San Isidro - Madrid Festivals
San Isidro is the patron saint of Madrid and the public holiday which
coincides with this festival is on 15th Mat although a range of varied events
take place from the Friday before 15th when the Mayor's speech begins
proceedings and continue until the following Sunday when there is the cooking of
an enormous Cocido Madrileño (Madrid's most traditional dish).
In the world of bullfighting San Isidro marks the start of the capital's season
and is the world's largest event which attracts all the top bullfighters and
bull breeders. If you're planning on a visit you should try to get tickets well
in advance as every night of at the Las Ventas bullring sells out.
On the day of May 15th many Madrileños dressed in traditional gear head for
Plaza Mayor where there is traditional dancing and open air concerts. Casa de
Campo, the large park to the south west of the centre hosts rock concerts during
the fiestas and there are varied events throughout the city.
A interesting anecdote regarding Madrid's traditional dress .... I Spanish if
someone is described as "chulo" it's quite a derogatory term meaning that
they're full of themselves. Madrileños are often described as "chulo" by people
from other parts of Spain. The name of the traditional Madrileño costume is a
"chulapo" which comes from the word "chulo". Below are a couple of pictures of
this typical dress with the men wearing a flat check cap, waistcoat and
handkerchief around their necks and the women wearing elegant dresses, a head
scarf and a shawl.
Around the streets of central Madrid you'll see organ grinders (barquilleros)
in their San Isidro costumes selling traditional sweet snacks called
"barquillos". Although San Isidro was historically a religious celebration of
the generosity of San Isidro (a poor farmer) and his wife, Santa Maria de la
Cabeza, in giving food to the poor, it is now a excuse for great festivities.
This turnaround has been the case in most national festivals. Viva España!
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