[3][4] The pilgrimage dates from 1653, when the Virgin of Las Rocinas was appointed patron saint of Almonte.

[1] At 10 a.m. on Whitsun Sunday, a Pontifical High Mass is said in El Real del Rocío (next to the Sanctuary), where the Virgin was crowned in 1919.

[1] Finally, the Immaculate Conception Emblem of Almonte is brought to the Shrine, at which point the Almontese carry the Virgin of El Rocío out into the village streets.

Men wear a costume called traje corto consisting of striped pants (pantalón a rayas), a short jacket (chaquetilla corta), suspenders (tirantes), leather chaps (zahones), a wide brimmed cordoba hat (sombrero de ala ancha), riding boots (botas de montar).

Women's attire varies more but usually consists of a flowing dress (traje de vuelos) with polka dots and ruffles (volantes), a fringed shawl (mantoncillos de flecos) and bracelets, loop earrings and flowers worn in the hair.

[5] The earliest historical documentation regarding the Rocío is known from the Libro de la Montería, which King Alfonso XI ordered to be written.

At the dawn of the 15th century, a hunter from Villamanrique (which, at the time, was called Mures) named Gregorio Medina was in La Rocina on a hunting trip, and was lucky to find, amongst the howls of the dogs and in the hollow of a thousand-year-old olive tree, the sacred image of the Virgen del Rocío.

The name Virgen del Rocío began to spread, to the detriment of the previous Santa María de las Rocinas.

Subsequently, Rota and El Puerto de Santa María also arose, disappearing soon after the latter aforementioned two during the Napoleonic wars, to be re-founded later.

Between 1880 and 1913, a time of great change in Andalucía, no new brotherhoods emerged; up to 110 sisterhoods developed, that currently remain today.

In the period that began with the Democratic Transition, more than half of the present brotherhoods were founded, notably during time of the developing Andalusian autonomy (1977-1982), which saw fifteen filiales.