San Isidro

Today is San Isidro. He's the patron saint of agricultural workers.

Two days ago villagers started to go down to the village picnic ground about 2-3 km from here in order to put up tents, gather wood, take down provisions etc. some even take down fridges to keep the beers cold!

Today people started to gather outside the church. Decorated tractors appeared pulling trailers which carried typical country scenes, some were decorated trailers for children to sit on. Horses started arriving from all directions, prancing around amongst the crowds.
(Health and safety doesn't exist here). People dressed in flamenco style, country style and the Extremadura national costume appeared.

Then the band struck up and San Isidro (the statue) was carried out of the church. The procession down to the picnic ground begins with no apparent organiser, the horses go first, San Isidro follows on his trailer, then the crowds followed by the tractors.

We can watch the procession wind its way through the almond and olive groves from our house. It takes them about 2 hours with a drinks break halfway there.

The party will go on until tomorrow night when San Isidro is taken out of the little chapel and everyone follows him back up to the church where he's put back until next year.

I couldn't decide which photo to blip, I took so many. Thought this one might give a flavour of the fiesta.