SHEPHERD OF VILLAFÁFILA

VILLARIGO

We know of the existence of this village, originally cited as a payment for the location of a “pausata” , since 1155:

“...in Lampreane territory in uilla que uocitant Uillafafila...four paused one in Vilarigo ...” [1] from which its proximity to the Salinas is deduced.

In 1310 its church is mentioned "...e de la Eglesia de Villarigo ..." [2] belonging to the Villafáfila cellar, dedicated to Our Lady of Villarígo.

The terms of Villarigo continued to be a point of reference in the surveying of land or salt flats during the 16th century.

It is located a little more than a kilometer to the east of Villafáfila near the bridge, on the path from the Vereda de Benavente to Toro, and remains of stones, slabs and pottery made with a lathe with incised grid decoration of medieval chronology are still found today. .

In addition to the municipal devotion, with that invocation there existed before 1647 a brotherhood of farmers based in the church of Santa María, a parish to which the hermitage belonged. A book of the same from 1679-1733 is preserved.

The rule is from 1682, it is said that the farmers had transferred it to the shepherds, who had been asking for it for a long time because the farmers did not fulfill their obligations, so we suppose that the majority of the brothers would belong to that guild, must be residents of Villafáfila [3] .

The church remained standing until 1811 as a hermitage and brotherhood of Villarigo where the image of the patron saint of Villafáfila was venerated, and where the residents of Villafáfila, Revellinos and Otero went on a pilgrimage, perhaps as a reminder of the origin of some of their ancestors who in the Late Middle Ages emigrated to these towns.

The theatrical representation of “La Pastorada” in the church of Santa María surely comes from this brotherhood of shepherds.

Performed for the last time in 1947 and was preserved only in the oral tradition of the oldest in Villafáfila.

In 2011 a compilation of it was made through the handle of the "El Palomar" Park, a representation was made.

(Opening of the Church)

village bells,

that you have a thin voice,

gather all the people

to hear the pastorate.

This is the blessed temple,

This is the holy church

where the faithful christians

They are baptized and confess.

Your faults humble shepherds

with this beautiful lamb

we come to offer

to Mary, our mother.

Receive her our mother,

Receive it very simple,

they come to offer you

the village shepherds.

(entering the church)

We will enter companions

In this holy church

then the minister of God

He has given us a license.

(On knees)

On our knees we adore him

with deep reverence

To Jesus in the sacrament

Forever praised be.

we have holy water

so that our conscience

everything is washed

with such good medicine.

Clean from all sin

to Mary, our mother,

we will visit

and congratulations.

Foreman:

Move over ladies

The ones in the way

what are we going to adore

to the newborn child.

All:

going with the thought

to the land of Judea

and city of Nazareth,

Where is the blessed queen?

Dwells with Saint Joseph,

full of virtues,

for being the purest woman

that has been raised on earth.

These blessed husbands

by order of Augustus Caesar,

They try to go on a journey

journey of many leagues.

traversing mountains

roads, valleys and mountains

until we reach Bethlehem

full of pain and sorrow.

in a cold season

When frost and when new.

In such a strange country

people with bad ideas

It took about six days

and finally to Bethlehem they arrive,

when the sun was already setting

and when the night comes

They try to find lodging

It's the first thing they try.

In many houses they called

but they all deny them.

These blessed husbands

sad in the street they remain,

without knowing where to go

on that Christmas Eve.

looking so distressed

walls come out,

of the city of David,

where a little postcard they find.

pretty run down

And room of the beasts,

that many were collected

on nights when it rains or snows.

There the Virgin Mary,

that, in its pure belly, carries

to the promised Messiah,

that the mansions await.

With Joseph, her chaste husband,

they enter that stable.

After their poor viands

in peace and quiet they dine.

Giving a thousand thanks to God,

Saint Joseph full of sorrow,

to one side has withdrawn,

and immediately falls asleep.

To the sweet Virgin

the time of childbirth arrives,

and the baby Jesus was born,

King of the heavens and earths.

Pure and clear as the sun,

Like the moon and stars.

shining star

and beautiful par excellence.

the heavenly music

come down from heaven to earth

and the angels sang

and they congratulated.

To Mary, Virgin Mother,

that was full of grace,

giving her breast to the child

they worship with reverence.

