The festival El Cascamorras in Spain

The start of the festival harkens back to the times of historical events that happened in the cities Guadix and Baza. According to the legend, the citizen of Guadiz found in Baza the icon of the Holy Virgin. Around the relics the argument started to define who had to acquire the possession in the form of icon, if it could be Baza or Guadix. The citizens of Guadix and Baza proved their exclusionary rights at the icon. The argument had been lasting for a long time and it could not be solved. Then, the citizens of Guadix decided to take the icon to them because they believed in their sole tight to obtain it. When the relics was already been moved to the city, the locals from Baza took it away. As the result of various arguments, the decision was made that the relics could be taken by the citizens of Guadix if someone could come to the city pure. It seemed that it could be so simple to do it, however, during many years nobody succeeded in this task.

The citizens of Baza and Guadix began repeating verily these events. Starting from the XIX century, on the 6-th of September, hundred Cascamorras who are considered as the representatives of Guadix tries to take the relics back from Baza. In their turn, the citizens of Baza stain themselves in black oily dye and smear the citizens of Guadix. If somebody could become pure, he will be blurred with colorful water. Is it worth saying that citizens of Guadix could not take the icon away?

After the end of the festival all the citizens of the cities return to their homes. Somebody celebrates another victory while others think about their failure. In spite of the fact that tradition has been having many years, nobody gets offended because arguments between two cities are forgotten.