Traditional Jimena food

JIMENA Posada la Casa Grande is holding a three-day workshop on the traditional food of Jimena, July 12, 13 and 14. It includes a visit to a goat farm and goat cheese making, piñonate production and wood-oven bread-making, amongst other things. (Full programme below.) The whole weekend costs €79 p/p and includes all material, accommodation and breakfast (there's also a 12% discount for students and the unemployed.) For reservations call 956 641 129 or 667 658 298.

Okay, you can take your 'sayo' off now

(Originally published on JimenaPulse) Loosely translated Hasta el 40 de mayo no te quites el sayo means 'Don't take off your coat until the 40th of May'. A sayo is defined as a loose piece of clothing - a cape, perhaps - that reaches down to the knees. The picture is of a similar garment used in the Canary Isles that includes a shawl over the head and is evidently of Arab origin, though the Spanish mainland version is shorter. It might also apply to a raincoat of sorts. The saying dates from the Middle Ages, as does the garment, which was also used under armour. The 40th of May was yesterday and if you look out of your window or wandered out in the heat, you'll understand why we make mention of it... (Check our weather widget on the sidebar.)

The dark side of El Rocío: horses ridden to death

Pilgrimage leftovers

EL ROCÍO (Huelva) A petition is doing the rounds, which asks the Ministry of Agriculture (and other stuff) to stop ... read what the actual petition says: "Several dozen horses die every year during El Rocío (annual 'religious' pilgrimage), from exhaustion and thirst. The numbers speak for themselves: 25 in 2008, 23 in 2009, 11 in 2012, 23 in 2013. The excuses run from 'if you give them water when you leave, they can sweat and die from a cold', to 'whoever rides them to death from exhaustion has never had anything to do with horses before'. Some of them die from having to walk for miles without a break - but at the end of the day, they all die because there is no law that obliges anyone to treat an animal as the living beings they are, and not as toys to be used until they break." (Strangely, this thing about toys is what last year's and this year's J.A.W.S. Christmas campaign will be about.) Please share this item with everyone you know.

New Pope is called Paco the First

SPAIN One of the several Spanish diminutive endearments for Francisco (Francesco in Italian and Francis in English) is Paco. The social media are full of references to Pope Paco. The other such endearments, by the way, are Curro, Pancho (used mainly in Latin America), Fran, among others. There are also proper diminutives such as Francisquito, Paquito, Currín, etc., but we wouldn't want to use those for His Holiness, would we? (Oh, yes, Francisco Franco is often referred to as Frasquito...)

Only 45% of men between 18 and 34 have left home

Illustration only
(Photo: BBC.co.uk)

SPAIN The old joke has it that Jesus must have been Spanish because he was 34 and still living with his parents. It may well be true. A study carried out last year revealed that only 45.6% had left the parental home to live on their own. Okay, this is owed in good measure not only to the present national economic situation, but also to a variety of cultural reasons. The study was carried out by the Fundación de Ayuda contra la Drogadicción (FAD, Help Against Drug Addiction), and the Obra Social Caja Madrid. Young Spanish men, apparently, are the bottom of the European list of what is here called emancipación. The EU median age for leaving home is 29. Women, on the other hand, do so in 51.1% of cases - not much different from their male counterparts. (A more detailed article will soon be available on SpainInformer.com)

Ceremony of the Keys scheduled for tomorrow

GIBRALTAR (GibChronicle) The historic Ceremony of the Keys is to be held tomorrow Wednesday in Casemates Square, starting at 6.45 pm when the RG Corps of Drums and RG Cadet Corps of Drums will perform a 10 minute display prior to the parade. The event is a re-enactment of the locking of the gates to the Old Town and garrison of Gibraltar. The ceremony’s origins date from the Great Siege of Gibraltar, which started in 1779 when French and Spanish troops attempted to capture Gibraltar.>>>

What's a Cruz de Mayo, and why?

