Why drop the goat from the bell tower?
For a moment it seemed to me that I started. Hallucinations. And how otherwise you can respond to the appearance in a modern town? Or nasty "slave market", where it is completely serious for me for a similar price tried to do. slave.
No one warned me that in the town of Alburkerka in the province of Badajoz in the south-west of Spain, which I drove, thundered a traditional holiday. Middle Ages. So the ladies and Caballero, priests and soldiers, with an important type of deployed in the clothes of the XIV century, were not at all navation, but quite real characters of theatrical action, which with passion, like me, looked at the local man. However, they could choose in ancient toilets if desired, going from among the audience in the category of acting persons. Although, as I understood, feel the charm of this extraordinary holiday could be in any capacity. Especially if you look into the tavern or Meson – Kharchevnya, decorated and treating "Under the days of Don Quixote".
— Unfortunately, we are too frivolous:. So lightly that many do not know what even a hundred years ago. To some extent, our holiday, which, by the way, we spend every year – an attempt to restore this gap in memory, "explained to me later the idea of the whole of Alcald Alburkeque – and we our head of the local administration – Juan Torres.
Spain loves holidays. They are carried out in large cities and tiny villages, dedicated to the Universal Saints and Heavenly patrons of small villages, famous compatriots, known to the whole world, and "Stars" local scale, time of year, sporting achievements, music, poems – in a word, there is always a reason. If you go through Spain by car, you can smoothly flow from one holiday in another. And this is not allepending the carnavals, which the country is not only famous for the whole world, but in the number of which occupies almost a leading place in it. Their colorfulness and originality, fiction and generous fun attract tens of thousands of guests from all over the world – many come here from different countries especially in order to feel the atmosphere of the holiday, and if desired and take part in it. I note to the word, it was the tourism to some extent revived many customs.
However, no offense of the Spaniards and no matter how much when they would like to say that some of these spectacles cause immigration to foreigners, which, however, does not interfere with guests to watch them. First of all, this refers to rituals associated with the participation of animals and birds, which are often sacrificed in front of the funny public.
In Mangarasa, de la Polvoryos, in the province of a marsor, 250 kilometers north of the Spanish capital, I had the witness to witness the festival in honor of St. Vicente, the patron saint of this small village. It ends with a strange action. Under the approving exclamations of the gathered: "Throw! Throw!" and singing couples starting words "Goat, goat. ", A group of guys climbed into a church bell tower drops from a 20-meter height of a goat. Frightened animal by making flight, "landing" on tightly stretched at the bottom of the tarpaulin.
This one, I would say, a dyed custom exists only in Manganiza De La Polvoryos, where about a thousand people live. Despite all attempts, I never managed to find out the origins of its origin. But I can witness that the holiday is popular with the locals and they are preparing to him with all thoroughness and seriousness. The guys who should produce in advance "Execution" Over poor animals. Future sacrifice specifically buy for this purpose. Her paint and even give a name – as a rule, one of the famous personalities in the country. Night before the sacrificial show ending holiday festives, horned "star" Conducts, truth, alone with a goat, also purchased specifically.
This share constantly causes protests from public organizations who defend animals. In 1992, under their pressure, the governor of the province of Samora banned the ceremony. But in a year he was restored. As the local authorities explained – under the influence of traditions and at the insistence of citizens. The fines that were imposed on the participants of the show were not helped: they expound paid them, but stood on their. The only thing that was able to achieve social studies is "Security measures", Savings of the life of a goat. Earlier "flight" From the bell tower often completed death.
However, the main reason for such an enviable perseverance was by no means in humane considerations. "Jump jump", What is the name of the action, attracts a lot of lobbyps, and above all foreign tourists. January 23, 2001, for example, several thousand guests grew up in Manganness. After their visit, the village, and the deposits of local shops, hotels and bars.
The protests of animal defenders causes another ritual – charming Borov, who is publicly happening in the village of Burgo de OSMO in the province of Soria, in the north of Spain. Immediately make a reservation: the spectacle is not pleasant and for strong nerves. But, as it turned out, lovers of sharp sensations of this kind in the world abound.
It all starts beautiful. On the street, Major to the local square are guided guys in national costumes. These are the performers of the ritual. Some died their executions, others – death angels. In fact, these are just butchers showing their work. It is devoted to her and established on the square of the monument created by the local scaly of Garci Peredise. It is said that this is almost the only one in Spain, and maybe all over the world has a similar monument. Next to this work of art and unfolds an action captured in sculpture. Here and boiling water, and a large coach of straw and a campfire for a fire, a wide bench – a kind of scaffold with a hook, to which the victim will be suspended.
