Location: Castrillo de Murcia, Province of Burgos, Spain
When: Sunday after Corpus Christi (May/June, annually)
Category: The Sacred & The Strange
Introduction: The World’s Most Unusual Baptism
Imagine this: You’ve just had a baby. You love that child more than anything in the world. You would protect them from harm at any cost.
Now imagine laying that infant on a mattress in the middle of a public street while a man dressed as the Devil—complete with grotesque mask, whips, and castanets—comes running at full speed to leap over their tiny body.
Welcome to El Colacho, Spain’s legendary “baby jumping” festival .
For nearly 400 years, the tiny village of Castrillo de Murcia in northern Spain has observed this breathtaking tradition, which draws thousands of spectators from around the globe. It’s a festival that defies easy explanation—part Catholic feast, part pagan ritual, part adrenaline rush, and entirely unforgettable .
And yes, animals play a role too. The processions feature horses, mules, and other creatures adorned for the occasion, marching alongside devils, drummers, and robed figures in one of Europe’s most visually spectacular celebrations.
The Festival: Where the Devil Jumps Over Babies
What Is El Colacho?
El Colacho (formally known as El Salto del Colacho, or “The Devil’s Jump”) is the centerpiece of a week-long celebration honoring the Catholic feast of Corpus Christi in Castrillo de Murcia, a village of approximately 500 residents in the Burgos province .
The festival dates back to at least the early 1600s, with some sources pinpointing 1620 or 1621 as its origin . No one knows exactly how it began, though local legend points to a fascinating origin story.
The Origin Legend: A Village Saved by Witchcraft
According to local lore preserved in village records, Castrillo de Murcia once faced a devastating crisis. For several years, crops failed, livestock fell ill and died, and mysterious diseases plagued the villagers. Desperate, the village elder summoned a witch from another province to diagnose the problem .
The witch delivered a startling prescription: the village was cursed, and the only remedy required several young men to dress as devils—in red and yellow costumes—and jump over six infants born that year. Only then would the evil disperse, the crops return, and the people and animals heal .
The villagers complied. Remarkably, the curse lifted. And the tradition has continued ever since .
Modern village mayor Alejandro (interviewed in recent years) notes that while the festival retains religious overtones, “entertainment成分 now outweighs religious成分,” and parents from outside the village actively volunteer their babies for the honor of being jumped over .
The Main Event: El Salto del Colacho
The baby jumping takes place on the Sunday following Corpus Christi, typically in late May or June . Here’s how it unfolds:
Preparations: Families whose children were born in the previous 12 months bring their infants to the main street. The babies—anywhere from a few months to just under a year old—are laid out on decorated mattresses or pillows arranged in rows on the cobblestone streets. Typically, groups of six babies are placed together .
The Atmosphere: Before the jump, tension builds. Men in the iconic yellow and red devil costumes—complete with grotesque masks, horns, and often carrying whips or oversize castanets—parade through the crowd, playfully (or not-so-playfully) whipping onlookers and generally terrorizing everyone in sight .
The Arrival of the Atabaleros: Suddenly, drumming fills the air. A group of solemn, black-clad men called the Atabaleros process through the streets, beating large drums. They represent piety and the forces of good, chasing the devils before them .
The Jump: As the drums signal the moment, the devils sprint down the street, leaping over the rows of prone infants like Olympic hurdlers. In one fluid motion, they clear the babies—sometimes several in a single bound—and continue running .
The Cleansing: The jump itself is believed to cleanse the infants of original sin, absorb any evil spirits lurking within them, and protect them from future illness and misfortune . After the devils pass, babies are sprinkled with rose petals, blessed, and quickly retrieved by their (undoubtedly relieved) parents .
Safety Record: Remarkably, No Injuries
Given that the festival involves grown men running and leaping over helpless infants, one might expect a history of accidents. Remarkably, no injuries or deaths have ever been recorded in nearly 400 years of the tradition .
The same cannot be said for the devil performers themselves, who have occasionally suffered pulled hamstrings and other jumping-related injuries .
The Animals: Four-Legged Participants in the Procession
While the baby jumping understandably dominates global attention, your prompt specifically asks about animals in the festival—and they play a meaningful role.
Horses and Mules in the Corpus Christi Procession
El Colacho is not merely a baby-jumping event; it’s a full religious procession honoring Corpus Christi, one of the most important dates in the Catholic calendar. These processions traditionally involve:
- Decorated horses and mules ridden by villagers in traditional attire
- Pack animals carrying ceremonial items or religious iconography
- Livestock blessed as part of the agricultural heritage of the region
The presence of animals connects the festival to its origins—remember, the original crisis involved livestock dying and crops failing. Animals were both the victims of the curse and beneficiaries of its lifting .
The Horsetail Whips
Interestingly, the devils themselves carry whips made from horse hair or horsetail attached to sticks. They use these to whip onlookers—a practice that’s considered all in good fun and part of the devils’ role as troublemakers .
This detail directly incorporates the animal kingdom into the festival’s central symbolism: the horse, a noble creature, provides the tool that the devil uses to torment humanity, only to be driven out by the holy procession.
Agricultural Blessings
Though less documented in English-language sources, Spanish religious festivals of this type traditionally include blessings for:
- Work animals (still important in rural communities)
- Fields and crops
- Livestock
The intertwining of human, animal, and agricultural health reflects the pre-modern understanding that all aspects of community wellbeing were connected—a theme that resonates through the festival’s origin story.