Cruz de Mayo in Jaén

You will see these all over Spain during May. They're called Cruces de Mayo, or May Crosses.They have a very long tradition in the Roman Catholic Church and come straight down from Byzantium. In fact, it is said that they are a celebration of the time when Saint Helena, mother of Roman Emperor Constantine I, who supposedly found a piece of the original Cross. However, it is also accepted, more realistically, that the May celebrations originated as pagan festivities that the Church so cleverly adapted its Christian benefit, not unlike the May pole in Britain. Okay, but why a cross? Aside from the symbolism of the Cross to early Christians (who, incidentally, almost adopted a fish as its symbol instead), there is also a legend involving Emperor Constantine.PLEASE BE AWARE THAT ITEMS SUCH AS THIS MAY BE SUBJECT TO SUBSCRIPTION IN THE FUTURE but you can make a donation NOW, too! Please click here for more information on how to help us continue. (This article took two hours and seventeen minutes to research, write, illustrate and present to you.)>>>

Are you wearing red knickers?

What? Yes, hadn't you noticed all the selections of red underwear -male and female- that abounds at this time of year? They're sure to have some at the Chinese shops if you forgot to buy any for tonight. But why? One of the least evident traditions for New Year's Eve in Spain -one of many - requires that you wear red underwear to meet the New Year. It apparently gives you luck in finding a partner (it doesn't specify whether permanent or temporary). Until quite recently, if you wore yellow underwear, all you got was luck. We have been unable to find out where or when this tradition began, but if it has anything to do with cunning marketing, like the eating of the 12 grapes at midnight (see below), we wouldn't be at all surprised. But this is not the only 'good-luck traditional ritual' (i.e. superstitions), here are some more, including some pretty strange ones:>>>

Tobi el castañero

JIMENA This is Tobi (short for Cristóbal). He sells castañas, or chestnuts. He sells them by the main square. He roasts them in a home made device that is in fact traditional wherever roasted chestnuts are sold at this time of year (we read an article recently complaining about how they had disappeared from cities). The appearance of the castañero marks the unofficial start of Autumn, which seems to be happening later every year. Anyway, Tobi is one of Jimena's characters. He calls himself un buscavidas, which means he will tackle (almost) anything to feed the wolves at his door. And his castañas are good, even better at €1 a paper cone-full.

Spaniards ignore laws on pig slaughter

SPAIN From November to February, thousands of fattened pigs are slaughtered in Spain on family farms. With a knife, as always, and with the animal squealing and struggling until it bleeds to death. This procedure has been prohibited by law for almost two decades, but some aren't aware of it, or just don't care - or the law is simply not enforced. A European directive of 1993 allows this tradition to be practiced, outside the slaughterhouse, provided that the pig has been stunned before being knifed. This is done practically nowhere. By the same token, a law was passed in 1995, and certain regions even drafted their own norms on animal well-being that afforded them some favorable publicity and applause, but which have never been observed.>>>

What's a chumbo?

Chumbera (Photo: Vicente Palacín)

You've seen them everywhere, those pinky yellow fruits at the top of rows of cacti along the side of the road, or dividing one field from another. They are the chumbos, sometimes called prickly pears; delicious to eat, but very difficult to pick and prepare to eat. The chumbo grows on a chumbera (as an higo, fig, grows on an higuera - Spanish conversation classes starting next week, people!) Below is a how-to item that will interest our more daring readers:>>>

What's a 'piropo' and have you had one yet?

SPAIN (El Pais) There was a time, not that long ago, when any red-blooded Spanish macho, from the humblest labourer to the smartest-dressed executive, considered it perfectly appropriate to publically compliment, or piropear, an attractive woman on her looks. But over the last two decades, the piropo has fallen into decline, victim to a society ever more subject to the rigors of gender equality and political correctness. "First of all, piropos have changed, and sexist expressions are used much less than 20 years ago," says feminist activist Nina Infante. "We have laws, and a culture that has begun to transmit our values. I would say that it is a positive change. But there are still too many expressions, compliments, sayings, and jokes that we have to get rid of." But the piropo has deep roots in Spanish culture.>>>

