Inside El Colacho, the wild 400-yr-erstwhile Spanish festival where men dress as devils and hurdle over babies to drive away evil

El Colacho

The "Colacho" (representing the "devil") jumps over babies during "El salto del Colacho," the baby jumping festival in the hamlet of Castrillo de Murcia, June 3, 2018.
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  • Every June men in the Spanish boondocks of Castrillo de Murcia dress equally devils and hurdle over newborn babies to drive away evil — part of the the festival of El Salto del Colacho.
  • Meaning "the devil's bound," it happens in northern Spain, near the city of Burgos, and has been going on since 1620.
  • Catholics believe the devils drive away evil from the babies by using whips and castanets equally they hurdle over the children.
  • Hither'due south what information technology looks similar.
  • Visit INSIDER'due south homepage for more stories.

Every June 23, men in the northern Spanish town of Castrillo de Murcia don devil outfits and hurtle down the streets vaulting over newborn babies.

The Catholic celebration of El Salto del Colacho, which translates equally "The devil's jump," has been going on in Castrillo every year since 1620.

The baby-jumper represents the devil who is removing evil from the babies, who are all under one year old.

Carrying whips and castanets to drive off spirits, the devil will hurdle over 100 babies before chasing older children in the town foursquare.

Here's what information technology's like to exist at that place.

El Colacho takes place every year on a Sun in belatedly June to celebrate the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi. This twelvemonth it volition be held on June 23.

The 'Colacho' (man representing the devil) jumps over babies during 'El salto del Colacho', the baby jumping festival in the hamlet of Castrillo de Murcia, June 3, 2018
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Men dressed in traditional costume meant to make them look like devils charge downwards from the town's old church and spring over pocket-sized mattresses with babies on as onlookers watch.

A human dressed as the devil jumps over babies at El Colacho.
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It has happened in Castrillo de Murcia every year since 1620.

The minor town of Castrillo De Murcia.
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The running starts as the clock strikes vi:00 p.m.

A devil jumps over babies at El Salto del Colacho.
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The devils concur horsehair whips and castanets as they spring, which they utilise to drive abroad evil.

Infant jumping (El Colacho)
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The locals believe the evil spirits stick to the devils every bit they jump over the babies.

El Salto del Colacho (the devil'south jump) or simply El Colacho.
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Residents also hang white sheets from balconies which symbolize purity — which they promise will banish the devil.

Women hang white sheets at El Colacho.
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The babies lie comfortably on rose petal covered mattresses, and are blissfully unaware of the festivities.

Babies lie on a mattress in the street during 'El salto del Colacho', the baby jumping festival in the village of Castrillo de Murcia, near Burgos on June 3, 2018.
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At the end of the grade, young boys and girls also taunt the devils, until they hunt them with the whips and castanets.

A man dressed up as the devil chases children during 'El Colacho', the 'baby jumping festival.'
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The celebration is organized past abbots from the local Alliance of Santísimo Sacramento de Minerva, who bless the babies. The devil is a member of the alliance.

A priest blesses children during 'El Colacho', the 'baby jumping festival' on June 2, 2013
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The devils ordinarily leap over effectually 100 newborns, while three,000 people picket from the sidelines.

A man dressed up as the devil jumps over babies lying on a mattress in the street during 'El Colacho', the 'baby jumping festival' on June 10, 2012.
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Source: Burgos Conecta

The babies must have been born in Castrillo or nearby, and exist less than one-year-old.

The devils likewise chance boys an girls down the streets to chase abroad bad spirits.
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And locals say none of the babies have ever been injured in the competition'due south 398-year history.

A babe sits on the fringes of the El Colacho celebration.
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