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Vijanera festival: Spain celebrates its pre-Roman nature cult

A man dressed in sheepskins with jingling bells to make noise, and so-called Zamarraco (warriors of the good), poses for a photograph during the Vijanera festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, January 3, 2016. The Vijanera masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolising the triumph of good over evil and involving the participation of crowds of residents wearing different masks, animal skins and brightly coloured clothing with its own complex function and symbolism and becoming the living example of the survival of archaic cults to nature. (AP)

Updated on: Jan 04, 2016 7:46 PM IST

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A man dressed in sheepskins with jingling bells to make noise, and so-called Zamarraco (warriors of the good), poses for a photograph during the Vijanera festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, January 3, 2016. The Vijanera masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolising the triumph of good over evil and involving the participation of crowds of residents wearing different masks, animal skins and brightly coloured clothing with its own complex function and symbolism and becoming the living example of the survival of archaic cults to nature. (AP)

Updated on Jan 04, 2016 7:46 PM

A man dressed in sheepskins with jingling bells to make noise, and so-called Zamarraco (warriors of the good), poses for a photograph during the Vijanera festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, January 3, 2016. The Vijanera masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolising the triumph of good over evil and involving the participation of crowds of residents wearing different masks, animal skins and brightly coloured clothing with its own complex function and symbolism and becoming the living example of the survival of archaic cults to nature. (AP)

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A young boy dressed in sheepskin with jingling bells to make noise poses for a photograph during the Vijanera Festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, January 3, 2016. (AP)

Updated on Jan 04, 2016 7:46 PM

A young boy dressed in sheepskin with jingling bells to make noise poses for a photograph during the Vijanera Festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, January 3, 2016. (AP)

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Because of its popularity, it has been declared as Fiesta of National Tourist Interest by Spain. (AP)

Updated on Jan 04, 2016 7:46 PM

Because of its popularity, it has been declared as Fiesta of National Tourist Interest by Spain. (AP)

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The colourful masquerade is the first carnival of the year in Europe and takes place on the first Sunday of the New Year. (AP)

Updated on Jan 04, 2016 7:46 PM

The colourful masquerade is the first carnival of the year in Europe and takes place on the first Sunday of the New Year. (AP)

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A man, so-called Zamarraco, dressed in sheepskins with jingling bells to make noise, marches with others during in Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, January 3, 2016. (AP)

Updated on Jan 04, 2016 7:46 PM

A man, so-called Zamarraco, dressed in sheepskins with jingling bells to make noise, marches with others during in Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, January 3, 2016. (AP)

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A man (right) dressed in sheepskins and jingling bells to make noise, dances next to another dressed as a Trapajon (left; entities of the nature) representing entities of nature, during the Vijanera Festival, in Silio, northern Spain, January 3, 2016. (AP)

Updated on Jan 04, 2016 7:46 PM

A man (right) dressed in sheepskins and jingling bells to make noise, dances next to another dressed as a Trapajon (left; entities of the nature) representing entities of nature, during the Vijanera Festival, in Silio, northern Spain, January 3, 2016. (AP)

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