Cómpeta has been the scene of many an enjoyable event over the last couple of months we have had everything from the traditional Night of the Kings on January 6th to a real feast of Robert Burns´ poems (as well, of course, as excellent fayre and whisky) on 25th January at the Albaida, Canillas.
Los Compadres “Songs from the Shows” took the village by storm at La Roca and the Hotel Balcón de Europa something we hope they will repeat. We've had Spanish and German choirs in the Plaza Almijara, concerts in the church, the Feria del Barrio San Sebastian in Cómpeta, San Antón in Canillas, Salares and Archez. The singer Paco Dumas from Granada entertained us before Xmas in the Salón de Actos it was wonderful to see Spanish, Danish, English and a host of other nationalities enjoy such a famous personage in our village. It was good, also to see people dress up for the occasion.
On the three weekends following the Night of the Kings each village has its festival. On 21st January homage was paid to San Sebastian, patron saint of Cómpeta. The fair has been in existence for eleven years, and keeps the tradition of enjoying free migas, sardines, salt cod and oranges, accompanied by Cómpeta wine. Food is followed by dancing, singing and the amazing ribbon race, which has to be seen to be believed. This year the horses took part in the ribbon race, preceded by children on bikes and teenagers on motorbikes. The idea is to collect as many rolled up ribbons from a cable across the road using a pinchito stick. Participants are not allowed to stop and any attempt to grab the ribbons by hand, or even finger, is frowned upon by the strict adjudicators. For the horse race, Jóse took the first prize with his magnificent grey steed it takes real horsemanship to be able to get a pinchito stick through a hole the size of a thumb nail at full gallop! The procession returned to the Ermita accompanied by singing and fireworks.
At the ferias in Canillas, Salares and Archez the animals are blessed as part of a worldwide event known in Spain as San Antón. Saint
Anthony is the patron saint of the animal kingdom, among other things, and animal blessings and life respecting masses take place on the Sunday closest to his feast dTina Irvinay of January 17th, the date of Saint Anthony's physical death but celebrated as his birth date in heaven. Source: www.blessingoftheanimals.com. Some animals did not want to be blessed though horses pranced as water was thrown over them by the priest, dogs scrabbled to get away, and cats clawed their owners …… all in all it was a memorable occasion, and good that traditions in the villages are being upheld in spite of a tendency to modernise and forget the culture.
The annual celebratory tribute to the life, works and spirit of the great Scottish poet, Robert Burns (1759-1796) is popular world wide, and become very popular locally over the three years it has taken place at the Albaida restaurant in Canillas. It is not only the Spanish who know how to enjoy themselves it is said there are more than 3,000 fiestas per year in Andalucia alone but the Scots certainly know how to put on a good spread, and, whether you understand the words of the Bard or not, the way of addressing the haggis leaves little to the imagination as the haggis is stabbed with the dirk (dagger) when the chef, who traditionally addresses the haggis, reaches the line 'an cut you up wi' ready slight' see more about the Bard at http://www.robertburns.org/ . There was even an exhibition about Scotland at the restaurant!
As I write, we look forward to the Ritmo de Cómpeta another great musical event in the village. Keep an eye out for details.
Tina Irving
Caledonian Iberian ConeXions S.L.