They sing joyful of glory

and then José wakes up,

and seeing the divine infant

full of joy remains.

They worship him as their God

with humble reverence,

leaving the little shepherds

of the poor sheep.

that moan and sigh

bound with chains,

four thousand years ago

until this day comes.

In which the lamb of God

opened the gates of heaven

and set us free

forever be praised.

The shepherds who knew

that happy news

they ran to the portal

leaving their sheep.

Full of happiness and joy,

rattles and tambourines,

harps and other instruments

played and castanets.

They adore the divine child

with deep reverence.

They greet the Virgin

and they console Saint Joseph.

To their cattle they turn,

Before, the child fills them

of virtues and grace,

also of eternal glory.

let us adore him

this time we have left

for Jesus to take us

to enjoy your presence.

(The shepherds lie down and sing to the Angel).

Angel:

Shepherds and lads listen to my words.

From God I come from the heavenly homeland;

to bring you a new, particular news,

that the Messiah was born in Bethlehem, in a portal.

Foreman:

God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob! What wonder is this? What a divine portent and what a great prodigy, kind companions! Have you not heard the most sweet words of an angel of the Lord? Have you not seen that divine spirit as beautiful and as pure as the midday sun? Have you not heard that mysterious voice that announced the coming of the promised Messiah? Without a doubt, the divine prophecies of Micah have been fulfilled on this blessed night. Without a doubt the lamb of God has come to erase the sins of the world. Yes my friends. If even our little lambs, ewes and rams of joy frolic while you are in that deep sleep.

But, God of hosts! Will I be dreaming? Will I be asleep or will I be awake? I don't know because all my powers and senses have been set in motion upon seeing that divine ambassador, so pure and resplendent. That mysterious voice has surprised me with his divine and beautiful words, announcing to the shepherds the glorious birth of the son of God in Bethlehem. But my companions have heard nothing, they know nothing of this glorious mystery. What will I do in this case? Will I call them, or will I let them sleep? The Angel of the Lord seems to have disappeared. Anyway, I'll lie down again, I'll pretend to sleep and not sleep and, if it repeats again, I'll call my companions.

Angel:

Go, go little shepherds!

Worship the child God,

that will fill you with grace

for an eternity.

Foreman:

God of Israel! The divine ambassador repeats. His voice echoes over our cabins again. The divine radiance shines again like the moon and stars. Our cattle scamper up the mountain. How happy they are to hear words so full of mysteries! But my companions, sleeping soundly, will not have heard the sweet and deep voice of such a beautiful paraninfo. It seems to me a peculiar thing that they become deaf to such a divine call. I'm going to call you so you can hear and see what happens tonight. Comrades, up! that the morning star has already risen and in heavenly canary he has sung twice, with so much melody, that it seems like the little birds of the earthly paradise. Up comrades, up without detention! You will see how an angel sings with such grace and beauty.

Swain:

Brute of mayoral! What do you have, are you crazy or do you want to wear? Such nonsense nobody says. No, being a jerk like you. You're making my blood redder than the crest of a black hen and I think I'm going to shake the dust off you with this staff. Go the kid this, he wants to have fun with the angels. For an hour and a half he has been battling with the divine auditorium and thinking about the glorious birth of the promised Messiah. I wish what you say was true! But it will be a hoax or a fable of Escopo. If you don't go to bed within two minutes I'll break your persinadero. I have a rage with you that like a dog I'm going to bite you for insulting shepherds. See if you get out of my sight, I'll herd you with the rascally chacha. If you had made some miguelas... it wouldn't be better than not making calendars for next year. Where is the angel you saw? Where the morning star that shone so brightly? I think you dreamed as Pharaoh, king of Egypt, of the fat cows and the skinny ones. But don't laugh at me... he drinks and drinks, one after another hit and goes to sleep! I'm going to prepare some migas in the calderillo like the shepherds do, well composed with mutton tallow. What do you think companions, I will or I will not?

Shepherd 1:

You speak like a Sagallino angel. The night is cold. Filling the vest is the best.

Swain.

Well you say. Let's do it.

