Spanish News for the English (3)

The 'Spanish News for the English' 2016 is a tongue in cheek service, in support of European Multiculturalism for English Pensionistas (pensioners) Pensionistas who are considering a different type of winter break. This time as an alternative to the more usual break of an ankle, leg or arm due to the inclement UK weather.

Following on from the posting on weird and sometimes wonderful Spanish festivals.

Dateline El Colacho: 

Following on from the bull fighter, who caries his daughter with him into the ring. El Colacho has it very own quaint baby jumping festival. (The festival is said to date to 1620 and is practised as part of the Corpus Christi celebrations) This is not as you might think, babies in medieval 'baby bouncers' jumping about. In this festival the babies are all lined up in groups on the floor. Men from the village of Castrillo de Murcia then dress up as the devil. Then taking a running jump they leap over new born babies. It is seen by the populace as a way of cleansing the babies from original sin. Makes me wonder what the babies get up to if they need to be cleansed of sin at such a young age.

Dateline Lekeito: 

 

In a change from hurling live goats from the church roof. The next crazy festival takes place in the Basque fishing town of Lekeito. The festival is known as Antzar Eguna (Geese Day). While there is not believed to be a religious context to this festival. Competing participants try to pull off the head of a goose. The goose, thankfully already dead is suspended on a rope over the town harbour. The men of the village, then get into small fishing boats. Taking it in turns to grab hold of the goose's head. However, the bird has already been greased up with a liberal coating of grease. (Goose grease?) However, if they manage to keep a hold of the goose head, the participants then find themselves suspended mid-air. The spectators by shaking the rope try to shake the contestants loose. 

Dateline El Puig: 

Do you remember as a kid, those sugar mouse for sale in the sweet shop? They even came complete with a piece of string for a tail. The last of today's weird festival offerings has rodents at it core. Despite being banned. The locals in the Valencian village of El Puig enter into the Spanish equivalent of that old favourite of the British 'Welly Chucking'. However, the Spanish to their eternal credit have introduced a new slant. This time the competition is based upon chucking dead rats at each other. The rather unique fiesta kicks off with parcel's, some filled with a selection of candy, others with a selection of frozen rodents. This is part of the El Puig Sant Pere celebrations. Sugar mouse anyone?

Caveat: Due to language difficulties and the unavailability of translation services. There may be one or two small inaccuracies in the news provided.