A bullfighting costume in maroon and gold donated by the Lorca bullfighter Pepín Jiménez, who debuted it in Las Ventas in 1981, will be converted into a mantle for the Patron Saint, the Virgen de las Huertas. The Virgen de las Huertas Brotherhood is already working on the project so that the statue can wear it on the occasion of her feast day, 8 September. The embroiderer Joaquina Alcid will be in charge of making the piece, which will measure 2.10 metres wide by 1.75 metres long. She announced that the mantle will include a medallion with the coat of arms of Lorca.
Isabel Jiménez, the camarera of the Virgen de las Huertas, emphasised that the colour grana is a liturgical colour, symbolising the gift of the Holy Spirit, blood and fire. It is used on Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Pentecost and the feast of All Saints. He thanked the maestro Pepín Jiménez for his continued devotion to the Patron Saint and acknowledged his «fundamental role as a leading figure» in the city and his influence on the new generations of local bullfighters.
The Mayor, Fulgencio Gil, was enthusiastic about the initiative because of his well-known love of the bullfighting world. He pointed out that this is the first time that a mantle for the Virgin has been made with a bullfighter’s costume and assured that this «symbolises the union between the cultural and religious tradition that characterises» the municipality.
He recalled that the bullfighter from Lorca gave the Town Hall another of his bullfighting costumes, in bottle green and gold, which is kept in the protocol room of the Consistory. He said that the piece will be exhibited in the bullfighting museum that will be opened in the bullring of Sutullena when the refurbishment work is completed.