Shepherd 2:

Take the zagal cauldron and fill it well with crumbs, because the night is cold and we will fill the belly. I think, the one that more and the one that less, will want to have lunch and filling the belly well we will lie down again.

Shepherd 3:

Man, isn't that cool? Haven't you heard that this is Christmas Eve and not a night to sleep? We will make the migüelas, that is very good, but our foreman has said that we should not eat them.

Shepherd 4:

Man, that is something else, that after the crumbs have been made we are not going to fill the bellies of the shepherds! Stop fooling around. To which we have how much to do the migüelas soon before the day comes.

Shepherd 5:

I think it's past twelve. According to the foreman and after they are done, nobody will eat them.

Angel:

Go, go little shepherds!

Worship the child God,

that will fill you with grace

for an eternity.

Swain:

What's new is this guys? What mysterious voice is that that resounds in that mountain? What divine light is that which shines like the January moon? What a divine paraninfo so cute, so beautiful and so beautiful. Listen to those sweet words that come out of a very pure mouth, without a doubt it will be the angel Saint Gabriel, the ambassador of the Most High, the same one who announced to Joaquin's daughter the incarnation of the word, without a doubt the angel of the Lord, who announces to us shepherds the coming of the promised Messiah. My poor mayoral lamented with much reason. I used to make him crazy and foolish, but that's not the case and now I believe; like the one that tonight is full of mysteries. Right, right was the foreman! Make the migüelas that no one will eat them! I don't want them anymore, for me, there are plenty of them. Kind colleagues, what do you think? Have you ever seen a night so full of wonders, miracles and prodigies? Surely not you, nor I, none born of the universe. Who eats the crumbs, who sleeps or rests? Comrades! What do you all tell me?

Swain:

I will also accompany you and we will all obey the orders of our beloved mayoral.

Foreman:

Yes, kind little boy. Since I see you repentant like the prophet David, I will willingly accompany you as Moses did with the Israelites when they went to the land of promise. Let's go to Bethlehem! Follow the words of the angel! The baby Jesus was born in the little gate. Do you all willingly go to see and adore him?

(altar path)

carol 1

village shepherds

come come with me

we will see wonders,

miracles and wonders.

Let's go to Bethlehem

singing praises

to the sweet child

who has come to save us.

We will see the Virgin,

kind little shepherds,

to glorious Saint Joseph

to the divine lamb.

that erases the sins

that we have committed

and just to save us

to this world he has come.

Glory, glory let us sing,

glory pal zagalillo.

Jesus with his coming

the devil has vanquished.

the gates of heaven

opened the beautiful boy

and wants us to enter

all clean guilt.

We will worship Jesus

happy and contrite,

to his mother Mary

and Saint Joseph Blessed.

will fill us with grace

for infinite centuries

is what we want

all two of Adam son.

Carol

In the portal of Bethlehem

the shepherds light

to warm the child

who was born among flowers

let rattles sound,

tambourines and cymbals.

thank heavens

that the child was born.

The shepherds in Bethlehem

All together they go for firewood

to warm the child

who was born on good night.

let rattles sound,

tambourines and cymbals.

thank heavens

that the child was born.

In the portal of Bethlehem

there is a carpentry

and under the benches

there are more angels than splinters.

let rattles sound,

tambourines and cymbals.

thank heavens

that the child was born.

In the portal of Bethlehem

there is a fountain that flows,

where the Virgin washed

diapers in laundry.

let rattles sound,

tambourines and cymbals.

thank heavens

that the child was born.

The virgin washes diapers

and tends them in the rosemary

and the angels sang

glory "in excelsis deo"

let rattles sound,

tambourines and cymbals.

thank heavens

that the child was born.

The Virgin was sad,

Saint Joseph consoled her,

and to make the child happy

the little shepherds sang.

let rattles sound,

tambourines and cymbals.

thank heavens

that the child was born.

what little they had

they offer it with love

beautiful wool and fur

to keep the child warm

let rattles sound,

tambourines and cymbals.

thank heavens

that the child was born.

Angel:

You see him, little shepherds.

You see him, you see him

to the newborn child,

to Mary and Joseph.

what a blessed family

how pure and chaste it is,

like the shining sun

in the portal of Bethlehem.

They are full of virtues

very funny too

to give us

because we are going to see it.

