Queen’s Dress

The Holy Week in Torrent features a figure unique in Spain: the Queen of the Encounter, who presides over the Holy Week events and represents the 16th-century Viceroy of Valencia, Germana de Foix. Legend has it that on one occasion, the Viceroy herself presided over the encounter between the Virgin and Jesus on Easter Sunday, and decreed that a woman from the city sholud represent her in her absence.
On Easter Sunday, the Queen of the Encounter leads the event with her entourage, which includes two ladies-in-waiting and several pages who hold the train of her dress. At the end of the celebration, the ‘carxofa’ is opened, colorful doves are released, and confetti known as ‘Aleluyas’ is thrown from the balconies. These small papers contain short poems that either praise the Queen of the Encounter or humorously comment on local politics and the Holy Week brotherhoods.
Originally, the Queen was chosen from the families of the clacarios (organizers of the festivities), or by the City Council when there were none. The beautiful dresses she wore were usually rented in Valencia. On some occasions, the Queen of the Encounter was accompanied by a retinue of angels. With the rise of the brotherhoods, the selection of the Queen of the Encounter and the Angel of the Resurrection has changed and is now done on a rotating basis.