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Extremadura
includes the provinces of Cáceres and Badajoz.
An important area for
wildlife, particularly with the major reserve at Monfragüe, which has
recently been recognised as a National Park, or the project of
International Tagus River Natural Park (Parque Natural Rio Tajo
internacional)
Extramadura
Piornal
Jarramplas
19 and 20 January
During today and tomorrow Piornal celebratess its
traditional Jarramplas
19 and 20 of January of every year in Piornal celebrate a singular
celebration, so old that its origin is lost in history. Jarramplas
receives a big wave of nabos by the streets while the tamboril crosses
the town touching.
Some overcome this celebration to a mitológico origin, in which Thief is
punished by Hercules after robbing cattle heads to him. Also it is
spoken of his relation with the ceremonies that the Indians of America
celebrated and which they were seen by the first conquerors, or perhaps
the most realistic theory and more justified by the past cattle dealer
of our town, that would be the one of the personage like cattle thief
that was put under all class of punishments by the neighbors of the
town.
The suit is most showy of this personage. Plenty of colorful, with a
diabolic mask that hides its identity and its terroríficos eyes together
with the horns that crown their head.
Day 19 acts of festejo begin lso. To twelve in the morning, Jarramplas
will leave for the first time with all its atuendos. It is the moment at
which hundreds of citizens send on the almost Dantesque appearance, a
good part of the nabos collected by “fifth”.
To four of afternoon, the unquestionable figure, will have to go to the
church, where the butlers will have to dress santo. And to twelve at
night, perhaps, the closeest moment of the celebration, “alborás”. These
are popular songs that are made by the traditional route of the town, in
that Jarramplas will be walking of backs.
After “alborás” it is the typical hour of migas, that will extend until
high hours of the dawn. Even so the untiring Jarramplas, to 9 in the
morning of day 20, will have to fulfill the passage of Rejoicing.
Later, to twelve, the Greater Mass will take place in the parochial
church, with its procession and peculiar “Spiral”, sung by the young
women of the town and the auction of you walk them precede when coming
out of Jarramplas, the most waited by all.
But not yet the martyrdom” for Jarramplas has finished “. In the
evening, it will leave to raise santo the throne, later and last exit,
finalizing with the delivery of the clothes to the incoming butler, with
invitation of a back on the part of this one to the guests.
The singular celebration calls the attention of experts of all the
scopes. Proof of it is the book that appeared yesterday in Cáceres:
“Jarramplas: Festive ritual and plots of identity in Piornal”, written
by Sebastián Diaz Churches, and that have been published by the Regional
Publisher of Extremadura (ERE) within their collection Study.
The author of the book indicated that the work “is not a etnología of
the Jarramplas nor an historical investigation”, but that the
publication prevails like a work of recovery, investigation, analysis
and anthropological reflection on the ancestral festividad.
The advisor of Culture, that went upon presentment of this book,
emphasized the figure of the Jarramplas de Piornal like a “sign of
identity” of all the frontier dwellers
http://www.extremadura.com/
The Escobazos
The elderly of the town tell us that this feast origin might have been
caused by a jubilation expression of the shepherds after the long
seasons of working in the mountains when they came back to the town,
celebrating the return by beating each other with brooms as a sign of
greeting and joy.
Other say that these celebrations are the derivation of an Faith
Demonstration, so common in the region centuries ago. Some people
believe that the origin could be a gratitude act to Mary Immaculate once
the farming works of the year were over.
Besides the aforementioned versions, it has been kept the belief that
the horses that goes on the Virgin pilgrimage the night of the
Immaculate, are protected against any disease all the year.
Of all the celebrations that were held in days gone by to honour Mary
Immaculate, the one that has lasted longer is the Escobazos night.
There are written papers since the 16th century that testify the wish of
sculpting an image of the Virgin, that was ordered and payed by Gaspar
Loaysa, from Jarandilla, when he came back from America. In the 18th
century already existed a Brotherhood devoted to Mary Immaculate.
