FESTIVITIES IN THE UNESCO TERRITORIES OF THE NORTH OF CÁCERES 1
CARNAVALMORAL IN NAVALMORAL DE LA MATA January
h c r February Ma 2nd 25th
il r p A
July
October
May
August
November
June
September
Decembe r
Lucía Alonso IES ZURBARÁN
ORIGIN
GASTRONOMY
The origins of Carnival are thought to be probably the Spring Festivals. The Catholic church transformed them into a period of excess just before penance during Lent.
As in many countries with Christian roots, in Spain, Carnival and gastronomy have been intimately linked concepts. Some of the most famous dishes during Carnival are: - Migas y sardines. - Floretas (made with milk, eggs, olive oil, flour, and honey or sugar), perrunillas, huesillos...
INTRODUCTION
Carnival in Navalmoral is one of the most important celebrations in this town. It has been celebrated since the 17th century and it takes place in February or in March, depending on the Lent dates.
CARNIVAL PARADE
RECOMMENDATION
ACTIVITIES For people in Navalmoral, Carnival is a festival of imagination, colour, fun, and masks. Nowadays, Carnival is much celebrated by citizens of Navalmoral and the surrounding area. A lot of people come every year to celebrate this awesome festivity. It lasts seven days and there are a lot of activities such as the opening speech, the inauguration of the fun fair, activities for children, dances, parades...
TYPICAL FOOD: SARDINES
I recommend that you come to Navalmoral during this period because you will be surprised by the colours and the joy of the citizens. There are a lot of fun activities to do. You will see many people enjoying themselves and having a great time. You will have so much fun!!!
FUN FAIR
NAVALMORAL DE LA MATA
HOLY WEEK IN PERALEDA DE LA MATA January
l i r Ap
February
May
ch r a M
June
FROM 10 TO 17
July
October
August
November
September
Decembe r
Celia Carrasco IES ZURBARÁN
INTRODUCTION
ORIGIN
GASTRONOMY
Holy Week in Peraleda de la Mata is one of the most beautiful in the Campo Arañuelo area. All the inhabitants of this town celebrate it with great excitement, myself included, as I am from this town. It usually takes place in March or April.
The origin dates back to the end of the 17th century, but part of the celebration has its roots in the HispanicMozarab liturgy.
The typical sweets are torrijas,sapillos, floretas, pestiños.....
ACTIVITIES The festivity begins on Lazarus Sunday (celebrating the resurrection of Lazarus as the anticipation of the resurrection of Jesus) at dusk. With the cry, "Who gives me an Angel?" the deputies and the secretary of the brotherhood visit the house where they know a mother is going to offer a child to be the Angel throughout the celebrations, and the Angel's mother offers sweets to the deputies and the rest of the people. From that moment on, "pasos" and processions will occupy the days of this festival, which ends on Easter Sunday with the joy of El Encuentro (the meeting of the floats of the Virgin Mary and resurrected Jesus Christ) and the tasting of typical sweets like torrijas, sapillos, floretas, pestiños… On Palm Sunday they parade the image of Jesus talking to the Angel. On Holy Thursday the Christ of Humility goes out for a walk and Holy Friday is the most awaited day, when Christ is lowered from the cross accompanied by drums and trumpets. Its staging and peculiarity stands out, as it has a unique ritual and costumes (made by hand by the neighbours) of the ancient Brotherhood of the Descent.
RECOMMENDATION Every year Holy Week is more and more emotional. I recommend visiting during these days to see the processions and learn about this curious tradition from Peraleda de la Mata.
PERALEDA DE LA MATA
THE PERFORMANCE IN CASATEJADA Jan h uary
February
May
il r p A
July
August
c r a M
June
September FROM 9 TO 20
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October
November
Decembe r
Jairo Díaz INTRODUCTION La Función de Casatejada is the most important celebration in this town. The festivities of La Función are very important for the residents of Casatejada, because they are days of family reunions and adoration of the town's patron saint. Nowadays, the festival is celebrated in a different way. Nine days before the 18th of September, the Virgin is moved from her hermitage to the church and a novena is held there. The novenario is a religious celebration in which the Virgen de la Soledad is worshipped for nine days before the big day. Each day of this novenario has its own legend and the sorrows of the Virgin are sung.
IES ZURBARÁN ORIGIN This festival is more than 500 years old. In the old days, Casatejada was a land of farmers, and when the harvests were over, the families would hold a big party. On the 18th of September there was a theatre performance and then it was followed by the festivities of the patron saint, the Virgen de la Soledad. That is why it is called the festivities of La Función.
