The date of
his liturgical feast, which, though not included in the
General Roman Calendar, has been celebrated for centuries in several countries and dioceses, is 15 May. Many towns venerate Saint Isidore and his wife
Blessed María Torribia with processions in which the fields are blessed.
Spain ::see also:
Real Cortijo de San Isidro One of the most celebrated holidays of Madrid is held on 15 May, the liturgical feast of Isidore who is the city's patron saint as well as of farmers. The traditional festival is held in an open-air area known as the
Pradera del Santo. In the afternoon, the images of San Isidro and his wife, Santa María de la Cabeza, are paraded through the streets, from Calle del Sacramento to the Plaza de la Villa, passing through Calle del Cordón. The feast in honor of San Isidro is declared of National Tourist Interest in
Andalusia and is one of the most important celebrations in province of
Málaga. The fiesta is very popular in
Alameda because San Isidro is a co-patron of the town. Celebrations honoring both saints are also held elsewhere in Spain. For years, the Alicantine locality of Castalla has been celebrating the Fair of San Isidro, where numerous companies display their products in a playful and festive atmosphere. A medieval
swap meet and mechanical attractions are especially popular. The Romería festival in Almogia, a
pueblo blanco in the campo halfway between Málaga to the south and Antequera, celebrates San Isidro, its patron saint, on the weekend in the middle of May with a fiesta carnival. Floats from the surrounding farming communities, accompanied by traditionally dressed ladies in
flamenco dresses and caballeros on dancing horses, sing and dance from Almogia to the Romería ground a few kilometres north of the village and the festival includes music, traditional horse races, a bar for horses as well as their riders, and much parading of costume and finery. The best-dressed float is awarded a prize.
Chile 15 May is San Isidro Day in
Cuz-Cuz, about five kilometers from the city of Illapel, Choapa province, in the Coquimbo region of Chile. If the day falls on a Monday, the following Sunday is celebrated. Celebrations begin at noon with a Mass, followed by a procession and Chilean dances.
Nicaragua San Isidro, Matagalpa: The town celebrates it patron saint from 1 to 15 May.
Peru The residents of
San Isidro de Carampá of Ayacucho in the city of Lima celebrate a San Isidro festival. The First Society of San Isidro de Carampá organizes the festival, along with the Butler and the Adornante festivals. In the evening, after the celebration of the Mass, a procession moves to the house of the Adornante. On the next day, Central Day, another Mass is said, this time celebrated by the Butler. Another procession is held, followed by a festival.
Philippines Many festivals are held in honour of Saint Isidore on or around 15 May in the
Philippines, which is mostly agricultural and
predominantly Catholic. • The
Sikoy-Sikoy Festival, The sea festival of
San Fernando, Cebu, It is in honor of St. Isidore the Farmer. The name of the festival is a Cebuano word Sikoy, which is a fishing method using nets done during rough tides. The festival celebrates the rich and bountiful sea life of San Fernando, which are considered blessings of God's love to the town. It is celebrated every Sunday before the Feast day which is on May 15. The festivity comes with thanksgiving rituals and petition prayers for guidance, protection, and abundance in their farm and sea harvest. • The
Apit Festival of
Allacapan, Cagayan, done in praise and thanksgiving for the harvest gathered throughout the year. The Apit Festival is celebrated on 10–15 May. • The
Sabugan ng Biyaya Festival (often shortened to
Sabugan Festival) of
Agdangan, Quezon, is a thanksgiving event for the blessings that the town has received. • The
Agawan Festival is an annual harvest festival held in
Sariaya, Quezon, Philippines, every May 15 in honor of Saint Isidore the Laborer, the patron saint of agriculture and good harvest. This celebration is known as the "happy pandemonium" and is one of the four harvest festivals celebrated in the province of Quezon. The festival features a fiesta procession where people playfully snatch goodies and other produce hanging from houses as the parade passes by. Colorful buntal hats, string beans, and banana leaves are used for decorations. The term "agawan" was coined by the town's former parish priest, Rev. Fr. Raul Enriquez, who was also the former president of Sariaya Tourism Council and the proponent of the town's quadricentennial celebration in 1999. The festival will be celebrating its 25th year in 2024. • The
Pahiyás Festival is held in honour of Saint Isidore and Blessed María in
Lucban, Quezon, in thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest. It is noted as local houses are decorated with produce and other agricultural products, which are given away after. • The
Kangga Festival is held on his feast day in
Mogpog,
Marinduque (the island also known for its
Moriones Festival every
Holy Week). The festivities highlight farming traditions, and give thanks for a good harvest and the town's continuing prosperity. • The