In the first moments of the nightfall, people from Jarandilla gathers in
Main Square carrying big brooms they have made in the previous days and
that later on will burn to illuminate the pilgrimage and the road, but
before that they will beat happily everybody that goes near the places
where they are gathered.
Following one of the original versions, the beat with the broom or
Escobazo as popular greeting has become a sign of religious veneration
too, in this case showed by the burning of the brooms made with products
taken from the nature instead of candles.
The highest moment of the night is the starting of the procession that
goes with Mary Immaculate Standard, that is carried by a rider over his
horse. The neighbours either walking or riding horses comes with it
carrying the burning brooms through the streets of Jarandilla de la Vera
among songs to worship Mary Immaculate.
The Feast keeps on through the night among family bonfires and friends,
people taste the young homemade wines so appreciated in this zone along
with the delicious gastronomic pork foodstuff.
La Encamisá
There are three different points of view about the origin of the
Encamisá Feast that is held in Torrejoncillo, close to Coria city. One
of this legends about the origin tells us that is the commemoration of
something happened to a captain from Trorrejoncillo named Avalos who
took part in Pavia battle; in order to camouflage themselves in the snow
they used white sheets; coming back thanks to Mary Immaculate
intercession on them.
Other version tells about the origin as the celebration of the taking of
Portezuelo Castle by King Alfonso IX troops in the 13th century.
Finally, among the inhabitants of this town there is the belief that
these feasts arouse as the reminder of a battle held some 7th of
December and where a group of men from Torrejoncillo entrusted
themselves to Mary Immaculate and covering themselves with sheets
managed to save their lifes.
In the morning of the Sunday previous to the Encamisá Feast, takes place
the Feast Opening Speech, that is the preamble to the great day, taking
place this Sunday too the Flowers offering to the Virgin by women and
girls dressed in the typical costume from Torrejoncillo.
The Encamisá day, children burn their axes and men get their horses and
sheets ready, as well as the volley cartridges that will be used later
on.
This historical Feast tradition has been kept since time out or mind in
this town and so, year after year, hundred of horseman from the town go
out covered with white sheets decorated with stars, with the Virgin
image.
First of all they go to the "Mayordomo" (butler) house, so he can give
them a lamplight that they must carry during the Encamisá celebration,
this is a really special night for those men from Torrejoncillo that go
out riding horses, just like the previous generations did.
The rest of the people gathers delighted in front of the parish church
to celebrate the beginning of the procession, among an incredible amount
of volley shootings and the jolly peal of the bells.
The people fervour explodes specially with loud cheerings to the Virgin
when the standard shows up through the church door. The sound of the
volley shootings, the bells pealing and the crowd cheering the Virgin,
are moments of unforgettable and unbelievable sign of human feelings and
fervour for the Virgin.
Just as it happens in other celebrations, in order to avoid that the "Mayordomo"
carries with all the works and expenses of the feast, in Torrejoncillo
there is an association called civic- religious-cultural association of
the Encamisa Paladins, that is in charge of organize this beautiful
feast in the north of Estremadura.
Merida Spain
The Roman Theatre and Amphitheatre
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Navalvillar de Pela Navalvillar de Pela tonight celebrates
its traditional celebration of “the Encamisá”
16
January 2008
Also call “Race of San Antón” is the main act of the Supervisory
Celebrations of San Antón Abbot, and the night of San Fulgencio is
celebrated, that is to say, during the dawn of the 16 of January.
Declared Celebration of Regional Tourist Interest, it is an appointment
forced for all quellos that have the opportunity to attend.
The celebration starts to eight of
afternoon, when with repiques of bells and roars of rockets the
traditional appointment of the peleños in tonight begins.
The inhabitants of Navalvillar, next to the strangers dedicate their
“alive ones” to the pattern of the locality, San Antón Abbot, guardian
of the celebration, being one of the most touching moments at night.
