FESTIVALS AND TRADITIONS
Days that unite the entire community
Create memories
Each town in the Geopark Comarca de Molina-Alto Tajo has its patron saint festivities and traditions that bring together inhabitants and former neighbors.
The most important festivals are:
Declared of Regional Tourist Interest, the Parade of the Cofradía Militar del Carmen, in Molina de Aragón, on July 16. The knights of the Cofradía Militar del Carmen, dressed in a colorful red and white uniform, escort the image of the Virgen del Carmen through the streets of Molina accompanied by the Bugle and Drum Band.
We will distinguish the Halberdier Squadron and the Guard of Honor by their white frock coats with red collars and cuffs, and by their high black beret on their heads. They also carry halberds and pikes from the XVI and XVII centuries. The origin of this Brotherhood dates back to the Molina Charter of the XII century, in which Manrique de Lara established the obligation to have a horse for those inhabitants who had a certain amount of wealth.
That body of knights who defended the Lordship lost its military character with Doña Blanca, fifth lady of Molina, who organized the Cabildo de Caballeros into a religious brotherhood, which has existed ever since.
Declared of Cultural Interest and Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO, the Festival of the Gancheros, the last weekend of August. The Gancheros del Alto Tajo was a risky trade, now extinct, which consisted of transporting the wood extracted in areas of the upper reaches of the Tagus, directing the loose trunks of felled pine trees across the river, until they reached Aranjuez.
The festive tradition that recreates this ancient trade was the subject of interest in 1961 by the writer José Luis Sampedro, who recreated the life of these men and women in his novel "El río que nos lleva" (The river that carries us). In 1989 Antonio del Real took this story to the cinema, with the same title, and received a mention from UNESCO for its ecological and cultural values.
Carnival, the pagan festival par excellence, since it is outside any religious rite, also holds a great tradition in the villages of the Geopark. During this festival, the residents of each village used to emulate animals and other creatures of different kinds .
Among all the carnivals, Los Diablos and Mascaritas de Luzón stand out without a doubt, a festival that has also been declared of Provincial Tourist Interest. On the Saturday afternoon of Carnival, the Devils of Luzon jump through the streets and squares carrying huge horns on their heads and large cowbells tied to their waists that never stop ringing. Dressed completely in black, they paint their faces and arms in the same color.
In their mouths they hold a piece of potato -as big teeth- offering a terrifying aspect. To the sound of the dulzainas, theywalk through the town while scaring and chasing all the attendees to stain them with their soot (oil and ash).
Only the Mascaritas are saved from their action, who accompany them wandering through the town in silence, dressed in traditional female clothing and hiding their faces with a white cloth to avoid being recognized.
In addition, in this region there are several festivals of Provincial Tourist Interest such as the Dances and Loa a la Virgen de la Hoz, which is celebrated in the place known by the same name, in the municipality of Corduente, the following Sunday to Pentecost; the Soldadesca de Codes, on August 16; the Soldadesca of Hinojosa, the first Sunday of June; the Romería de la Virgen del Montesinos, in Cobeta, the third Saturday of May; the Cánticos a San Timoteo, dance of the flag and currutaje, in Alcoroches, on August 22; and San Bartolomé, in Checa, on August 24.