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. Contributing further to the previous two postings on weird and sometimes wonderful Spanish festivals.
Spain is full of
festivals celebrating the ‘reconquest’ of Spain. Celebrating the
return of Christian rule in the country. Which also brought with it
the Spanish inquisition. Spain had undergone a very a long period of
Moorish rule.
Dateline Alcoy:
Among the most
spectacular of these fiestas is the Festival of the Moors and
Christians. Which is held every year in the Alicante town of Alcoy.
The fiesta comes around each year in late April. In this colourful
event the locals, who seem to have more than the usual enjoyment of
the Spanish passion for dressing up. Begin re-enacting the battle of
Alcoy. The battle took place in 1276 which saw the town ‘rescued’
from the Moors. This is similar to the Iraqis we rescued who were
already living in Iraq.
Dateline Sabucedo:
Today's first
remarkable fiesta is called 'The Shearing of the Beasts' which takes
place in Sabucedo (Galicia) every July. Not so much the Barber of
Seville, this fiesta is a bit more Sweeny Todd. The fiesta is reputed
to be more than 400 years old. The festival sees hundreds of wild
horses rounded up and driven down from the local mountains. The
animals are then herded into a small arena. Where the people of
Sabucedo seem to lose the plot and what has been described as bedlam
ensues. For not only are the horses wrestled into a position where
they get a short back and sides applied to their manes. In something
of a throwback to the wild west. The horses also get 'hot' branded
rather than the more humane 'freeze branding' technique.
Dateline Las Nieves:
As usual, I have saved
the best until last. If you are into Goth or Alice Cooper you will
feel very much at home at the Festival of Saint Marta de Ribarteme.
(patron saint of the resurrection ) This fiesta held each year in
July, has something of the morbid about it. Anyone who has
experienced an out of body or near death experience can take part.
First you will however, need to bring your own coffin with you. You
then get to enjoy being carried around the town of Las Nieves. While
this is happening, the population consume lots of red wine and set
off fire crackers.
Caveat: Due to language difficulties and the unavailability of translation services. There may be one or two small inaccuracies in the news provided.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please put your name to your comment. Comments without a name may automatically be treated as spam and might not be included.
If you do not wish your comment to be published say so in your comment. If you have a tip or sensitive information you’d prefer to share anonymously, you may do so. I will delete the comment after reading.