Bariw Festival in
Nabas, Aklan, held every 12–15 May as Saint Isidore is the town's patron. The feast also showcases the town's
bariw products such as hats and mats as well as unique local attractions. • In
Pulilan, Bulacan,
carabaos are often dressed in clothes or painted, and trained to kneel on their forelegs before the Church of San Isidro Labrador during the fiesta. The custom, unique to the town, is performed as an act of veneration to the saint. • Saint Isidore is celebrated in the towns of
San Isidro and
Talavera,
Nueva Ecija. The province is often referred to as the "Rice Granary of the Philippines", as rice is its principal crop aside from maize and onion. Celebrations begin a week before the feast day itself, including daily novenas, Masses, processions, public entertainment and a
funfair (
perya). •
Barangay San Isidro in
Lupao, Nueva Ecija also celebrates Saint Isidore as its patron saint. •
Roxas, Talugtug, Nueva Ecija in
Talugtug, Nueva Ecija also celebrates the feast of Saint Isidore for 15 days until 15 May at the Church of
Iglesia Filipina Independiente • Saint Isidore's feast is also celebrated in
Mandasig, Candaba, Pampanga every 14th–15 May. • Saint Isidore's feast is also celebrated in
Lezo, Aklan every 14–15 May. •
Barangay Teguis in
Poro, Cebu celebrates Saint Isidore's feast on 15 May, as well as the day after. • The towns of Tubigon, San Isidro and Bilar in
Bohol celebrates Saint Isidore's feast day on 15 May. • Sitio Canipa-an in Barangay Banquerohan,
Cadiz, Negros Occidental, also celebrates the feast annually in May. The first time the saint was honoured was in 1918. • In Pampanga, the Feast of San Isidro is celebrated every 15 May in different barangays.
City of San Fernando,
Bacolor,
Macabebe, and other towns have barangays named after the saint. • In
Hinunangan, Southern Leyte, Barangay Calag-itan, which has Saint Isidore the Farmer Chapel, and Barangay Catublian, which hosts the Parish of Saint Isidore the Farmer, as well as Silago also venerate Saint Isidore. These three belong to the
Iglesia Filipina Independiente, a
national church that split from the Catholic Church after the
Philippine Revolution and recognises pre-schism saints. • In Barangay
Salawag,
Dasmariñas, the Feast of San Isidro is celebrated along with the Feast of the Arrival of the Virgin of Salawag. Saint Isidore is the principal patron of the village, and secondary patron of the local parish since 1987. • Saint Isidore is the Patron Saint of Barangay San Roque, and also entitled as the 2nd Patron Saint of the whole municipality of
Naic. On May 15, the Feast day of Saint Isidore, the Parish together with the whole town celebrates the BIHISAKAHAN Festival wherein the native dishes and local products are decorated and served for everyone. • Saint Isidore's feast is also celebrated in some places in Northern Samar particularly in the municipality of Palapag where in mostly of its barangays honored Saint Isidore the farmer as their patron saint. These barangay includes Cabariwan, Nipa, Campedico, Matambag, Natawo, Nagbobtac, Napo, Bangon, Jangtud, Mabaras, Magsaysay, Manajao, and Sangay. • Saint Isidore the Farmer is the Patron Saint of Zamboanguita, Negros Oriental and celebrates its feast day on 15 May. • San Isidro Labrador Parish, Las Pinas City of
Diocese of Parañaque celebrate its feast day every year on 15 May. • San Isidro Labrador is the Second Patron of the Diocesan Shrine of the Five Wounds of Our Lord Jesus Christ, in
Las Pinas City. Under this Parish a chapel of San Isidro Labrador, in Carmencita Admiral, known to be the first chapel of San Isidro in Las Pinas, together they celebrate the saint feast day every 15 May. • In Lumban, Laguna, among its sixteen barangays, San Isidro Labrador is the patron saints of 5 barangay which the parish differs the feast day of those barangays due to lack of priest before if they'll going to celebrate its feast according to feast date. May 15- Brgy. Lewin and Brgy. Wawa, May 20- Brgy. Maytalang 1, May 22- Brgy. Caliraya and 2nd Sunday of May of Brgy. Maytalang 2.
United States In 1947, at the request of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference, he was officially named patron of
farmers. When St Isidore's feast was first inserted into the calendar for the
United States in the year 1947, the feast day of
Saint John Baptist de La Salle was still being celebrated on 15 May, with the result that the celebration of his feast was assigned to 22 March, with a proper Mass and Office. Following the promulgation of the 1960
Code of Rubrics, St. Isidore's feast was transferred to 25 October in the United States. With the
1969 revision of the
General Roman Calendar, the memorial of Saint John Baptist de la Salle was moved to his day of death, 7 April, and Saint Isidore's was restored to the 15 May date and is celebrated as an optional
memorial.
Corrales, New Mexico In
Corrales, New Mexico, the town celebrates the San Ysidro Feast day on 15 May.
Matachines dance through the streets and the fiesta is a big part of the celebrations in the city. ==See also==