For the first time, after more than two decades, Xàbia has heard the General Volteo again. The four bells together have given the solemn voice. La Bertomeua has done it after 20 years.
The turning has been presided over and heard by dozens of neighbors and tourists who have come to the Plaza de la Iglesia to relive this sound. And listening to Bertomeua, Sebastiana, Victoria and Perpetuo Socorro will only be during special celebrations of the year such as Christmas, Easter Sunday or Corpus Christi.
On this occasion, and as a special event, marked at 12 noon, after the burial of the time capsule in the bell tower, the General Overturning began with the Victoria bell, joining the rest of the bronzes from smallest to largest and the overturning ends with the stop of the ringing from largest to smallest. In this way, the one who has been turning the longest has been little Victoria. As indicated by the Parish, there will only be two exceptions to this rule: the processions of the descent and ascent of Jesús Nazareno. On this occasion, the General Reversal will begin and end when the Nazarene enters and leaves the church. The general reversal will begin and end with the Bertomeua, this being the one that remains ringing the longest in his honor.
Likewise, on March 19, on the occasion of Saint Joseph's Day, the first 'Vol Menor' (turning of two bells, the Victoria and the Sebastiana) was held. The Parish of San Bartolomé works to recover lost sounds.
Depending on the liturgical festival, the touches and flips and therefore, their sounds are different. In this way, according to a study of the 'Consueta' of bell ringing described in the Sacristan's book of 1769, the 'Vol Menor' is reserved for Minor Festivals and Solemnities such as: the Epiphany, Saint Joseph, the Holy Trinity, Saint Jaime, Santa Lucía, Christ the King, First Communions, beginning of minor processions, among other minor celebrations.
The sound of the Rattle returns
Xàbia also recovers, in these days of Holy Week, a sound from the 15th century to the beginning of the 20th century. It will be the sound of 'Les Batzoles' or 'Matraca'. This wooden instrument, located in the bell tower of the Church of St. Bartholomew, as it seems to have existed in ancient times, will ring from the Gloria of the Holy Thursday Mass to the Gloria of the Easter Vigil, replacing the silence of the bells as a sign of mourning for the Passion and death of Jesus Christ.
