Folklore

FERIA DE ABRIL de SEVILLA

One or two weeks later the well-known “Feria de Abril” takes place. Originally this was a cattle market. But in the course of time it turned into a folkloristic whoopee. In the streets which are decorated with flowers, lanterns and festoons, numerous tents and booths string together. Each of these tents belongs to a family, a group of friends or any pool, and because of that the entrance is mostly limited to members and guests. Normally in the tents is a dance floor and a bar or some seats.

The festival, which lasts six days, starts in the night of Monday when the Sevillians come together in their tents to eat the typical “Pescaito Frito”. At 11 o`clock is the grand opening, the so called “Alumbrado”, whereat the colourful electric bulbs, which are mounted on wooden arches, and the lanterns in the streets are switched on. Mornings the Sevillians are present at the procession of the troopers; it is called “Paseo de Caballos”. Here the riders, wearing their typical costumes, show their ability and beautiful coaches pass by, that are colourfully decorated. Depending on the age mostly all women of Sevilla wear the traditional Flamenco-costumes. All day long you sing, dance and eat. For drinking they have the Sherry-beverages “Fino de Jerez” and “Fino de Manzanilla”. At 5 o`clock in the afternoon the bullfights take place. After this and after a short brake the dance and singing goes on. In the morning the ensemble ends with the breakfast “Chocolate con Churros” (pastry, that is dipped into hot chocolate) and the people go home. The whole spectacle ends on Sunday at 11 o`clock at night with a firework and the switch off of the lighting. After this folk festival a lot of others take place in the villages of the province, which lasts until September. These events are similar to the one in Sevilla, but they are not so big and impressive.

A continuación de la feria, se da una sucesión de ferias en todos los pueblos de la provincia y los alrededores que durará hasta Septiembre. Su fisonomía será parecida, sólo la distinguen el hecho de que la de Sevilla es mucho más grande e impresionante.

[Spanish costums and folklore]     [1 2 3 4 5 6]