From they are left still several hours of celebration there ahead. An a
horse, others in donkey and many in the infantry, celebrates tonight
that usually it is extended until the dawn.
The origin of the Encamisá is the commemoration of the victory of the
peleños on an Arab army when these, in their conquests by the peninsula,
tried to invade the town.
The Encamisá is developed tonight during everything between an pleasant
atmosphere of hospitality, to the warm heat of bonfires and accompanied
by wine and biñuelos.
http://www.extremadura.com/
Cáceres & Extremadura
Cáceres shares with many cities the privilege of being acknowledge as one
of Unesco's World Heritage since 1986. The charm of this city grows from
the marvellous mixture of cultures and styles that is reflected in its
architecture from the Roman through the Arab, the northern Gothic and the
Italian renaissance. The beautiful old quarter is one of its main
attractions, surrounded by a Moorish town wall with great watchtowers.
Extremadura has plenty of places that are worthy visiting: Mérida, the
capital, with its fantastic Roman ruins; Trujillo, well known for its
beautiful main square and great medieval castle; Guadalupe with a
magnificent Arab style monastery which houses valuable pieces of art;
Plasencia, a beautiful town with a Gothic-Plateresque cathedral, and Zafra,
a village full of historical remains with its majestic collegiate church
and the cosy Saint Claire Convent, are just a few examples of the wide
offer of the region.
The Capeas
around 14th September
There are many references that tell us
about the Capeas Feast in Segura de León , that due to its geographical
location always had wild cows or "spare" cows (so called in the 16th
century) , calling that way the cattle that was not used for working and
could be used for entertainment.
With such cattle disposal it is easy to understand that during the Feasts
held to honour the Christ of the Reja in September, the people from the
town fight in the main square against a good deal of heads of cattle for
the enjoyment and fun of the people from the zone.
We have written news about these celebrations in Segura Main Square in the
18th century, and even in the local laws of 1877, being king Alfonso XII,
are regulated the main aspects of these feasts celebration.
As it happened in the old days in Segura
de Leon, town that belonged centuries ago to San Marcos Order, around the
14th of September are held the Capeas to honour the Christ of the Reja.
The people from Segura close the main streets in order to let the cattle,
that has been handed over by the farmers of the zone and that is respected
all the time, run freely through them till arriving at a peculiar "bull
ring" set up in the Main Square of Segura.
This bull ring remind us, by the way it is constructed, to those popular
improvised bull rings that since the Middle Ages were built to hold this
kind of feasts; Segura de León has been lucky enough to keep this custom
alive.
The cows that arrive at the square, reddish or mottled, a bit crossbred or
not, are firstly selected each day and then are freed in order to let the
young and the old, the inhabitants and the visitors run behind them or
even try to practise the bull fighting art, with the fun and enjoyment of
the spectators, that gather in terraces cheering up all those who dare to
jump into the ring.
Once the "match" is over, the cows will go back to their own livestock
driven by the young people to the town outskirts where each cattle
shepherd collect their cows. Everyday happens the same during the days
that lasts the feast, religious services are held as well to honour the
Christ of the Reja, greatly worshipped in and out Segura de Leon.
In this kind of feasts there are always musical celebrations in the night
and in Segura de Leon we can enjoy as well its rich and varied gastronomy,
that is very well known by the pork foodstuff as it happens in all this
region.
Saint Isidro Pilgrimage (Fuente de Cantos
Since ancient times, it is common in
agricultural towns like Fuente de Cantos, to celebrate once a year Saint
Isidro Labrador Feast, patron of the farmers. In this celebration were
held religious services that were culminated with the Saint procession
along the town streets, sometimes the Saint was carried to the Hermitage,
always placed in the town outskirts.
The feast was seized to renew the Saint Isidro Brotherhood Board of
Directors. Since 1941 the Feast is celebrated in the open country, so ever
since that year it is organized the Saint Isidro Pilgrimage; at the same
time it was constructed an Hermitage to worship the Saint in the place
known as "Martá".