Noche de San Juan in the Campo de Gibraltar

CAMPO DE GIBRALTAR The Night of Saint John (the Baptist), celebrated in Spain on the night of June 23, is a very ancient festivity with origins in paganism. There is a connection, say some experts, with the Summer Solstice, which also involves bonfires. The Northern Hemisphere's celebration of the solstice with fire is 'to give the sun more strength', which from then on was diminishing (days get shorter until the Winter Solstice). Fire also has a 'cleansing' effect in many cultures. The closeness in time of the Summer Solstice (June 20-21) and Saint John's Day (June 24) may be a matter of mere coincidence, although experts doubt this, the ancient Christian Church being very adept at adapting otherwise pagan rites and customs to its own purposes. In the Campo de Gibraltar, the Noche de San Juan is held on the night of June 23 and celebrated all over,>>>

More about those d****d little midges - it's a matter of Saints

Yesterday we published an item titled All you wanted to know, and more, about Ceratopogonidae, and when they go away. We got the last part wrong - and when we're wrong we promptly admit it. We said that Spanish folklore has the bleeding little bleeders disappearing on or about San Juan's Day, which is the day after tomorrow. Actually, we got the saints wrong. Here's the full story, which we got over coffee this morning: They, those wretched minuscule wretches, go away on or about San Pedro y San Pablo (St. Peter and St. Paul), which is on the 29th of June, so we have another week to go. But, you ask, when do they arrive? On San Antonio, of course! That's on June 13th. Now you know. Well, we think you do.

A choice for today: pancakes or shriving?

(Photo: www.wilsonsalmanac.com) This item is for the benefit of our Spanish readers, whose pronunciation of the word 'pancake' is too similar to that of 'pound cake', thus leading to much confusion - and confusion as to the connection between the day before Lent, today, Shrove Tuesday, and pancakes, might be cleared up below (where you will also find an international variety of pancakes and various celebrations and names for the same thing). Those of us brought up in at least a quasi-English tradition, or even a full English one, know all about Shrove Tuesday, though, don't we? So if you do (and we didn't) then there's no point in reading beyond this point. On the other hand, the rest of us might find the following interesting and informative, not to mention fattening.>

Wake up, Your Efulgent Majesties! We, the children, are here!

(Photo of event in Algeciras) A tradition that appears to grow every year throughout the country is thee Arrastre de Latas. Perhaps it's just that they make a lot of noise. And no wonder. The idea is to drag a whole lot of empty tin cans through the streets so that Their Efulgent Majesties, the Three Kings bearing gifts, will not forget to deliver them to the children. Thus, every municipality organizes an event that makes sure the children get their gifts. When they arrive, Their Majestic Fantabulastic Majesties come in a variety of means of transportation. For instance, in Algeciras they do so by boat, in other places they have been known to turn up on camels of the live kind, but usually it is on a float...

Our Lady of the Angels, procession yesterday evening

Jimena's patron saint was taken in procession from the San Francisco Church up Romo (that was a challenge well taken by the costaleros, or bearers - see faces on photo!) to the Nuestra Señora de la Victoria Church. This happens but once every five years. She was applauded all through the village, especially at the various stops along the way. To shouts of ¡Viva la Reina de los Ángeles! came the response ¡Viva!, as in three cheers. Shortly after Her arrival at the Llano de la Victoria, Father Antonio said a Mass, and then Our Lady was given a twirl by the bearers before entering the church backwards (so She can come out frontwards, of course). The rain held off perfectly until just after She was settled into the church (well, She has a direct line). You can see the progression from start to finish on our Web Album: the first part here, the second part here (incl. the 'twirl').

Disappearing trades in the area

OneLinePULSE Publications is preparing articles and maybe even another site dealing with disappearing trades and/or crafts in the Campo de Gibraltar area. This is a photo of Prospero's friend Pedro, who is a talabartero, a  generic term for 'saddler' that can sometimes even include upholstery. Pedro, who lives and works in Jimena, makes those wonderfully colourful things worn by mules and donkeys during ferias and other special occasions - more photos, sent in by Gonzalo Pozo, below.>

Bewick is back - and writes about vuvuzelas...

After an absence of three months, our colleague Alexander Bewick has 'thrown up' at his computer (his words, not ours) again. In an article titled 'Tradition, right or wrong - but why?', he rails against tradition for the sake of it. Bewick's blog, The Alexander Bewick Soap Box is part of OneLinePULSE Publications, which publishes this and other, partner sites, as well as our 'colour supplement' DominGo, the latest edition of which is delayed for purely humanitarian reasons that we will not discuss here.