Festival of Near Death

Coffins, Gratitude, and the Celebration of Survival in Santa Marta de Ribarteme

2025/07/28

Every July, the small village of Santa Marta de Ribarteme in Galicia, northwestern Spain, hosts the unique “Festival of Near Death” (Fiesta de Santa Marta de Ribarteme). Here, the boundary between life and death blurs, as wooden coffins, clouds of incense, music, and prayers fill the village. If you’re fascinated by fate, miracles, and gratitude, this is a soulful festival where you can truly feel what it means to be alive, engaging all five senses in the heart of rural Spain.

Held annually on July 29th, the festival gathers people who have had a “near-death” experience in the past year, their families, friends, and curious visitors from around the world. It’s a special day, solemn yet warm, where gratitude, faith, and curiosity all come together and anyone can participate.

Main Attractions

The Coffin Procession

The highlight of the festival is undoubtedly the “coffin procession.” Survivors are placed alive in coffins and carried through the village by family and friends. The expressions of those peering out from the coffins are varied—some calm, some emotional. As the scent of incense drifts and hymns echo, the procession makes its way to Santa Marta Church. With the sound of bells, villagers and pilgrims offer prayers of thanks.

Key Events

The day begins with a special mass at the church, where offerings are made to Santa Marta. Afterward, the coffin procession starts, accompanied by bagpipes, fireworks, and songs from the villagers, bringing the festival to its peak. Many families bring wax figures or symbolic offerings, and the village fills with the aromas of incense, bread, and grilled meat. The day ends with a lively fair, where stalls and vendors line the streets.

Costumes and Decorations

Most participants wear everyday clothes, but the coffins are decorated with flowers, ribbons, and religious symbols. The streets are adorned with banners and garlands, while the church is filled with candles, statues of Santa Marta, and wax limbs (ex-votos) symbolizing healing. The contrast between the solemnity of the coffins and the festive decorations creates a unique, mysterious atmosphere.

Cultural and Historical Background

The origins of the “Festival of Near Death” (Fiesta de Santa Marta de Ribarteme) are believed to date back to around the 17th century. At that time in Galicia, people who had survived illness, accidents, or war considered their survival a “miracle” and developed the custom of visiting the church to give thanks to their patron saint, Santa Marta. Santa Marta de Ribarteme has long been a place where Saint Martha is venerated as the “patron of survivors,” and by the 18th century, the current tradition of survivors being carried in coffins and offering prayers of gratitude had become established.

This festival is a fusion of Catholic saint veneration and Galicia’s unique folk beliefs, as well as a deep respect for the boundary between life and death. Survivors and their families, called “ofrecidos,” enter the coffins to show gratitude for their “second life” granted by Santa Marta, making it a day for the entire village to reaffirm the value of life and the bonds of community.

Even today, as the village population declines, this festival remains the core of local identity and a symbol of Galicia’s culture, where “prayer and laughter” coexist. The fleeting nature of life, the strength to overcome any hardship, and the warmth of sharing gratitude with family and neighbors have been passed down through generations.

Participant Voices

I'm not religious, but I was drawn to the symbolism of this ritual. Watching people who had been in coffins later laughing and eating with family and strangers made me appreciate the weight of being alive. The octopus and wine were fantastic!

Fun Facts

This festival is also known as the “Romería de Santa Marta de Ribarteme.”
Santa Marta is revered as the patron saint of survivors.
Participants who enter the coffins are called “ofrecidos”—those who give thanks for their lives.