Jaleos

Menorcan summer is famous for its traditional folk fests. From June to September, almost every weekend there is one, every time in a different village of the island. They are very typical, the whole population participates and a lot of tourists come from other parts of Spain and from all over Europe to take part too. They are called "Jaleos" and they are the celebration of horses, very important animals in the agricultural history of the island. During the festivals, the horses, festively decorated, as much as the jockeys, parade in the center of the villages, in the middle of the crowd, with music and dancing. The streets are covered with sand, the horses are blessed, and the people throw themeselves under the horses pushing them up to make them walk on two legs. Everyone drinks the typical pomada granizada (gin lemon slush). Dust, crowd, sweat, noise, alchool.

Not this year, of course.

I'm kind of sad to miss this big typical event. But maybe, from how they described it to me, it's way too chaotic and crowded for me.

[Pictures from menorca.info]