September 18, 2006: Cascamorras festival

Undertoad · 09-18-2006, 10:59 AM

Why are all these people dirty, in the public square?

Tomatina is not the only festival in Spain -- turns out the Spanish are just crazy about wacky festivals and here is another glorious one, Cascamorras.

It's so new that Wikipedia doesn't have an entry on it! There's an official website, but the Spanish is so deep there that even Babelfish doesn't really translate.

I found other sites on it here, and here, the translations are so horrible that I can only piece together what's happening. I'll probably get it wrong, but here goes.

It seems there are two otherwise unnotable towns, Baza and Guadix. They fight over possession of this statue, the "Virgin of Piedad". They've fought over it for five centuries.

Every year, Guadix sends a team of representatives to Baza in an attempt to get the statue. These representatives are the "Cascamorras". People of Baza wait for the Cascamorras with a big bag of dirt, tinted water, and eggs.

The idea is that if the Cascamorras is not perfectly clean, it doesn't gain possession of the statue - so the Baza team tries to dirty the Cascamorras at all costs.

At intervals, there is an opportunity for the Cascamorras to wave the flag, clean off in fountains, and start over.

Every year the Cascamorras fails to capture the statue, and so every year it must return home to Guadix... where, in its shame, it's again smeared with tinted water and eggs and filth.

Unfortunately it's not clear from the photos which section of the festival is shown, and which side is which, etc. Looks like a glorious opportunity to get dirty... and clean... and dirty again.

Spexxvet · 09-18-2006, 11:57 AM

I think I'll go back to my sty and celebrate by rolling in some slop. Anyone want to hose me down, afterward?

dar512 · 09-18-2006, 12:10 PM

Has anyone else read Robert Lynn Asprin's Myth Adventure series? This reminds me of the book about Aahz's birthday present.

barefoot serpent · 09-18-2006, 01:03 PM

maybe the Sunnis and Shi'as can start throwing dirt and eggs in Baghdad instead of RPGs?

The 42 · 09-18-2006, 01:20 PM

That kiss at the end looks sweet, but ugh! How can they stand to kiss each other when they look like they have dirt literally painted on?!

xoxoxoBruce · 09-18-2006, 07:29 PM

I read a piece about Spanish festivals where the author proposed that all the festivals, big like Pamploma's running of the bulls, down to little two village festivals like this, were greeted with great enthusiasm, because Spain lives under such a strict social code. Any chance to drink, dance and flirt, are welcomed with gusto.

Undertoad · 09-18-2006, 08:10 PM

It's fun to re-read my entries again. In this one I say "so new" to describe an event that's gone on for five centuries. No, it's only new to us.

breakingnews · 09-19-2006, 12:29 AM

europeans are so fucking weird.

Sundae · 09-19-2006, 06:52 AM

Continental Europeans are weird. We just chase cheese down hills and snorkel in bogs.

xoxoxoBruce · 09-19-2006, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by breakingnews

europeans are so fucking weird.

This, from the island where they burn sacrificial money for water ghosts and parade colorful flags to appease the spirits of the "Short People".

Let's face it, people everywhere are weird.

Ibby · 09-19-2006, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

This, from the island where they burn sacrificial money for water ghosts and parade colorful flags to appease the spirits of the "Short People".

Let's face it, people everywhere are weird.

Elspode · 09-19-2006, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

It's fun to re-read my entries again. In this one I say "so new" to describe an event that's gone on for five centuries. No, it's only new to us.

Hey, America *is* the world? I mean, if we haven't ripped it off and exploited it for profit, its "new".

SeanAhern · 09-19-2006, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by breakingnews

europeans are so fucking weird.

Maybe. But do they practice weird fucking?

wolf · 09-23-2006, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundae Girl

Continental Europeans are weird. We just chase cheese down hills and snorkel in bogs.

Don't forget Morris Dancing.

09-18-2006, 10:59 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	September 18, 2006: Cascamorras festival Why are all these people dirty, in the public square? Tomatina is not the only festival in Spain -- turns out the Spanish are just crazy about wacky festivals and here is another glorious one, Cascamorras. It's so new that Wikipedia doesn't have an entry on it! There's an official website, but the Spanish is so deep there that even Babelfish doesn't really translate. I found other sites on it here, and here, the translations are so horrible that I can only piece together what's happening. I'll probably get it wrong, but here goes. It seems there are two otherwise unnotable towns, Baza and Guadix. They fight over possession of this statue, the "Virgin of Piedad". They've fought over it for five centuries. Every year, Guadix sends a team of representatives to Baza in an attempt to get the statue. These representatives are the "Cascamorras". People of Baza wait for the Cascamorras with a big bag of dirt, tinted water, and eggs. The idea is that if the Cascamorras is not perfectly clean, it doesn't gain possession of the statue - so the Baza team tries to dirty the Cascamorras at all costs. At intervals, there is an opportunity for the Cascamorras to wave the flag, clean off in fountains, and start over. Every year the Cascamorras fails to capture the statue, and so every year it must return home to Guadix... where, in its shame, it's again smeared with tinted water and eggs and filth. Unfortunately it's not clear from the photos which section of the festival is shown, and which side is which, etc. Looks like a glorious opportunity to get dirty... and clean... and dirty again.

09-18-2006, 11:57 AM	#2
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	I think I'll go back to my sty and celebrate by rolling in some slop. Anyone want to hose me down, afterward? __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

09-18-2006, 12:10 PM	#3
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	Has anyone else read Robert Lynn Asprin's Myth Adventure series? This reminds me of the book about Aahz's birthday present. __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

09-18-2006, 01:03 PM	#4
barefoot serpent go ahead, abbrev. it Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 2,623	maybe the Sunnis and Shi'as can start throwing dirt and eggs in Baghdad instead of RPGs? __________________ Chooses rowing vs. wading

09-18-2006, 07:29 PM	#6
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I read a piece about Spanish festivals where the author proposed that all the festivals, big like Pamploma's running of the bulls, down to little two village festivals like this, were greeted with great enthusiasm, because Spain lives under such a strict social code. Any chance to drink, dance and flirt, are welcomed with gusto. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

09-18-2006, 01:20 PM	#5
The 42 I'm not lurking, I'm stalking YOU! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Somwhere over the rainbow Posts: 70	That kiss at the end looks sweet, but ugh! How can they stand to kiss each other when they look like they have dirt literally painted on?!

09-18-2006, 08:10 PM	#7
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	It's fun to re-read my entries again. In this one I say "so new" to describe an event that's gone on for five centuries. No, it's only new to us.

09-19-2006, 12:29 AM	#8
breakingnews Q_Q Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: somewhere in between Posts: 995	europeans are so fucking weird. __________________ Gone crazy, be back never.

09-19-2006, 06:52 AM	#9
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Continental Europeans are weird. We just chase cheese down hills and snorkel in bogs. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

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