, and not just once but twice! One at night and saying good bye in the morning.
My only thought was that next time, may be Cinta and Jaap-Willem like to camp their too and see part of the celebration. Next year May (2023) it will fall in the weekend so that would be great for Cinta. And in May I think the weather would be better in the evening.
