The Fiesta de Santa Marta de Ribarteme is a slightly odd festival that is held in a small Spanish Town near the Border with Portugal.
The Fiesta de Santa Marta de Ribarteme (Festival of the near death experience) is a celebration for those people who have had a near death experience and lived to tell the tale.
The people who have had a near death experience have to attend the festival in a coffin!
If you speak Spanish the Festival is a wonderful place to hear stories and tales of the different near death experiences and although this is a slightly strange festival a good time can be had.
1000's of people head for this tiny town and by 10am in the morning the narrow streets are full of people. The deal is that relatives are expected to carry the coffins containing the loved ones to the small church where there is a shrine to the Virgin Santa Marta.
The actually church service commences at noon and because of the shear number of people that want to attend each year the Mass is put through loudspeakers that are outside of the church.
At the end of the Mass the procession then winds its way up to the local cemetery
And back to the church again with a large statue of the Virgin Santa Marta overseeing the procession.
The Festival takes place on the 29th July each year and you will find the tiny town of Las Nieves in Galicia, North West Spain.
If you plan on visiting the Festival or the area then it is best to head for Asturias where there is a fairly good International Airport.
