El Colacho: Spain’s Baby-Jumping Festival

Have you ever dreamt of being whipped with a horsetail switch while a man dressed as a devil shouts insults at you while running through the streets? If it sounds like some bizarre fantasy, don’t worry, it’s not. It’s just the annual baby-jumping festival in the Spanish village of Castrillo de Murcia.

El Colacho is a celebration held every June during the feast of Corpus Christi in which men dressed as devils run through the streets leaping over babies in order to absolve them of sin. It’s essentially a whacky version of the traditional baptism, sans water and without the blessing of the Catholic Church. It’s far more entertaining, though.

Babies born within the last the year are laid out in rows on pillows along a stretch of dirt road in the village before men dressed as brightly colored devils are released into the crowd. They hurl insults and slap people with sticks as they leap across each group of babies waiting to be cleansed. Once they’re done, the children are sprinkled with rose petals and reclaimed by their parents. It might sound dangerous, but no injuries have ever been reported.

While the event was traditionally restricted to locals, tourists from around the word have been coming to the event with their babies in recent years to participate. It’s a quirky way to cleanse their soul while also experience the local culture.