This event, which took place last Saturday, marks the official start of the celebrations and represents one of the most anticipated and crowded moments in Cullera's festive calendar. Two women, Gisela Roselló Pérez and Arianna Nazaryan Khachatryan, were the pioneers in being part of this representation, traditionally reserved for men.
The figures known as “les quatre parts del món” are traditional elements that accompany the Mare de Déu del Castell in the solemn processions of the “Baixà”, the “Pujà” and that of Sant Vicent. Their function is ceremonial and to escort the patron saint, being an essential part of Cullera's festive imagery and deeply linked to popular devotion.
The attire of these figures is very characteristic, with a wide blouse, blue leggings, short breeches with lace, a ribbed collar, and cuffs. A hat adorned with fake pearls, flowers, and violets, along with a bundle of silk ribbons of various colors, complete their appearance, adding solemnity to the processional entourage.
This advance adds to that already registered in 2022, when Cullera named for the first time in its history a woman, Ángeles Bou, as macera, thus breaking another of the symbolic barriers within the local festive protocol.
The female presence in “les quatre parts del món” not only implies a change in the composition of the procession but also symbolizes a gesture of great importance. For centuries, many of the figures in religious and protocolary acts have been exclusively male, reflecting a social structure that is now being overcome. With this incorporation, Cullera reinforces a progressive transformation process where equality gains ground in the most traditional areas, enriching the festive identity and projecting it towards the future.