Year after year, this Feast has been growing up in pilgrims not only from
Fuente de Cantos but from all the neighbouring towns to this locality in
the south of Estremadura.
With a strong popular character, Saint
Isidro Pilgrimage in Fuente de Cantos is the most interesting
demonstration of the popular coexistence in the south of the region.
The influence of the existing folklore in this southern lands so
attractive and popular with the neighbouring Andalusia, all of them
crossed by the historical Roman Silver Way, can be noticed in the
pilgrimage nowadays, where proliferate beautiful and nice stalls set up by
groups of friends, associations or families that enjoy sharing their
traditional dishes and their good wines with the pilgrims friendship.
These celebrations make Saint Isidro Feast in Fuente de Cantos an open
window to show the warmth and cordiality that the people from Estremadura
posses, not only towards the region but towards the thousands visitors
from neighbouring places like Seville, Huelva, Cordoba, Cáceres, etc.,
that come to know this famous pilgrimage.
At twelve o'clock in the morning is said the mass to honour the Saint,
during the celebration the Saint Brotherhood sings to praise him. Many of
the Brothers came riding horses from Fuente de Cantos or even in carts,
crossing the waters of the Bodion River, just like hundreds of pilgrims
that gather there.
Once the mass is over, Saint Isidro is carried in procession by the ground
known as "La Pradera" (The Prairie), accompanied by horseman and pilgrims.
At night thanks to the lighting set in "La Pradera" the celebration is
extended with a crowded Popular Night Festival.
During the previous days and on the same day of the feast are held sport,
gastronomical and fun contests, that contribute to show to the dwellers
and the visitors the fraternity among neighbouring populations
irrespective of limits or borderlines.
OLIVENZA
The "Entrudu", during the Carnivals days,
supposes a festive moment of great attraction, both for the people from
Olivenza and for the close towns. Easter in Olivenza is very interesting,
due to the wonderful religious images of the Churches that can be seen
during the processional parades. On Easter Sunday the popular "Pasos"
(floats) are opened to be visited by everybody.
On the 15th of August take place the Fair and Feasts to honour Our
Lady of Asunción.
MÉRIDA
Mérida's
Classic Theater Festival (
http://www.festivaldemerida.es/) is internationally recognized by the
spectacularity of its scenes and the quality of its representations. Since
1933, in which the actress Margarita Xirgu represented "Medea", in version
of Miguel de Unamuno, the Roman Theater of Mérida, Human Heritage,
welcomes in the months of July and August one of the most important
festivals of the European summer.
Easter is extremely attractive, thanks to the beautiful images and
the route that the brotherhoods make by the city, mainly, in places like
the Arc of Trajano, etc.
September Fair with thousands of visitors who look for moments of
fun and entertainment in their interesting programs. Carnivals in Merida
are better year after year, with the regional appeal.
ZAFRA
Among its most
significant Fairs we have to emphasize:
Regional Fair of the Lands of Extremadura and International Livestock
Fair
Carried out at the splendid enclosed fairgrounds that Zafra disposes, they
come to be a continuity of those medieval initial fairs in the 14th
century.
National Cattle Contests attract the attendance of experts and of numerous
national public as well as from Estremadura during several days.
San Miguel's Fair
It is hold during the same days as the Livestock Fair, being famous the
bullfighting, which takes place in one of the most traditional bullrings
of Extremadura. Wide attendance to this bull feasts as well as to the
fairground, with visitors coming from all parts of Extremaura and even
from the neighbouring Andalusia and Portugal
Easter
The impressive wood carved images which are in Zafra's churches and
convents can be seen during these days, where Zafra's inhabitants devotion
is expressed in pilgrimages of great beauty in the most close places of
the city.
Quasimodo's Sunday
Takes place the first Sunday after Resurrection Sunday, in the nearby
Belen Hermitage, where a lot of Zafra neighbours and devoted people from
other close towns make a pilgrimage, thanking for the Virgin's
intervention one day of large rains in 17th century.
