The brotherhoods of La Aurora, also known as "Campanas de Auroros" because of the bell which they usually use to direct their chants, go back to the 18th century, when the Dominican order spread the Rosary and the worship of the Virgin of la Aurora throughout the region. Meanwhile, some experts date the chants of the Auroros as stemming from the 12th and 13th centuries. If we refer to the "Correlativa", a chant which disappeared with the Bell of Monteagudo and was rediscovered a few years ago, we would have to go back to the 5th and 6th centuries.

Nowadays, the only brotherhoods still found in Murcia under the name of Our Lady of La Aurora are those in Rincón de Seca (del Rosario and del Carmen), Santa Cruz, Javalí Nuevo, Javalí Viejo and El Palmar.

The brotherhoods are characterised by their habit of going out early on Sunday morning throughout the year to do the "awakenings". The brother who wakes people with his bell and lamp leaves earlier to go from house to house calling the singing brothers. He then tells the Senior Brother who decides whether to sing or not, depending on the number of assistants. If there are enough to form two choirs, after the first song (salve) they visit the houses of the brothers of the "tarja", who pay a symbolic annual amount of 3 euros in exchange for the song and the mass which they receive on their death.

Grouped in two choirs and forming a circle, the singers get together, be they children or elderly members; one of the most experienced singers begins the salve and after singing two lines of the first verse, the second choir begins in the same way.

The programme of yearly events of the Auroros is made up of:

-Meeting of Auroros in villages with bells, every Sunday in October.

-Singing of Passion Salves in the Plaza de San Agustin every Maundy Thursday.

- "Gozo y Despierta" Mass the Saturday before Christmas Eve in the parish of San Nicolás.

The bells are present in the lives of Murcians and survive thanks to the efforts of their members, the Auroros, inspired by their love of the Virgins and their wish to continue one of the most important traditions of our land.

www.auroros.com