Valencian clothing stores and souvenir shops in València are experiencing intense activity these days due to the festival of the Virgin of the Forsaken. The passion for València's patron saint translates into a wide variety of products featuring her image, gaining more followers each year.
The merchandise offer is increasingly extensive, including dolls, plush toys, fans, bags, toiletry bags, bracelets, and pins. One of the most striking proposals is the family of plush toys inspired by the Virgin, known as Amparín.
“"This is the family of plush toys inspired by the Mare de Déu. We have named it Amparín and it comes in three versions: the comforter for the little ones, which has a bell inside, the medium size, and the large plush toy."
Many families acquire these plush toys for their little ones, so they can accompany them daily or with the symbolic intention that the patron saint protects them from the very beginning. The presence of the Virgin also adorns balconies and traditional accessories, such as banners, stockings, or pins, which become authentic symbols of devotion.
“"It's like an amulet, a display of devotion to the Mare de Déu."
Many who visit the shops these days are looking for a specific item to wear during the procession or the central events of the festival, as a visible way to show their connection to the patron saint. In the souvenir shops of the historic center, religious merchandise also multiplies.
“"We have ribbons of the Mare de Déu, fans, bags, toiletry bags, bracelets..."
Demand grows as the main weekend approaches, and many take the opportunity to buy a souvenir, give a gift, or add a new piece to a collection that, in many cases, passes from generation to generation. For many Valencians, the patron saint's festival is a date marked in red on the calendar, and owning one of these objects is a way to keep alive a devotion that is part of the collective identity.
