Magdalena Festival

Considering that the first day of Lent (since the First Council of Nicaea in 325) is the first Sunday after the full moon that occurs on or after the spring equinox, the dates of the Magdalena Festival between 1945 and 2050 are, according to the calculations of M. Armengot (using Gauss's law), as follows: 03/03/1945, 03/23/1946, 03/08/1947, 02/28/1948, 03/19/1949, 03/11/1950, 02/24/1951, 03/15/1952, 03/07/1953, 03/27/1954, 03/12/1955, 03/03/1956, 03/23/1957, 03/08/1958, 02/28/1959, 03/19/1960, 03/04/1961, 03/24/1962, 03/16/1963, 02/29/1964, 03/20/1965, 03/12/1966, 02/25/1967, 03/16/1968, 03/08/1969, 02/28/1970, 03/13/1971, 03/04/1972, 03/24/1973, 03/16/1974, 03/01/1975, 03/20/1976, 03/12/1977, 02/25/1978, 03/17/1979, 03/08/1980, 03/28/1981, 03/13/1982, 03/05/1983, 03/24/1984, 03/09/1985, 03/01/1986, 03/21/1987, 03/05/1988, 02/25/1989, 03/17/1990, 03/02/1991, 03/21/1992, 03/13/1993, 03/05/1994, 03/18/1995, 03/09/1996, 03/01/1997, 03/14/1998, 03/06/1999, 03/25/2000, 03/17/2001, 03/02/2002, 03/22/2003, 03/13/2004, 02/26/2005, 03/18/2006, 03/10/2007, 02/23/2008, 03/14/2009, 03/06/2010, 03/26/2011, 03/10/2012, 03/02/2013, 03/22/2014, 03/07/2015, 02/27/2016, 03/18/2017, 03/03/2018, 03/23/2019, 03/14/2020, 03/06/2021, 03/19/2022, 03/11/2023, 03/02/2024, 03/22/2025, 03/07/2026, 02/27/2027, 03/18/2028, 03/03/2029, 03/23/2030, 03/15/2031, 02/28/2032, 03/19/2033, 03/11/2034, 02/24/2035, 03/15/2036, 03/07/2037, 03/27/2038, 03/12/2039, 03/03/2040, 03/23/2041, 03/08/2042, 02/28/2043, 03/19/2044, 03/11/2045, 02/24/2046, 03/16/2047, 03/07/2048, 03/27/2049, 03/12/2050.

This is followed by a mascletà, a very loud coordinated firecracker display, which is prepared by the winners of the previous year's pyrotechnic competition and takes place in Plaza del Primer Molí; it lasts between 10 and 15 minutes.

Alongside the fireworks is a special wreath and flower laying ceremony that the Festival Queen attends on the monument to King James I, regarded as the grandfather of the city and the one who gave the order for its foundation in 1251.

Festival Sunday starts with the ringing of the "Vicent" bell at 5:30 am at El Fadri, and Masses are held in the Minor Basilica and other churches to pray for the safety of the pilgrimage party as it leaves the city proper.

At 8:00 am, the pilgrimage - so called because of the canes carried by those taking part, a reminder of the city's past - starts from the Plaza Mayor (Castellón) (Main Square).

Halfway there, one of the compulsory stops (according to tradition) is Sant Roc de Canet chapel, where people have a mid-morning snack, for example the typical "figa i doset",[4] and where pilgrims say a prayer.

As bells ring, a mascletá (a series of pyrotechnic explosions) is set off to announce the arrival of the pilgrims, who are handed "rotllos" (ring-shaped pretzels).

Then, following High Mass said at the chapel to mark the feast of the city, everyone tries a little of an enormous[clarification needed] paella which is served following the service to all attending for lunch.

Alongside Mass, the pilgrimage party and tourists alike also take the chance to visit the ruins of the Castle of Fadrell nearby.

During the week, a multitude of celebrations are held, the most important of which appear in the following list: Saturday is the day of the Offering of Flowers to the patron of the city, the Our Lady of Lledó.

One of the most emotive acts of this festival is performed by the men of the Gaiata 1, who make a floral tapestry with the flowers that have been brought by the people who have visited their basilica.

Antonio Pascual Felip, a member of the First Central Board of Celebration, defined the gaiata as "a burst of light, with no fire or smoke".