6. Saint Sebastian Day – Piornal, Spain
In Piornal, Spain on Saint Sebastian Day every January the streets fill with townspeople armed with…turnips. They wait patiently for the Jarramplas to make an appearance so that they can pelt him with turnips. The Jarramplas is a young man who is dressed as a devil. His costume is typically made of multi-colored fabric strips, and a grotesque mask with large eyes and a sharp mouth. Understandably, the costume is padded with body armor, given that having multiple turnips thrown at you could hurt. The tradition is thought to be centuries old. The origin of the festival is clouded with age, but the purpose is to ultimately drive the Devil out. The Jarramplas marches through town, banging his drum, calling villagers out to pummel him with turnips.
Discussion about this post