During our first six months in Sevilla (2011), San Geraldo decided it was all too much for him — having to try and communicate in Spanish, to find his way around town, to survive the Sevillano summer heat.We had noticed that there was always some kind of procession on the streets of Sevilla. A saint (a statue, a relic, or actual remains) was paraded through the streets with great pomp. He considered locking himself in the house never to emerge, but he thought that would be a bit extreme.
So, being the 22-greats grandson of King Ferdinand III, San Geraldo commanded that he should only have to be paraded on his one special day — just like all the other saints of Spain. He then took it one step further and decided His day should be observed February 29. In that way, he would only have to go out in public once every four years.
Well, here we are again.
On San Geraldo's first Quadrennial, I clothed him (using Photoshop) in the robes of a very holy statue. (Click here for the original post or see the photo below.) He thought I had been disrespectful.
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| SAN GERALDO, SEVILLA, 2012. |
So this year, I give you San Geraldo in the original 800-year-old ermine-topped cape of his multi-greats grandfather, San Fernando Rey. San Fernando died in 1252, but was canonized in 1671. I even let San Geraldo wear Grandpa's crown, leaving San Geraldo's own crown (at top of post) in the Tower of Los Boliches (our apartment building) with the rest of the Crown Jewels. So, until Leap Year 2020, it's back in mothballs for the ermine cape — and San Geraldo.
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| SECOND QUADRENNIAL DÍA DE SAN GERALDO, 2016. |
Your Eminence, it is my honour to wish you all the best on this Second Quadrennial Dia de San Geraldo.
ReplyDeleteGreat photoshopping, Mitchell.
Jim:
DeleteHe and I thank you.
Haha! I am so in love with this! Happy Second Quadrennial Día de San Geraldo!
ReplyDeleteBrittany:
DeleteSo, no need to see San Fernando processed this year. You have now seen them both.
And I am sure the populace was awed and delighted! May the royal holy one be paraded through the calles for many quadrennia to come!
ReplyDeleteMichael:
DeleteNext time I really do have to hire a bunch of burly guys to carry the Saint around town.
Have any miracles been thus far attributed to the good Saint?
ReplyDeleteWillym:
DeleteHell (oops), I've lived with him for 34 years. That's got to count as a miracle.
Now I know where I'll be next February 29th... how's that for planning ahead?
ReplyDeleteCranky:
DeleteIf that's the case, I really WILL have to hire a bunch of hunks to carry him through the streets.
What an attractive statue he makes let alone saint.
ReplyDeleteAnna:
DeleteI know. It's not easy to live with.
Your friends must be very afraid of your photoshop capabilities :) Regal, isn't he?
ReplyDeleteCheapchick:
DeleteThey should be afraid. I've had a very good time at the expense of others. These San Geraldo works are little nothings. Yes, he's very regal.
Fantastico!
ReplyDeleteWilma:
DeleteAnd majestuoso!
San geraldo looks rather stately up there. Great job of photoshopping.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteHe does, doesn't he. And thanks. This was a very minor photoshop project. I can really have a good time ... and get very carried away. Beware.
definitely great king
ReplyDeleteGosia:
DeleteThe most generous in Spain's history.
Cool
ReplyDeleteFrank:
DeleteAnd kind of appropriate I think that Greats-grandpa is carrying his bowling ball through all eternity (OK, his orb, but still). San Geraldo's mother was inducted into the South Dakota Women Bowlers Hall of Fame in the '90s.
ahhhh haaaa haaaaa haaaaa :)
ReplyDeleteJudy:
DeleteYes, it was a very happy day.
oh but you did him good!
ReplyDelete