December 8 – The Feast of the Immaculate Conception
This day is a holy day of obligation in which many Christians, particularly of the Catholic faith, attend special church services for this occasion. It is a public holiday in Spain and for many this is when Christmas officially starts.
The city of Seville is one of the best places to enjoy thus public holiday Music and dancing fill the streets of the city creating a mood of happiness and joy. On this day los seises or the ‘dance of six’, is performed by a group of ten choir boys dressed in 16th-century costume. The group performs an elaborate ritual of rhythmic dances and melodic songs, which are performed in front of the Gothic cathedral in Seville.
Video of los seis (“dance of six”)
At midnight groups of traditionally dressed tunos sing and play old serenades to Mother Mary. Every university in Spain has los tunos, an acoustic band formed by students.
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On 7 December at Jarandilla in the province of Caceres (Extremadura) a fiesta called Los Escobazos (broom strokes) consists of a procession through the streets by the boys of the village who, riding on horseback and carrying lighted resinous torches and brooms, engage in mock battles.
Video of Fiesta de Los Escobazos in Jarandilla
In Andalucia, and parts of Extremadura and southern Castilla-La Mancha, groups of traditional musicians known as campanilleros (bell ringers) sing religious songs accompanied by guitars, bells and other instruments throughout the Christmas and New Year festivities, commencing on the Feast of Immaculate Conception. Their classic song is Los Campanilleros:
LOS CAMPANILLEROS
En los pueblos de mi Andalucía
los campanilleros por la “madrugá”
me despiertan con sus campanillas
y con sus guitarras me hacen llorar.
Yo empiezo a cantar, …
y al oírme todos los pajarillos
que están en las ramas se echan a volar.
Pajarillos que vais por el campo,
seguid a la estrella, volad a Belén,
que os espera un niño chiquito
que el Rey de los Cielos y la Tierra es.
Volad a Belén,
que os espera un niño chiquito,
que el Rey de los Cielos y la Tierra es.
En la noche de la Nochebuena,
bajo las estrellas y por la “madrugá”
los pastores, con sus campanillas,
adoran al Niño que ha nacido ya.
Y con devoción, …
van tocando zambombas, panderos,
cantando las coplas al Niño de Dios.
A la puerta de un rico avariento
llegó Jesucristo y limosna pidió,
y en lugar de darle una limosna
los perros que había se los azuzó.
Pero quiso Dios, …
que al momento los perros murieran
y el rico avariento pobre se quedó.
Si supieras la entrada que tuvo
el Rey de los cielos en Jerusalén
no quiso ni coches ni calesas,
sino un jumentito que “alquilao” fue.
Quiso demostrar, …
que las puertas divinas del cielo
tan solo las abre la Santa humildad.
