Romeria de San Isidro
begins on May 15 from the morning. After the religious acts, organizes the parade of the dozens of floats and the high number of riders on horseback, who
start a massive parade through
the main streets of the population between popular songs and
MONTIJO CUSTOMS
AND TRADITIONS
Traditions
Most of the preserved traditions
are related to popular religiosity.
a) May Crosses: they are still
produced with altars, in villarta
there is the tradition of singing
the Mayos, custom deeply rooted
in La Mancha.
Laguna de las Encantadas.
El Cerezo en Flor
This celebration is described as
a natural wonder. The whole
valley turns into white due to the
cherry trees white flowers, over
a million cherry trees showing
their flowers at the same time.It
is, above all, a popular celebration which tries to capture the
life of an entire region. All kind
of activities are organized to
serve as a showcase for our
culture, gastronomy, traditions
and way of life. To contemplate
this event, people come from all
over the world to this valley.
In Montijo, there is a legend
that has been transmitted
orally . The legend tells the
story of three women called
“María”. On San Juan´s night
(23rd June) , the sisters
watched the stars, which looked
big and bright. They
approached, curious to see
them reflected in the waters of
t h e lag oon an d ch arm
immediately occurred. They
decided to bathe in that
bottomless lake, never came
back out to the surface. Since
that night, they sleep in the
pond, and they only emerge on
San Juan´s night to fulfill the
wishes of those who arrive
there from Montijo walking with
a glass of water, which has not
spilled a drop.
b) Dances:are preserved in Garbayuela paloteo and Villarta, in
Peloche (for San Anton) and
Helechosa (by Corpus). Also, can
stand the Jack of Siberia
(assembly of several jotillas), the
Jack of Esparragosa (one and
the oldest of Extremadura),
Triangle or Jack and The Three
Rondeña Castilblanco.
c) Carnival, dancing blind
(Villarta: offered money for a person to dance, if not, has to pay),
in Holy Week, the pines standing
in the square (Carlitos and Tamurejo) arcs that build fifths
(Peloche and Valdecaballeros)
and Enramás for brides in May
(Garbayuela, Tamurejo, Herrera
and Peloche, for San Juan in Esparragosa) in June, that of writing
messages on the walls of houses
(Castilblanco and Siruela) etc..
d) the spring festivals: Carnival,
tours, pilgrimages ... strong migration has also obliged to generalize summer parties, in some
cases, such as the Emigrant parties, instituted as true acts of
reunion with emigrants groups.
Feature pastoral culture is the
development, present in all locations of various objects of wood
and animal horns and antlers:
spoons, forks, amulets, pendants, etc. .., beautifully made
and decorated at knifepoint.
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