CERERÍA SANTA CRUZ

SINCE 1895

Ex-votos, church offerings and decorative candles

As traditional suppliers of candles and votive candles, wax chandler’s shops tended to be located near churches. Cerería Santa Cruz is no exception, and can be found opposite Santa Cruz Church on Calle Atocha. Although there is evidence that at least one wax chandler operated on the street in the 16^th century, this establishment was first registered in 1895. It was located at number 7 on Calle Atocha, before moving to number 5 several years later. The City Archive lists an application to open the business from July 1900 and the owner, Justo del Río, received authorisation in August that same year. The shop was run by the Iturrieta family from the 1900s to the 1950s, when it was purchased by the Vega family. According to its current owner, Encarnita, production at Cerería Santa Cruz now revolves around ex-votos, decorative wax figurines and church offerings (candles and lanterns), although a considerable proportion of the products made at the shop are decorative candles for homes in different colours and sizes. The ex-votos sold at the shop come in the form of men’s, women’s and children’s hearts, heads, feet and arms, Saint Lucy’s eyes, Saint Blaise’s throats, etc. Unlike industrial candles made using paraffin wax, the votive candles on offer at the shop contain more than 50% natural wax.