By the same folk who brought you the inquisition and bull fighting.Spanish 'devil' cleanses his spirits by leaping over newborn babies in centuries-old ritual

Bloody pagan barbarians.

By Daily Mail Reporter
UPDATED:
01:27 GMT, 11 June 2012


Spanish town of Castrill de Murcia may have been the most dangerous place for a baby to be yesterday.

In its annual El Colacho festival, a man dressed as the devil jumped over a
mat full of babies in order to cleanse them from evil spirits.More
than 200 people participated in this year's event, which dates back to
1621. The event recalls the eternal fight between good and evil and is
believed to put the babies on a path to a good life, opening the
entrance to heaven for them.
A man dressed up as the devil jumps over babies lying on a mattress in the street during El Colacho

According to the tradition, parents put their one-year-old babies on a mattress at the central square of a small villageMoreover, sin is believed to be driven from the whole town in the process.


According to the tradition, parents put their one-year-old babies on a mattress at the central square of a small village.


Then a man, dressed in a cheerful
yellow costume meant to symbolize the devil, takes a running start and
jumps over the kids. Meanwhile a grim man dressed in black marches
around beating a drum.

'We are proud to have managed to
maintain this holiday tradition over the centuries,' says the mayor of
the town, Marianela Manrique.

More than 200 people participated in the festival, which dates back to 1621

Over the centuries there have been no reports of
injuries among the babies, but the festival is still considered to be
one of the riskiest in the worldThe jumping ceremony is the culmination of a four-day celebration following the feast of Corpus Christi, a Christian holiday.

Over the centuries there have been no reports of injuries among the babies, but the festival is still
considered to be one of the riskiest in the world. Last year, Pope Benedict XVI directed Spanish priests to distance themselves from the event.


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