"Scene" fenced with lattices: crowding behind them, the audience is watching "Bloody performance". Many come to the square in advance to take place closer to the lattices. Can be seen, bloodthirsty cruelty gene is inexperienced in man. In a strictly defined time there is a signal, and the first borov pops out of the head.
Residents of Burgo de OSMO explain this ritual in that the province of Soria for a long time is famous for their slaughterhouses, and this holiday is supposedly designed to raise the prestige not too popular the profession of the butcher. An explanation, of course, dubious, and the essence of this theatrical presentation seems to be in a different: like a lot of Spain, it is conceived on the needs of tourists. By the way, this ritual is not so long. For the first time it "Tested" In January 1974, on the initiative of Martinez Soto, the owner of a small hotel. It was he who came to mind the idea to give ordinary professional action "Tourist nature". And the main bait was the proposal immediately, in an improvised restaurant in the open sky, taste all sorts of dishes made from fresh piglery.
Making a bet on not the highest and noble human feelings, Martinez Soto, alas, not mistaken. Hunters before "Spectacle and meat" It turned out to be many. In 1975, for example, a little more than three thousand people visited Burgo de OCMO, in 1999 – about 70 thousand. True, earlier the ritual was held one day in a year, then five days, when they scored one animal a day. Now in January-February – three times a week, and you need to score on twenty pigs daily.
Just as extravagant, but fortunately, not bloody customs exist in other regions of Spain. So, the townol place in the province of Valencia, on the east coast of the Mediterranean Sea, is known to the holiday "Tomatina". He, too, not old – appeared in 1945, but already acquired great popularity. The holiday was born quite by chance. Once in August, several young Bunol residents have dinner at the local restaurant, and satisfied, began to have fun, throwing the remaining tomatoes in each other. Joke Such. But for some reason she liked and turned into an unusual competition "By accuracy", And then, covering almost all the local population, resulted in the streets. To "Tomato battles" They did not flashed spoiled and too often, they decided to consolidate a certain day, including them into mass folk festivities. So born "Tomatina". By the way, it was a good reason to remind about the region, famous for all Spain tomatoes. Restricting about the original custom, tourists reached in the Bunol – to look, play, get rid. Painted holidays "The most zamuzannaya appearance". And not in vain. On this day, the town turns into a battlefield, whose participants "Shot" Friends of tomatoes. Although, from the point of view of common sense, do not wildness if it is so diluting the valuable product? Yes, even rejoice that you have a red juice with my legs?
Whatever it was, but during "The most inspired fiesta", which continues from the morning to noon, travel around the town of trucks with pouring fruits, stopping every 10–15 meters so that the wishes could replenish their "ammunition". The main battle occurs, of course, on the square opposite the local mayor’s office. And tomato streams flow through the streets, and walls of houses are painted tomatoes. By the way, in these parts are joking: even the fire is extinguished in the Bunyol, but tomato juice.
Completed all the action is not less exotic – a swim in the huge swimming pool, set in the center of Bunyola, in the Plaza del Pueblo, and also filled with tomato juice. By the way, it is very useful for health and beauty, they say. From those who want to plunge no rebound.
Popularity "Tomatin", the number of participants and the number of "shot" Tomato growing from year to year. January 24, 2000 in it, as evidenced by statistics, "fought" more than thirty thousand "fighters", and for the joy of their government and agricultural cooperatives have allocated 120 thousand tons of juicy tomatoes worth nine thousand euro.
Akin "Tomatin" and "battle of the claret", For more than twenty years of San Asensio carried out in the village – the most "wine" Spanish province of La Rioja. Only instead of tomatoes there as "tools" It uses a special sort of wine "claret", which is famous for the village. There are about three hundred bodegas – wine cellars, which produce this sort of.
Of course, the purpose of "Battles", which usually takes place in late July – primarily advertising. But such pragmatism did not affect nor on the mood of citizens, nor to the festive atmosphere. And when the wine is poisoned fun? Although konschunstvenno, in my opinion, and so recklessly pouring precious water "the wind".
