The parade drew thousands of joyous marchers and watchers Saturday to celebrate the return of El Santo Niño de Atocha, the tiny wood-and-plaster doll carried on a bed of flowers and dressed in Renaissance clothing as the procession made its way from Harding Park to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

El Santo Niño de Atocha: Arrival of icon
in Santa Paula a joyous occasion

June 03, 2015
Santa Paula News

The parade drew thousands of joyous marchers and watchers Saturday to celebrate the return of El Santo Niño de Atocha, the tiny wood-and-plaster doll carried on a bed of flowers and dressed in Renaissance clothing as the procession made its way from Harding Park to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.

The procession drew cheers and prayer along the way for the cherished religious icon again taking up residence at the church until June 7th when the Farewell Mass at Las Piedras Park will welcome Bishop Alexander Salazar. The procession from the church to the North 13th Street park will be at 3 p.m. and the mass at 4 p.m.

In between there will be daily masses at the historic church located on North Oak Street.

The doll of The Holy Child of Atocha, nicknamed El Niño Azul because its usual clothing is blue, depicts the Christ Child and is the Catholic Church’s third-most cherished religious icon in Mexico

This is the ninth year that El Santo Niño has been on loan from its shrine in Plateros, Mexico. The sacred doll is enshrined in Santa Paula to allow visits by pilgrims who cannot travel to Plateros to visit the original.

Cathy and Tim Hicks brought along chairs to relax in from their viewing spot at the intersection of 12th and East Santa Barbara streets.

“We belong to Our Lady of Guadalupe Church,” said Cathy and the couple have witnessed the procession each time the Holy Child has visited Santa Paula.

“We like to watch the parade, enjoy the horses, enjoy the dancers,” from the comfort of lawn chairs said Tim.

“…it’s a long walk down from Harding Park,” noted Cathy, and, interjected Tim, “It’s uphill!”

The procession took about a half-hour from Harding Park to reach the intersection with scores of participants that danced, played instruments, rode horses, cheered and waved to the crowd that flowed up the street alongside. Spectators were thickest around El Niño Azul who was carried above the crowd resting on a bed of flowers. 

Father Charles Lueras of Our Lady of Guadalupe was delighted to greet the spectators and even take some photos of the crowd with his smart phone. 

Bands heavy with brass instruments played joyous tunes as the crowd cheered the return of El Santo Niño de Atocha to Santa Paula, The Holy Child distinctly characterized by a basket he carries, along with a staff, drinking gourd, and a cape with the shell symbol of a pilgrimage to Saint James.

The long procession included colorfully costumed Aztec and other dance troupes including a group of very young folkloric dancers who had mastered how to use their skirts as props. The headdresses on the Danza Azteca dancers bobbed along with their movement, the bird feathers providing a mesmerizing plumage effect to the movements of their feet.

A favorite of the crowd was the traditional Chinelos dancers, wearing elaborate disguises including masks imitating the fair skin and beards of the Spanish along with elaborate dress and gloves, a way in the 1800s to make fun of the invading elite before Mexicans reclaimed their country.

Performers came from throughout Southern California, Las Vegas and beyond, followed by equestrian groups featuring traditionally garbed vaqueros astride gorgeous horses, the dancing Aztecas and Friesians reflecting the joy of the crowd. 

Several in the welcoming crowd held elaborate dresses for The Holy Child that they will be bring to the church daily for the doll to be changed into. 

Visitors from throughout the nation are expected to come to Santa Paula to see The Holy Child — and there was at least one family from Europe.

“My husband’s family heard about it and wanted to come,” said Elena Salinas-Murphy of Northridge who was looking in the crowd for her in-laws.

“They’re supposed to catch their flight back to Ireland tomorrow!” she said with a laugh.

Santa Paula Police Sgt. Jimmy Fogata was impressed at the size of the crowd noting, “There’s probably at least 2,500, 3,000 here…but that’s not counting those in the procession!”

The church will be visited all week long by those praying and hoping for the miracles that the El Santo Niño de Atocha is famed for. 

The shrine in Plateros is the third most visited in Mexico; number one is Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, and number two is the shrine of Our Lady of San Juan in San Juan de Los Lagos.

There are two El Santo Niño de Atocha statues; one stays in Mexico while the other travels to the United States. 

The history of the icon dates back to the 13th Century when the now lost town of Atocha, Spain, was conquered by invading forces.

The story goes that many Christians were taken prisoner and often denied food by their captors but the children of those jailed that were under 12 were allowed to bring meals. The women of the village prayed before the statue of Our Lady of Atocha at a nearby parish — a title under the Blessed Virgin Mary — to ask her son Jesus Christ for help.

Soon it was reported that an unknown boy dressed in pilgrim’s clothing had begun to bring food to childless prisoners.

When the women heard of the child, they returned to the church to thank the Virgin for her efforts, and noticed that the shoes worn by the Infant Jesus statue held by Our Lady of Atocha were tattered and dusty. No matter how often they were changed the shoes continued to show signs of wear and the people of Atocha interpreted this as a sign that the infant Jesus went out every night to help those in need, which later developed into a devotional Roman Catholic practice.

In Mexico, The Holy Child was credited with helping to save those trapped in a silver mine explosion, the statue’s dirty and tattered clothing and shoes used as proof that the El Santo de Nino was the one who first offered water and then led the men to safety.

Thereafter, The Holy Child was declared the protector of miners and placed in a special glass box for all to see and celebrate.





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