GASTRONOMY
On the big day, 18th September, a Holy Mass is celebrated, followed by an invitation to enjoy traditional lemonade and typical sweets (floretas, huesillos…).
HUESILLOS
ACTIVITIES
RECOMMENDATION
On the 17th of September there is The Rosary of the Dawn, a parade of Giants and big-heads, the proclamation of the Performance, a Procession which consists of the Departure of the Virgin from the Church until she arrives there again, then fireworks. It ends with a popular verbena (street dance).
If you come to Casatejada at this time of the year, you will spend some unforgettable days and take part in this traditional festival.
GIANTS AND BIG-HEADS
VIRGIN OF SOLITUDE
FLORETAS (TRADITIONAL SWEETS)
CASATEJADA
SAINT ROQUE IN ALMARAZ January
il r p A
July
February
May
t s u g u A
ch r a M
June
September
FROM 14 TO 18
October
November
Decembe r
Patricia Falcón IES ZURBARÁN
INTRODUCTION
ORIGIN
Almaraz has been celebrating San Roque for more than 20 years, and it is one of the most important festivals in this town, since it is the festival to honour its patron saint.
This festival is celebrated on August 16th in honour of the life of the Saint. His name means 'strong as a rock' and he is famous for the great favours he did for the poor and the sick. He sold all his possessions and distributed them among the poor to later go to Rome to visit sanctuaries. When the plague broke out, San Roque dedicated himself to caring for the most abandoned. Mistaken for a prisoner, he was jailed and spent more than five years in prison. On August 15th 1378 (feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin) he died as a saint. As it is a day in August when many people are on vacation, all kinds of fun events are organized.
San Roque is the patron saint of the sick and of pets, and his festivity is commemorated every August 16th. According to religious tradition, commitment to the humblest was his distinctive feature, especially those who had contracted the plague in the 16th century.
ACTIVITIES Depending on the year there are innovative activities such as 'The great ham tournament', or activities that are repeated every year such as the foam party or the heifers. Another of the most important activities is the selection of kings and queens, in addition to the ladies and gentlemen who will be representing our beloved San Roque that year and also our celebration.
GASTRONOMY We usually eat cheese, loin and ham and desserts like roly poly, huesillos, cañas ,flores, etc.
FLORES
ROLY POLY
RECOMMENDATION In conclusion, San Roque is one of the best festivities in Almaraz since there is a very pleasant and welcoming atmosphere. If you come to San Roque, you will most likely enjoy it a lot.
FOAM PARTY CONCERT
QUEENS CONTEST
PINCHOS FAIR
ALMARAZ
SAINT MICHAEL'S FAIR IN NAVALMORAL DE LA MATA January
il r p A
July
February
May
August
ch r a M
June
b m e e r t p Se from 30 to
October 2nd
November
Decembe r
Myriam Fernández Bacaicoa ORIGIN This archangel is considered a spiritual warrior in the battle of good versus evil because he was the leader of the good angels against the bad ones. As such, he is often depicted with a sword, a banner and slaying a dragon that represents Satan. In Navalmoral and other villages in Campo Arañuelo he was honoured in exchange for protection for the cattle. Since the establishment of The Mesta and the passage of the Cañada Real throughout this area, the festivity of Saint Michael was related to an important Cattle Fair for the area on the 29th of September.
IES ZURBARÁN INTRODUCTION
This festivity is celebrated during the weekend closest to the 29th of September and it is the second most popular in Navalmoral de la Mata. This festivity has been celebrated for many centuries and it shows the devotion for the archangel Saint Michael.
GASTRONOMY The area is very well known for meat products derived from pork, specially Iberian ham, chorizo, spicy sausages, black pudding ... If you like sweets you cannot miss the tipycal desserts like floretas, perrunillas and cristiones. You can enjoy all this and many more gastronomic delights at the Food Fair stalls that you will find on the streets.
MASONRY CONTEST
RECOMMENDATION ACTIVITIES Nowadays, it’s celebrated with a national masonry contest, an agricultural and arts and crafts fair, a horse fair, as well as street parades, brass bands, festivals, concerts, street performances, sports events like the typical race, street food stalls and many more activities
FUN FAIR
I really recommend you to pass by Navalmoral during this time because you will be amazed by the atmosphere that’s around. The streets are crowded with happy people having fun with their friends and you will have a fantastic time. On the town´s web page www.aytonavalmoral.es you can find detailed information on the times and location of all these activities.
