Corpus Christi/Fair
Last Thursday was Corpus Christi day in Spain. In Granada, this is the day they take out of the Cathedral the huge, golden “monstrance,” given to the city by Queen Isabel some 500 yrs. ago, place the “host” in it and parade it through the streets of the city. The host, according to Catholic beliefs, is the literal body of Christ, so it’s an important event. People sit (or stand) for hours in advance to see it.
Some get birds-eye views!
The procession begins with a reminder of the Reconquest of Spain, which ended in 1492 with the conquest of Granada. The huge effigies of the Catholic king and queen are followed by the Muslim ruler and his wife.
Then there a few “fun” things, including these big-headed figures who come along and bop people on the head with a rubber ball,
soldiers shouldering antiquated muskets,
and the fife and drum section, to keep everyone in time (sort of ).
Then comes the more serious part, with the seminary students,
A brass section with old, high-pitched trumpets played on their sides,
And a whole host of ordinary people, members of the Catholic brotherhoods called cofradías. These people are the movers and shakers of maintaining these traditions.
Following are more seminary students,
Then young boys, maybe altar boys (I can’t imagine them being this pious for very long!)
And a group of parish priests.
Finally, the main part of the procession appears. High above the elaborate float is the golden monstrance holding the “host’” the wafer (the body of Christ), partly hidden behind a red cross (sign for a pharmacy). Notice the flower petals strewn down from high-up onlookers.
Along the way, the procession stops to pay homage at altars like this one (which, incidentally, got first place in the altar contest).
Of course, there’s cleanup afterwards of the hay-like grass that is strewn along the path of the procession. It’s put there for a reason, of which we don’t yet know.
The streets of the city are kept clean at all times by these workers in florescent green uniforms.
The Corpus Christi procession is only part of the activities of the week-long Granada Fair, situated on the outskirts of the city. This would rival the Ohio State Fair, without all the animal and craft exhibits. Plenty to eat (how about an ear of sweet corn for 4 bucks!) along with try-your skill (luck) booths, rides, and loads of 3-D tents (dining, drinking and dancing).
During the week there are other exhibits throughout the city. Wherever people gather you’ll find entertainers of all types. How about in Granada, Spain, seeing Otavalan Indians from Ecuador, dressed in North American Indian costumes and playing North American Indian music on their Andean pan pipes (a quarter-tone lower than the accompaniment track, I might add!)?
At other places in the city you’ll see these “statues,” people who paint themselves up like a statue and “freeze” until someone drops a coin into a basket, whereupon they gyrate a bit before “freezing” again. I’m not sure who this guy is – a thin version of a young Einstein?
We were surprised and blessed by a brief visit from Louie and Sheryl Stauffer, on their honeymoon, no less!
Each week is different. What will this week bring?