Festival of Tables and Boards

The Festival of the Boards is celebrated in honor of the Virgin of the Rosary, whose celebration takes place on the first Saturday of October. Its origin dates back to pagan practices linked to the fertility of the land and women, with offerings to the goddess Ceres, related to the abundance of cereals and the prosperity of food animals, especially pigs in the pasture. The boards, elongated tables historically used to transport breads and sweets, are today decorated with embroidered cloths, lace, flowers, breads, nuts, and religious banners, recreating ancient Greco-Roman and pre-Roman rituals of Lusitania. Preparations begin on August 15, when the priest introduces the Godmothers and Board Bearers, who are accompanied by two dancers performing the "Chicurrichi" dance with castanets. The celebration starts with the procession of the Virgin of the Rosary from the Church of Our Lady of Welcome to the Plaza de Espa\u00f1a, where a solemn mass is held. After the mass, there is an auction of the boards and a popular offering, ending with the "Chicurrichi" dance, the traditional jota "El Verdigaio", and a free tasting of sweets, consolidating the festival as a cultural, religious, and community event that keeps alive the local tradition of Valdefuentes.