Hellín, Albacete. Tamborada (drum-playing)
A  guide to the best events to visit in Spain.
HOME
HOT IN SPAIN
Read all the latest information on what's Hot & Exciting in Spain.
EVENT'S IN SPAIN
All the events in Spain. Fiestas, festivals and all that's exciting in entertainment in Spain
CONCERTS IN SPAIN
A comprehensive list of acts and artists performing in Spain
GIG'S IN SPAIN
All acts local & international appearing live in Spain
FESTIVALS IN SPAIN
Spain is the land of festivals. These are great entertainment and most of them free.
SPORT IN SPAIN
All the sport events in Spain in a monthly guide
GROUPS & BANDS
Spanish & international groups and bands in Spain
FAMOUS PEOPLE
Famous Spaniards from now and yesteryear
TODAY IN SPAIN
One step guide to what's on today in Spain. Entertainment in Spain in one easy click.
PLACES IN SPAIN
The best places to visit in Spain. The beautiful and interesting places in Spain
ENTERTAINERS
Party, wedding & bar entertainers in Spain.
WHAT'S ON IN SPAIN
Guide to concerts, theatre, festivals & events in Spain.
FREE THINGS IN SPAIN
No need to spend a fortune. There's plenty of free things to do in Spain.
BULLS
 Bulls, bull fighting, bull running, matadors, toreadors and all that's bulls in Spain
SINGERS IN SPAIN
Famous & popular singers from Spain
TOURIST OFFICES
A list of tourist offices throughout Spain
CULTURE
A guide to theatre, art & more in Spain
KIDS & FAMILY
Theme Parks, amusements, aqua parks and everything for kid's and family to do in Spain
MUSICIANS IN SPAIN
 A guide to the many brilliant musicians in Spain
AGENCIES
Entertainment agencies, wedding planners in Spain
TRADE SHOWS / FAIRS
Spain has a full calendar of trade events
LOCAL SOCIETIES
All the hobbies and associations
HOLIDAY DATES
National & Local holiday dates in Spain
VO & VOS FILMS
International films being shown in their own language
TRAVEL IDEAS
A few holiday ideas for Spain
 

 

 
 
The essential guide to entertainment in Spain.
An up to date comprehensive list of what's on in Spain and
events in Spain.  Hellín, Albacete. Tamborada (drum-playing)
Tourist and holiday information for Spain including concerts, gigs & shows.

Hellín, Albacete
Tamborada (drum-playing)
From Apr 17, 2011 to Apr 24, 2011
20,000 drummers banging away in a cacophony of sound for a week at Easter. This the Tamborada in
 Hellín, Albacete and its most important annual event.
 
You Tube
 


Midnight on Maundy Thursday sees the most important drum-playing moment of the whole celebration. On Good Friday night the Santo Entierro procession takes place, marked by silence and meditation, in clear contrast to the tremendous noise of the drums. In this procession you can see the wooden Cristo Yacente statue, by sculptor Mariano Benlliure, considered one of the finest works of 20th century sculpture. One last session of drum-playing, from Holy Saturday night to Sunday evening, marks the end of Hellín’s Easter week celebrations, after hundreds of doves are released into the sky.

Easter week is one of the most heartfelt and deep-rooted fiestas celebrated in Spain. This commemoration has centuries of history and tradition, remembering the passion and death of Jesus Christ. The streets of the majority of Spain's cities, towns and villages become the stage for religious fervour and devotion, combining grief and meditation in memory of Christ's death. Music, art and colour come together in magical processions - solemn parades in which crowds of people accompany religious images on their route through the streets.

Not for the faint hearted, The 'Tamborada’ of Hellín, is a very noisy event and is one of the most famous and well-known celebrations in the province of Albacete, where adults and children take to the streets of the town, their number exceeding 20,000 drummers, wearing black tunics with a red neckerchief or a black hood.
It was declared a Festivity of Regional Interest for Tourists on 10 January 1985, and on 3 February 2005 the same distinction was granted to all of the celebrations of its Easter Week.
The first drumming session takes place on the night of the Friday before Palm Sunday, when they celebrate the Via Crucis of the Torches. As a preparation and in order to warm up the drums, an increasing number of drummers head towards the Calvary without their black tunics, in a pilgrimage that lasts until the wee hours of the following day.