Namely this and deal with a few hundred people – participants "Battles". They are divided into two teams impressive: in one – the inhabitants of San Asensio, in another – rest in the surrounding area. fighters — "Guerrero" allowed in case pumps are huge and powerful hoses skins – BOTAS, glass jars porrones and a wide variety of bottles. Combat mission – as quickly as possible and stronger "dunk" opponents. In 1999, for example, during the holidays it was "poured out". 65 thousand liters of claret. good advertising? I confess that grieves, when you hear this! After "Battles" "Guerrero" and all "casualties" go under the shower. Flushing traces "crimes", sit down at the table, which lasted one and a half kilometers along the main street, and start the meal, washed down with ample food in the same claret, discussing and reliving all the vicissitudes of the last battle. Holiday! And what is the most amazing – no drunk! Only funny.
And in Alarcon, the suburb of the Spanish capital, for several years in September passes "Great flour battle", Favorite entertainment of local youth. By the very name it is not difficult to guess that here the main tool – flour. This ritual, very young, also began with an innocent joke, like "Tomatina", and became one of the main acts of the holiday in honor of the Virgin, the patroness of Alarcon.
In the same row and so-called "Petushina Corrida", Gathering curious in one of the villages of Galicia, an autonomous region in northwest of the country. Corrida is, of course, it says loudly, but it is no less emotion than the real. In contrast to many entertainment, which walks visitors in different parts of Spain, "Petushina Corrida" — This is an ancient fun, preserved to this day. Its participants sit down on donkeys, hand the baton, attaching it to the hands. In this state, you need to knock off a basket suspended on a decent height, in which roosters, pigeons, rabbits and cats sit. Wins the one who will be able to do it first. Donkey, as you know, the stubborn, and often, to move it from the spot, and it is necessary to walk on it the same battle.
And again, the advocates of animals scored alarm, demanding the cancellation of the barbaric, in their opinion, custom. In the Middle Ages, it may be considered a funny caustary of the beast, but the Civilized XXI century cannot allow this-
Zagins, arguing enthusiasts. The National Association of Animal Welfare Even turned to the People’s Defender (Ombudsman) of Spain with a call to understand and punish the guilty of mockery over the brothers by our smaller. If the Association achieves his, then the organizers "Petushina Corrida" faces a fine to 15 thousand euros. True, the chances that the case will be brought to the end, frankly, not so much.
The list of exotic competitions will certainly be included and "Racing snails", which can be seen only in the village of Tristio that in the autonomous region of La Rioha. They are usually held in August, in the days of traditional holidays in honor of St. Bartolomeo, the patron saint of Trisio and 336 of its inhabitants. Until now, here are remembered last year "rally", in which 40 snails participated and each trapped 230-gram cargo behind them, although her own weight did not exceed seven grams. Try to find such "heavyweight" in the human tribal! The winner was the snail named Homer. Distance 245 millimeters (it is measured in millimeters) The record holder passed in seven minutes, much ahead of his rivals. Well, completing the festival racing on donkey. According to connoisseurs, make a gray cleaner two kilometers without the help of a baton or whip – namely the rules "Delianged Racing" — Even harder than to get a few millimeters from the snail, several millimeters with a canning can with asparagus attached to the sink.
Coming, however, entail not only unique contests in Tracio. Only here you can enjoy a delicacy made from mollusks. By the way, in the same year 2000, a peculiar record almost for the Guinness book was made by local cooks: they prepared an extraordinary dish, falling asleep into a total boiler 250 kilograms of snails, 50 kilo ham and the so many smoked sausages, 25 kg of pork and refuel all this olive Oil, fried tomatoes and pepper. Real jam.
I think I will not be mistaken if I say that it is hardly every village or a village, and there are about ten thousand of them in the country, can hit visitors something unusual, only by them inherent festive flavor. Of course, much depends on the imagination and theirs of their inhabitants, but often the story itself gives food for fantasies.
Ancient part of the city of Avila is 150 kilometers north of the Spanish capital – surrounds the fortress wall of the XI century with the towers. They say it is best preserved in Western Europe. And it would be sinner not to use it as a scenery. What made local authorities, organizing a fair called "One day in the era of rebirth". We have been experiencing on it, probably the same feelings that I told at the beginning of my story. Here you can wander around "Conditional row", Watch the artisans who, as insert, work for a weaving machine or a pottery, try to reconnect the archer to the royal guard or go to the recruit set point where to test yourself for strength and dexterity. Finally, you can visit an ancient Mass, which has almost changed from the previous time, to watch the rite of baptism of a newborn or plunge into the witches. Do I need to say that on this day you will not meet a single car. Alive vintage carriers.
