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Spanish Fiestas & Festeros - A Short Guide |
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| Visitors to Spain quickly
realise the significance that the fiesta holds in cultural life
throughout the country. There are dozens of nationally recognised
festivals throughout the year and most towns have their own local
fiesta traditions. The majority of Spanish fiestas are religious
in origin, but also commemorate various Saints' days and are held
to honour the Patron Saint of the town. However, the religious component
of the fiesta is usually secondary to the general spirit of wild
celebration. The "Festero" and "Festera" play
an integral role in the planning and organisation of fiesta. These
are the teenagers of the town or village whose responsibility it
is to organise the annual celebrations, including the essential
fundraising that accompanies the detailed planning of the week long
events.
Every 17 year old in the municipality is invited to become one
of the festeros. When the year's work is completed and the festeros
have reached the age of 18, a twelve day party begins to mark the
auspicious occasion. The event, which symbolises their passage into
adulthood is taken very seriously by all the participants and is
celebrated with friends, family and the whole community.
At the end of the year the fiestas begin with a presentation ceremony
that is usually held in the main square of the town. The Festero
dress in smart dark suits, while the Festera wear gorgeous long
white gowns and intricately styled tresses. A colourful parade is
held to commemorate a year in office during which each boy is presented
with a pin or badge and each girl receives a sash from the festeros
of the previous year.
The presentation ceremony is meticulously rehearsed until the final
show runs like a professional performance. The music and lighting
have to be perfect, the flowers beautifully arranged, the photographers
in position and the whole community in attendance to witness and
encourage, with deafening ovations, each superbly attired couple
as they mount the decorated stage.
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| Each morning of the fiesta, at 8a.m. the town receives
a manic 'wake up call,' which includes the release of a large number
of bangers, firecrackers and general noisy mayhem, provided by the
festeros. For the young people of the town this is the end of the
previous evenings revelry and the opportunity to get some rest before
the commencement of the day's events that begin again at 11am. Formal
outfits are normal attire for the festeros throughout fiesta, even
their homes are decorated and the doorways are adorned with palm
branches.
Morning attendance at Mass is a key occasion in the first few days
of fiesta. The town band accompanies the festeros in a procession
through the streets, as they gather in their pairs for the flamboyant
promenade to church. Joyous bell ringing signals the arrival of
the festeros parade to the church at which point the townsfolk join
the festeros and their families to enjoy the service. Following
Mass there is a sumptuous lunch after which everyone relaxes to
enjoy various activities that have been organised by the festeros
for each day. A major part of the festeros duties throughout the
year is to select, organise and then budget for these public activities.
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| The choices made by the festeros can vary widely, but
there are a number of events that consistently receive popular acclaim
during the fiesta, including parades of fantastically designed floats,
a range of entertainment for children and traditional Spanish activities.
The sports day is customarily included with all manner of team games
being played, such as pelota, volleyball, handball and football. The
evening's entertainment officially begins at midnight and it is not
unusual for a band to perform in the town square until the next morning.
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Planning the fiesta takes a year of determined organisation as
the costs incurred by a small town can total 6-7 million pesetas.
Preparations for the traditional Spanish activities cost approximately
2 million pesetas while the other 5 million covers the cost of
live bands each night, the numerous daily activities offered to
the towns people and the evening meals for the festeros.
The Town Hall donates around 2 million pesetas to the fund each
year and about a dozen committed and passionate festeros raise
the remainder. These festeros employ various means to raise the
required amount for example lotteries are held each week with
prizes donated by the local business community. These prizes occasionally
appear fairly unusual to visitors to the rural regions of Spain
as they may reflect the agricultural nature of the area and have
been known to include a lamb.
Fundraising rock concerts and fashion shows are commonly held
with part of the ticket sales going towards the fiesta funds.
The fundraising team often produces a glossy magazine that provides
essential information about the events surrounding the fiesta
and creates the opportunity to raise money through advertising.
An immense amount of hard work and a great deal of responsibility
is bestowed upon the teenagers who undertake the role of festeros,
but it is well worth the effort and a chance for the whole community
to celebrate in an astonishing fashion.
This information is based on the fiestas in the
south eastern region, specifically Jalon, most towns and villages
in Spain follow similar themes
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Short Guides from Star - Spanish Fiestas & Festeros Guide from www.rentspain.com |
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