Inside Bizarre Spanish Tradition Where Men Jump Over Babies

El Colacho, or 'The Devil,' was one of the oddest festivals celebrated in the small village of Castrillo de Murcia in northern Spain. It took place around mid-June every year when the 'devils,' dressed in yellow costumes, jumped over babies lying on mattresses in the streets. While no clear history or origins were known for this ritual, it was said that Pope Gregory XV approved the festival in 1621.

The festival was the highlight of the 'Corpus Christi festivities week,' where parents and tourists gathered to watch the chaotic jumps. Parents brought their babies born in the past year and arranged them in neat rows on pillows. After a few minutes, men dressed in bright yellow costumes and silly masks walked through the crowd, playfully whipping bystanders and jumping over the babies.

Locals believed that once these devils leaped over the tiny humans without their masks, the babies' original sins washed away. Knewz.com explored how after each jump, priests blessed the babies, young girls scattered rose petals, and parents picked up their little ones. The Catholic Church and Pope Benedict even asked for an end to this risky festival. However, this ritual was believed to have been performed even before the 1600s, and the villagers were not ready to stop this fun practice. Jorge, a 30-year-old man, shared with The Guardian , "This is more than a feeling. It’s part of the DNA."

Thankfully, there had never been any reported injuries, and that year marked their 400th official celebration. While this ritual was often seen as dangerous, it was, in reality, a day filled with love, laughter, and hugs. People from different places came together to share food and drinks, laugh, and connect across generations.

The arrival of the black-clad atabalero was often seen as a baptism ritual where the devil took away the sins of the babies and protected them from illness and bad luck, as reported by Nat Geo . Originally, the festival only allowed babies from the local village, but people from around the world began coming to northern Spain to have their little ones receive blessings.

Before the jumping, a lot happened after the drum rolled in Castrillo de Murcia. Youngsters drank red wine from jugs while the devils roamed the streets, creating a chaotic atmosphere. During their walk, the youngsters teased the devil, and he playfully struck those he caught with his whip. People were so engaged in the parade that when his mask slipped, they came forward to help put it back on, ensuring that no fun was missed.

Later in the evening, the doorways were decorated with white sheets, flowers, and statues of the Virgin Mary for the main event. After the wiggling babies were placed about 200 meters apart, the crowd was filled with both awe and fear. Earlier, the audience had been smaller, but with the festival's growing popularity, around 1,000 spectators watched from behind metal barriers. The audience included priests, men in cloaks, and children in traditional costumes walking through the streets.