Glory, glory beautiful child,

Glory to Mary and Joseph,

glory, glory to all,

glory we want to have.

the soul and the heart,

little shepherds offer,

and the handsome little boy

with many gifts too.

offers

(Recited)

Swain:

Holy Virgin Mary

mother of the incarnate word,

that on this very night

You have given birth to the world.

Well it's that beautiful boy

what you have in your arms

the promised messiah

and everyone wanted.

who has deigned to be born

So poor and so humiliated,

In the portal of Bethlehem

Retired in a stable.

For a bed he has a manger,

Good heavens for me!

The king of heaven and earth,

What humility has taught us.

Well, seeing us so poor,

the shepherds who are here,

we came to offer you this white lamb

that I bring between my silence.

And of the wool that of

they take out some farrapo,

A vest, a jacket,

Pants and jacket.

And also a montera,

some socks and shoes.

To serve as a shelter

to that sovereign child.

The sacristan gets up

and come catch the lamb

and give it to a shepherd

really take care of her.

Don't give it to the wolf

nor that the dogs bite her,

to teach her to go to the wheat,

to the vineyards and the threshing floors.

And also from the backpack

a little bread to give him

and that's how it will be done

a good farmer

(Sung)

Foreman:

Here I offer you my Jesus

readily

so that you have fluffy

this sheepskin

Zagalas:

At midnight

In a sad portal

the divine child was born

that crying is

(reciting)

Oh, what a child!

Oh how beautiful!

What a pretty boy he is!

Shepherd, do you see him?

Shepherd 1:

Here I offer you child

this little log,

to make your bed

gentle lamb.

Shepherd 2:

Here I offer you child

my backpack,

for you to put in it

whatever they bring you.

Shepherd 3:

spring carnation

lily incarnate

because it's Christmas Eve

nuts I bring you.

Shepherd 4:

spring carnation

of the month of May

receive these chestnuts

that I bring you

Shepherd 5:

divine lamb,

you who are my brother,

for how much I love you

Nougat I bring you.

Shepherd 6:

King of Kings,

divine shepherd,

I really offer you

this bunch.

(Everyone sings)

born of mary

loving Jesus,

How white is the boy!

How cute and beautiful!

to the baby Jesus

let's adore,

so beautiful and beautiful

which is in the portal.

It is Virgin Mary,

purer and more beautiful,

most beautiful woman,

that has been on earth.

Blessed Saint Joseph,

of Maria husband,

so humble and chaste

and so loving.

They went to Bethlehem

such beautiful husbands,

inn they did not find

with being so beautiful.

in a doorway

the two stayed

where the child was born

Who came to save us.

we all adore him

with great devotion,

will give us the glory

the son of God.

We send the blessing

We don't ask you anymore

what a good blessing

for an eternity

on my knees on the floor

we await your blessing

and after this life

see you in glory

(all recite)

Beautiful child, as we say goodbye to you

we have to beg you,

give us the blessing

to the priest in general.

To his worthy coadjutors

and to all authority,

to my poor companions,

me and the general public.

Goodbye tender infant,

Happy New Year!

Let's all see each other together

in the kingdom of heaven.

To the pastor of this church

Happy Easter we wish you.

have them very happy

With all you like.

And to Lady Justice,

that young people, children and old people,

Have them very happy,

With parents children and brothers.

gentlemen you forgive

the faults they have found,

that on our part already,

all are forgiven.

Author:

Jose Luis Dominguez Martinez.

Biography-Text:

House of the Park of the Lagoons of Villafáfila "El Palomar".

Elias Rodriguez Rodriguez:

History of salt mines in the Villafáfila lagoons. page 51.

Zamora: Institute of Zamoran Studies "Florián de Ocampo", 2000.  ISBN  84-86873-87-8.

Elias Rodriguez Rodriguez:

historiadevillafafila.blogspot.com

https://historiasdevillafafila.blogspot.com/2014/09/cofradia-de-nuestra-senora-de-villarigo.html

Photography:

Elijah Rodriguez Rodriguez.

Jose Luis Dominguez Martinez.

Transcription and montage:

Jose Luis Dominguez Martinez.

All text, photographs, transcription and montage, the rights belong to their authors, any type of use is prohibited without authorization.