Friday, May. 14, 2010

Baby-Jumping Festival (Castrillo de Murcia, Spain)

It's hard to think about this festival without cringing (or considering a call to child protective services). Dating back to 1620, El Colacho — the Baby-Jumping Festival — marks the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi in the Spanish village of Castrillo de Murcia. Men dressed as the devil (who apparently bears more than a passing resemblance to Elvis) leap over mattresses packed with babies. The rite is said to cleanse children of sin, keep them safe from illness and guard them from evil spirits. We hope it also offers protection against middle-aged hurdlers if they trip and fall on them.