The Wednesday right before Holy Thursday , at three pm, begins the second big drumming session. All the people flock to the streets, wearing their tunics and carrying their drums and, in groups of friends, they walk through the streets of town until 11 pm, which marks the beginning of the procession of the Oración del Huerto [Prayer in the Grove].

It is probably on the night of Holy Thursday when they celebrate the most important drumming session of the Easter Week. At 12 midnight, after the end of the Procession of Silence, groups of drummers take to the streets, breaking the silence with a huge uproar that lasts until the afternoon of the following day.
Around 20,000 drummers go along the streets of the town waiting for the sunrise, which signals the beginning of a tradition that is repeated year after year: the walk up to Calvary. With the first rays of daylight, after several hours of drumming, the drummers embark on the walk up to Calvary, where they wait until shortly before the start o the procession to start walking down to the 'Rabal’, finishing at around three pm.

The fourth and last drumming session is celebrated during the night of Easter Saturday, lasting until three pm on Easter Sunday. The drums are played all night long while awaiting the celebration of the 'Encuentro’ [Meeting] on Easter Sunday morning. During the 'Encuentro’ the drums are present on the fairgrounds esplanade, joining with the applause of the public attending and the lighting of a string of fireworks, right when the Dolorosa and Jesus Resurrected meet.
The drummers then embark on the walk up to the Plaza de la Iglesia, where the last drumming event takes place. The farewell to Drums consists of a release of doves from within a huge drum, with thousands of drummers to be heard in the background, thus ending the Easter Week 'tamboradas’.

Dates
From the Friday before Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.

http://www.visitclm.com/arte-cultura/fiestas/
hellin/tamborada-and-easter-week-of-hellin/


The pinnacle of the Easter week in Hellín, Albacete province, is the Tamborada (drum-playing). This is the most important fiesta on the town calendar, when up to 20,000 drums start playing, the beginning of an uproar that will continue over several days.

Midnight on Maundy Thursday sees the most important drum-playing moment of the whole celebration. On Good Friday night the Santo Entierro procession takes place, marked by silence and meditation, in clear contrast to the tremendous noise of the drums. In this procession you can see the wooden Cristo Yacente statue, by sculptor Mariano Benlliure, considered one of the finest works of 20th century sculpture. One last session of drum-playing, from Holy Saturday night to Sunday evening, marks the end of Hellín’s Easter week celebrations, after hundreds of doves are released into the sky.

Easter week is one of the most heartfelt and deep-rooted fiestas celebrated in Spain. This commemoration has centuries of history and tradition, remembering the passion and death of Jesus Christ. The streets of the majority of Spain's cities, towns and villages become the stage for religious fervour and devotion, combining grief and meditation in memory of Christ's death. Music, art and colour come together in magical processions - solemn parades in which crowds of people accompany religious images on their route through the streets.
Category
Festivity of International Tourist Interest
Theme
Art and culture
Useful information
Dates
From Apr 17, 2011 to Apr 24, 2011
Location
Hellín (Albacete)

 
 
 

 

Tourist offices in Spain
Hellín Oficina de Turismo de Hellín
Location
Calle El Rabal, 1
02400
Hellín (Albacete)
Contact details
Tel.: +34 967541520
Fax.: +34 967300053
turismo@
turismohellin.com

http://www.
turismohellin.com

 

 

 

Calasparra
Oficina de Turismo de Calasparra
Location
Edifico Casa Granero 14
30420
Calasparra (Murcia)
Contact details
Tel.: +34 968745325
Fax.: +34 968723000
turismo@calasparra.org

http://www.calasparra.org

 

 

Tourist offices in Spain
Férez Oficina de Turismo de Férez
Location
Cantarería, 28
02436
Férez (Albacete)
Contact details
Tel.: +34 967420207
+34 690939652
Fax.: +34 967420050
http://www.ferez.org