TRUJILLO
The main one of
all is the well-known one popularly like the Chíviri, that is celebrated
the Domingo de Resurreccioón reuniting in the Plaza Mayor to thousand of
trujillanos and visitors, declared Celebration of Regional Tourist
Interest of Extremadura.
In summer, at the end of August and principles of September, the
Celebrations in honor to the Pattern of the city, the Virgin of the
Victory are celebrated, with festivales of music and dance and other
spectacles.
Salve to the Virgin, Saturday eve of the celebrations, is sung by the
assistants from the center of the Church of San Martín.
Fairs and cattle markets in Trujillo do not need (24 annual ones), in the
dependencies of the Regional Market of Cattles. The National Fair of the
Cheese is made in the Greater Seat at the end of April and principles of
May.
LLERENA
On January 17th is
held San Anton's Feast. Easter is of great beauty in the moments when the
images are carried in pilgrimage through the streets and spots of Llerena,
Patroness Feasts, Granada's Virgin take place from 10th to 15th of August,
and the named San Miguel Fair is held at the endings of September.
Is quite interesting the "didactic pig slaughter" that is developed in
March.
CORIA
Coria's Feasts
schedule starts on January 20th, with St. Sebastian's Feast.
During Easter feasts outstand the Holy Friday ceremonies at the Cathedral.
The second Monday at Easter takes place the traditional Crosses Monday or
Rosca's Day.
The Virgen de Argeme Pilgrimage is held in May, it is carried back to her
hermitage after a solemn Novenario carried out in the Cathedral. In June
Corpus Christi's feast is celebrated, the one that takes place in Coria is
the most popular of the region.
But without any doubt, the most important in Coria are Los Sanjuanes,
declared Feast of Regional Tourist Interest, and which origins are dated
in time of the Vetones, Celtic people who worshipped the bull as a sacred
animal. Inside the fortified city they celebrated religious rites related
to the bull and the fire, which besides coincided in dates with summer
solstice, on June 24th.
As documentary testimonies is referred, The Coria Code of Laws, at the
beginning of 13th century, highlights the significance of St. John's day
and its relationship with cattle subjects. All of this points out the
significance of bull feasts during 15th century, which in Coria were
always celebrated inside the walled city and in Main Square, built in 16th
century to celebrate this Coria's traditional show.
VALENCIA DE ALCÁNTARA
Around middle of May, the farmers of Cáceres countryside celebrate a feast
with carriages and horse riders to honour San Isidro, with a Pilgrimage,
declared Feast of Regional Tourist Interest. The 1st of My takes place
"Los Mayos" and the 3rd "Las Cruces de Mayo" that are placed in all
districts full of flowers and garlands.
GUADALUPE
Among the most
representative celebrations of Guadalupe we have to mention:
Virgin of Guadalupe Feast, day 8 of September.
Celebration of the Corpus Christi.
Bulls: in the penultimate week of August.
Pilgrimages: during different times from the year:
In February the 3rd San Blas feast takes place and the in May the 3rd the
Cross is celebrated
CÁCERES
Easter in Cáceres, declared of Regional Tourist Interest, is of great
attractive when many of the brotherhoods cross the streets and corners of
monumental Cáceres carrying their religious images
Celebrations dedicated to the city Patron, San Jorge, at the endings of
April (22 and 23), welcome thousand of visitors that along with people
from Cáceres, celebrate the taking of the city by Christian troops in
1229, by king Alfonso IX.
The Virgen de la Montaña Pilgrimage, sample of the devotion of Cáceres
people to their Patroness, where thousands of Cacereños and visitors go
together with the Virgin during the celebrations.
Around June there are Medieval Festivals, with theatre plays from
Renaissance and Baroque epoches.
Womad Festival, which takes place since 1992 during the first weeks of
May, gathers thousands of music and dance lovers from all around the
world.
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