Entertainment in Spain
Essential Guide to What's on when and where in Spain
 

 

 

 
 
 
Goat Throwing
Manganeses de la Polvorosa
27 January
Zamora, Castille y Leon
An annual tradition in the town of Manganeses de la Polvorosa (a small village in north western Spain), in honour of its patron saint, St. Vincent.
It takes place every year, on the fourth Sunday in January. On that day, a group of teenagers from the village set out to round-up and hog-tie one of the local neighborhood goats. That done, the goat is then carried in a crowded procession to the church at the center of town, and then up in to the church's bell tower. At this point, the goat is then thrown from the belfry, falling upwards of 15 meters (50 feet), to be caught (hopefully) in a sheet of tarpaulin by the cheering crowd below.

According to Manganeses' 890 residents, this ancient ritual has apparently been going on for as long as any of them can remember.

Okay, now for those of you that are faint of heart, you'll be relieved to known that the tradition may soon be at an end. In recent years, as you might expect, Animal Rights groups have stepped up in protest of the ceremony. And let's face it: if you were to make a list of the things an animal rights activist is likely to oppose, "tossing bound goats from bell towers" would definitely be ranking right up there toward the top. After one unsuccessful ban in 1992, they redoubled their efforts, leading to the event being officially cancelled in the year 2000, after the town was threatened with a fine of 25,000 Pesetas (roughly $150 US).

Reportedly, many of the townspeople were furious at the injunction. And while the town council had no choice but to effect the official ban, the councillors were also quick to note that they "could not be held responsible for the behaviours of the participants in the spectacle..."

"But," you may be wondering, "why toss the goat in the first place?"

Well, according to local legend, there was once a priest in Manganeses de la Polvorosa, who owned a very special goat. It's said that the good padre would often travel throughout the countryside all around the village, miraculously feeding the poor and the destitute with his goat's milk. One day, however, the beloved goat wandered into the church's belfry... and when the bell rang out for Sunday mass, the frightened goat lept from the tower and went hurtling toward the street below! Luckily, the goat was caught with a blanket and saved. Every year since then, the famous event has been reenacted, in honor of the loving priest and his goat, and to mark the beginning of El Festival de Santo Vincente.

Sources also say that there is quite a lot of drinking involved.
 

Back

ACTIVISTS FILE COMPLAINT AGAINST GOAT-TOSSERS Tuesday January 26 10:55 AM ET MADRID (Reuters) - Animal rights activists filed a complaint Monday against the government of a Spanish town, saying it was abusive to animals during its annual ritual of hurling a goat from a church tower. The National Association for the Protection and Wellbeing of Animals filed a formal complaint with the regional government of Zamora after the weekend ritual in the northern town of Manganeses de la Polvorosa.

"Throwing a goat from the church belfry, as part of a festival in Manganeses de la Polvorosa, Zamora, on the 23 of January was a premeditated violation of the law that protects animals," the association said in a statement.

Villagers followed a time-honored tradition Saturday and hurled Pepa the goat from a church tower during a local fiesta. The goat emerged shaken but unscathed from the 50-foot plunge after being caught in a canvas sheet by revelers who then paraded her through the village. Animal rights activists have long opposed the tradition. The association cited laws that prohibit the use of animals in public shows or parties that involve torture, suffering, cruelty or maltreatment of the animals. It urged the government to impose the toughest possible penalty on the town.

 

The Flying Goat
Is this funny?

Two guys are walking through the woods and come across this big deep hole. "Wow...that looks deep." "Sure does... toss a few pebbles in there and see how deep it is." They pick up a few pebbles and throw them in and wait... no noise "Jeeez. That is REALLY deep... here.. throw one of these great big rocks down there. Those should make a noise." They pick up a couple football-sized rocks and toss them into the hole and wait... and wait. Nothing.

They look at each other in amazement. One gets a determined look on his face and says, "Hey...over here in the weeds, there's a railroad tie. Help me carry it over here. When we toss THAT sucker in, it's GOTTA make some noise." The two drag the heavy tie over to the hole and heave it in. Not a sound comes from the hole.

Suddenly, out of the nearby woods, a goat appears, running like the wind. It rushes toward the two men, then right past them, running as fast as it's legs will carry it. Suddenly it leaps in the air and into the hole. The two men are astonished with what they've just seen... Then, out of the woods comes a farmer who spots the men and ambles over. "Hey... you two guys seen my goat out here?" "You bet we did! Craziest thing I ever seen! It came running like crazy and just jumped into this hole!" "Nah", says the farmer, "That couldn't have been MY goat. My goat was chained to a railroad tie."