Smallest_Sparrow
Life is rarely what you expect or believe it to be
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2012: most of some, all of a few, a bit of others
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Hi, there,in another thread a pilgrim mentioned a carnival-like atmosphere outside the Cathedral in SdC (and I believe he meant that literally, not figuratively). This made me think about something I ran into...where was it? Tall church, sign on the wall that warned not to play ball against it...Oviedo! OK, outside the church of San Isidoro el Real in Oviedo. Carnival music and performers, so loud that the priest shouted the Mass to be heard...
That was my first time in Oviedo; because I crisscrossed routes a few times, I was in Oviedo three different times, and on the subsequent two, no carnival. It wasn't mentioned in my guidebooks, and the desk staff where I was staying had no explanation. I didn't see anything like it in any other city or town...
Does anyone know what this is? Is is kind of like the small carnivals, octoberfests, etc. that some parishes in the US hold to raise money for the parish?
Thanks.Hi, there,
Don't know much about fiestas in Asturias (Oviedo) but here's the link to Galician fiestas if you would be interested:
http://www.paxinasgalegas.es/fiestas/
Otherwise whole of Spain has fiestas either for Semana Santa and other Christian dates, village/town fairs, turist carnivals, running of the bulls, autumn wine picking events, patrons days etc. etc. No way you could miss one of these in a month long Camino
Thanks...When in Leon there was a large "medieval bazar". These plazas are tourist place. That's it, that' all. The plazas do not belong to the church.
Funny how some do not like the rifraf on lublic plazas, but don't like them on a catholic pilgrimage way.
Yeah, it was some guy dressed like a ringmaster on these tall stilts walking around followed by some other guy dressed in a large, pink-elephant costume (No, I wasn't drunk at the timein another thread a pilgrim mentioned a carnival-like atmosphere outside the Cathedral in SdC (and I believe he meant that literally, not figuratively). This made me think about something I ran into...where was it? Tall church, sign on the wall that warned not to play ball against it...Oviedo! OK, outside the church of San Isidoro el Real in Oviedo. Carnival music and performers, so loud that the priest shouted the Mass to be heard...
That was my first time in Oviedo; because I crisscrossed routes a few times, I was in Oviedo three different times, and on the subsequent two, no carnival. It wasn't mentioned in my guidebooks, and the desk staff where I was staying had no explanation. I didn't see anything like it in any other city or town...
Does anyone know what this is? Is is kind of like the small carnivals, octoberfests, etc. that some parishes in the US hold to raise money for the parish?
When you ask for information with local people, take note that in English "carnival" covers many different activities. In Spanish, it is
* "Carnaval" (with an "a"), for the merrymaking immediately preceding Lent
* "Festivales" or "ferias" for extended merrymaking and celebrations, as the "sanfermines" in Pamplona, which could last a week.
* "Feria ambulante", for traveling amusement shows.
* "Kermés", for the local merrymaking organized by parishes or city councils, especially for raising funds.
Buen festejo!
What I saw (pink elephant, etc) was nothing like what you have posted and described. Traditional celebrations like that are really cool, and I love seeing them. In fact the more of them I see, the better. I've seen similar in SJPdP and saw a bit of it in Pamplona and a couple of other places along the CF.From September 29th to October 9th it is Fiestas de San Froilán in León. This year, Sunday 2th will be the big day, with a parade of women in lovely traditional dresses, a "Feria de la Morcilla" (morcilla is a blood sausage, a local specialty) in Plaza Mayor, and a "medieval" fair in the square adjacent to San Isidoro (good place for dinner, too). Also, lots of traditi0nal singing and dancing in Plaza de San Marcelo.
I was incidentally there last year; I enjoyed it. It was pleasant and interesting. I did not see any disturbing or inappropriate behaviors. No big crowds; just as the nightly life is always in the Barrio Húmedo. And outside the historic downtown, it was quiet (or busy as big cities always are).
http://leonocio.es/event/fiesta-de-san-froilan-leon/
These activities are an integral and associated part of the festivity; they are in no way opposed to the religious purpose.
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