CONCERT
CRAFTS FAIR
NAVALMORAL LA MATA
DE
THE "QUINTOS" IN JanuaALMARAZ Februar ry arch y
l i r Ap
May
M
June
from 10 to 17
July
October
August
r e b m e v o N 27 and 28
ber m e t p Se
Decembe r
Héctor Fernández Íñigo IES ZURBARÁN
ORIGIN In Spain, Quintos were called to young people who, upon reaching the age of majority, were going to do compulsory military service. Although military service has disappeared in Spain, in many places the fifths have become a festive tradition, whereby young people, when they come of age, hold a kind of party to remember the old fifths. It can also be considered as a "rite of passage" that abounds in indigenous cultures upon reaching the age of majority. The name comes from the blood contribution or obligation of military service that Juan II of Castile (1406-1454) imposed during his reign, according to which one in five men had to serve in the army, a provision that Philip the 5th took up again in 1705.
INTRODUCTION The festivity of the quintos, is a celebration that has been transmitted from generation to generation, this festivity is held by the boys and girls who turn 18 that year.
GASTRONOMY The typical gastronomy on these days is usually Extremaduran migas and oxtail. Normally the migas are made by elderly people and they are made for anyone who wants to go and enjoy this typical dish of the area. You can enjoy these dishes in the town square of Almaraz.
ACTIVITIES
RECOMMENDATION
First on the last weekend of November, on Saint Andrew´s Day (30th November) they celebrate a party and in a moment of the party they decide to go to the village church to burn a large bonfire made of logs, pallets, etc, that they themselves have collected, that bonfire stays lit all night until the Quintos decide to put it out.
I recommend that you come to Almaraz to spend Holy Week, you will not be able to resist being in these beautiful festivities in which you will enjoy every minute you spend in them.
On the second part of the festival takes place durin Easter: the Quintos make an arch full of flowers in the square, followed by a path that reaches the church, first a mass is celebrated, and then the boys are in charge of carrying a statue of Jesus from the church to the arch, then the girls do the same but carrying a
Pie de foto ALMARAZ
CHRIST OF HUMILITY IN January PERALEDA Februar arch y
April
May
August
June
r e b m e pt
Se
July
M
FROM 11 TO 15
October
November
Decembe r
Elena García Quijada IES ZURBARÁN
ORIGIN INTRODUCTION Christ of Humility is one of the most important festivities of Peraleda de La Mata. It takes place from 11th to 15th September and it can represent the end of Summer.
The festivity honours the patron of the village, who is Christ of Humility. He’s one of the images of Jesus Christ and it represents when he was carrying the cross to Mount Calvary. It represents human suffering and it also shows that Jesus is a human like another one.
Many years ago people began to be devoted to this image of Jesus and religious people began to pray to it. During the Civil War the republicans were attacking Peraleda. People were protecting them in the church, but a soldier entered in the building and shoot to the statue.
GASTRONOMY Some of traditional food of Peraleda are castilian soup, cocido, lentils, gazpacho, ham, patiburrilla, floretas and huesillos
HUESILLOS
ACTIVITIES The festivity starts with fireworks and then there is a parade from Plaza de España to the bullring. Then there is a bullfight in the same place. Every year they contract to a different bullfighter. After the bullfight show there are fireworks too and finally a band prepares a concert. The next day there is a slingshot contest and at night there is another concert. Every day there is a concert of a different band and there is a mass in the church for religious people. The last day in the afternoon there is a childish disco and in the evening there is a gastronomic tasting.
CHRIST OF HUMILITY
PATIBURRILLA
RECOMMENDATION I recommend you to come to this village once to live our festivities. PARADE
FUENTE DEL CRISTO
PERALEDA DE LA MATA
SAINT BARTOLO IN BOHONAL DE IBOR January Februa rch ry
il r p A
May
Ma
June
ACTIVIDADES
July
t s u g u A
September
FROM 20 TO 26
October
November
Decembe r
Ana Garrido IES ZURBARÁN
INTRODUCTION “San Bartolo” festivities in Bohonal de Ibor are the most important celebration for this village. It has been celebrated since the 50s. It takes place every August, between the 20th and the 26th of this month.
ORIGIN This commemorative celebration was celebrated for the first time on August of 1950 when the inhabitants of this village decided to collect the carriages to make an improvised bullring. The next day, the bravest people entered there and fought with the cows.
GASTRONOMY The heifer meat is eaten the next day in a popular dinner at the village square with all the neighbours from the village.
ACTIVITIES Nowadays, the festivities are organized by the town hall, and it prepares a lot of activities in summer, such as popular races, Zumba classes, summer cinema or concerts. The most important days are the 24th of August (“San Bartolo”) and the 25th of August (“San Bartolo chico”) . The festivities consist of openair dances. On the 24th, the people give “San Bartolo” a flowery crown, followed by a procession and prayer. After this, the neighbours offer some typical bakings and handmade works. At night there is music at the street dance for everyone.
RECOMMENDATION BOHONAL 'S CHURCH
The mayor of this village says that it’s impossible to describe how these celebrations are, he says “you have to come here, enjoy, live and feel it”. So it’s highly recommendable to go to Bohonal de Ibor the last week of August.
SAINT BARTOLO
BAND IN BULLFIGHTING
BOHONAL DE IBOR
SAINT SEBASTIAN IN HIGUERA DE ALBALAT Janu Febr rch ary
uary
Ma
from 18 to 21
il r p A
July
October
May
August
November
June
September
Decembe r
Julio Garvín IES ZURBARÁN
ORIGIN INTRODUCTION The festivities to honour the patron saint of Higuera de Albalat are celebrated in January from the 18th to the 21st: Saint Sebastian celebrations.
It was a Muslim town founded in the 10th century. After the reconquest, the area is finally recovered by Fernando III and in the 13th century he creates 'La Campana de Albalat'. It was a municipal organization of towns, in charge of repopulating the territories on the left bank of the Tagus. The reconquest is celebrated with this festival
GASTRONOMY
The typical food at Saint Sebastian are the paella and migas that are made mainly with pieces of breadcrumbs with meat and traditional desserts like torrijas and floretas.
ACTIVITIES Four days full of excitement and various activities to warm up, where the popular bonfires and luminarias can't be missed. The programme starts on Saturday the 18th. In the afternoon the great luminaire will be installed in the square and during the night there will be a shared dinner in the heat of the bonfire. The party will continue with a dance with an orchestra in the municipal building. On Sunday they will offer paella for neighbours and visitors and the charanga will be there all day in Higuera. The patron saint festivities will continue with religious events and offerings to Saint Sebastian on January 20 and 21.
RECOMMENDATION Procession of Saint Sebastian
I highly recommend you to come to enjoy this fantastic festival.
Higuera de Albalat
Saint Sebastian
HIGUERA ALBALAT
DE
SAINT AGUSTINE IN ROSALEJO January Februa rch ry
il r p A
July
May
t s u g Au
Ma
June
September
DEL 25 AL 28
October
November
Decembe r
Carlos Herreruela IES ZURBARÁN
INTRODUCTION Saint Agustin is the patron saint of my village. We have celebrated this every 28th of August since 1956, when the village was founded. Gossip: The legend says that the real image of Saint Agustin fell into the river during a procession. The saint that we have now is a copy!!!
ORIGIN Before my village was built he was the patron saint of Talavera La Vieja. Unfortunately, Talaverilla was flooded by Valdecañas dam. The people who lived in Talaverilla came to this area and they brought their traditions and their patron saint with them.
On this festivity we eat floretas, rosquillas, aragoneses and drink sangria and lemonade.
RECOMMENDATION
ACTIVITIES From the 25th to the 28th of August we celebrate Saint Agustin in Rosalejo, but the way of celebrating our festivity has changed a lot. We keep the tradition of walking around the church with the saint, the mass, eating floretas, rosquillas, drinking sangria and lemonade, doing an auction and the verbena during the night and the fireworks the night of the 28th. The new traditions that we have introduced along the years are bouncy castles, churros, the bullfighting of a calf, the shotguns, the lather and the swimming pool parties, the "botellones" in Valdegón, the dances of Nachete_Nachito, a famous dancer from Rosalejo.
GASTRONOMY
BULLFIGHTING
The years have passed and the celebrations of Saint Agustin have become the most famous festivities of Campo Arañuelo, because a lot of people from other villages from the area and cities like Madrid or Barcelona come to enjoy themselves.
PROCESSION
DANCING
Pie de foto
ROSALEJO
C AMPO CAMPO A R A ÑUELO ARAÑUELO M ONFRA AGÜ GÜE MONFRAGÜE
V ILLUE ERCAS RCAS IIBORES BO ORES RES VILLUERCAS JJARA ARA