The Characters: A Cast of Unforgettable Figures
El Colacho features a remarkable array of costumed participants, each with specific roles:
| Character | Costume | Role |
|---|---|---|
| El Colacho (The Devil) | Bright yellow and red matador-style suit, grotesque mask, horns | Jumps over babies, whips onlookers, represents evil |
| Los Atabaleros | Solemn black suits with sombreros, large drums | Chase the devils, represent piety and good |
| Angels and other figures | Colorful costumes, sometimes wings | Accompany procession, represent divine protection |
| Religious authorities | Traditional clerical robes | Conduct blessings, sprinkle holy water |
The visual contrast between the garish yellow devils, the somber black drummers, and the colorful angels creates a stunning tableau that photographers adore—one reason the festival generates such compelling imagery .
The Controversy: What Does the Church Think?
One might assume that jumping over babies to cleanse sin would conflict with official Catholic teaching on baptism. You’d be correct.
The Catholic Church teaches that baptism with water is the proper means of cleansing original sin. Pope Benedict XVI went so far as to ask Spanish priests to distance themselves from El Colacho .
Yet the festival continues, and local clergy often participate. As one local priest explained, “El Colacho is the representation of evil, so evil wants to take over the children… but the Blessed Sacrament, which is Jesus, wants to protect the children and goes after them, so El Colacho runs away and jumps over all the children” .
For locals, the festival isn’t a replacement for baptism—it’s an additional layer of protection, a community blessing, and above all, tradition. As one father who brought his baby to be jumped over put it: “Tradition is tradition! Every family member have been jumped over and in the end we have to follow the tradition and it doesn’t stop” .
Why This Festival Goes Viral
El Colacho possesses an irresistible combination of elements that make it perfect for social media and international attention:
1. Extremely Unusual Tradition
Let’s be honest: men dressed as devils jumping over babies is not something you see every day. The sheer shock value ensures that anyone who encounters photos or video wants to learn more. Headlines practically write themselves: “Spanish Village Where Devils Jump Over Babies” guarantees clicks .
2. Stunning Visuals
The festival is a photographer’s dream:
- Vibrant yellow devil costumes against ancient stone streets
- The dramatic contrast of black-clad drummers
- Babies lying peacefully on colorful mattresses
- The split-second moment of flight as devils soar over infants
- Rose petals floating through the air
- Processions winding through flower-decorated streets
3. The “Would You Let Your Baby Do This?” Factor
The festival naturally prompts viewers to imagine themselves in the parents’ position. That emotional engagement—shock, curiosity, vicarious thrill—drives sharing and discussion.
4. Ancient Roots
The 400-year history adds depth. This isn’t some modern stunt; it’s a tradition that has survived wars, plagues, and Papal disapproval .
5. The Safety Paradox
The fact that no baby has ever been injured seems almost miraculous, adding an element of wonder to the story .
Visiting El Colacho: Practical Information
When to Go
The festival takes place on the Sunday after Corpus Christi, which falls in late May or early to mid-June depending on the liturgical calendar. The week leading up to the jump includes various processions and events.
Getting There
Castrillo de Murcia is a tiny village in the Burgos province of northern Spain. The nearest city is Burgos, approximately 30-40 minutes away by car. Visitors typically:
- Fly to Madrid or Bilbao
- Take a train or bus to Burgos
- Rent a car or arrange local transport to the village
Where to Stay
Accommodation is extremely limited in Castrillo de Murcia itself. Most visitors stay in Burgos and commute to the festival. Book well in advance—the festival draws thousands of visitors to this small region.
What to Expect
- Crowds: Thousands of spectators pack the tiny village
- Early arrival: Secure your viewing spot hours before the jump
- Heat: June in northern Spain can be warm; bring sun protection
- Cameras: Absolutely bring one—but be prepared for the chaos
Cultural Notes
- The whipping by devils is part of the fun; locals take it in stride
- Respect the religious aspects—this is a genuine faith celebration for many
- The babies are, by all accounts, perfectly safe and often sleep through the entire thing
The Deeper Meaning: Why El Colacho Matters
El Colacho could easily be dismissed as mere spectacle—a quirky tradition kept alive for tourists. But that reading misses something essential.
This festival represents a worldview largely lost to modern society: the belief that spiritual forces operate visibly in the world, that evil can be confronted and expelled through ritual, and that community participation in those rituals matters.
The babies aren’t passive victims; they’re active participants in a drama that connects them to generations past. When those devils leap, they’re not just jumping over infants—they’re jumping over history, over faith, over the accumulated hopes of a community that has performed this same act for 400 years .
The presence of animals in the procession reinforces this connection. In the original crisis, livestock died alongside humans. In the festival’s resolution, animals are blessed alongside babies. The health of the community—human, animal, agricultural—remains intertwined .
Pope Benedict’s disapproval, however understandable from a theological perspective, misses this deeper cultural logic. For the people of Castrillo de Murcia, El Colacho isn’t competing with baptism; it’s complementing it, adding a layer of local protection to the universal sacrament.
As one observer noted, “No one can tell THIS village that they can’t send their devil-men careening over helpless infants” .
Conclusion: The Festival That Must Be Seen to Be Believed
El Colacho defies easy description. It’s terrifying and beautiful, shocking and sacred, ancient and ever-new. It’s a festival where devils run wild only to be chased by drummers, where babies lie in the path of danger only to be protected by faith, where the line between pagan ritual and Catholic devotion blurs into something uniquely Spanish.
And yes, animals join the parade—horses and mules decorated for the occasion, their presence a reminder that this festival began with a crisis affecting crops and livestock, and that the wellbeing of humans and animals remains connected in rural communities .
For visitors lucky enough to witness it, El Colacho offers something rare: an encounter with a tradition that hasn’t been sanitized for tourists, that retains its power to shock and move, that connects us to a past when spiritual drama played out in village streets.
Just don’t call it a “baby-jumping festival” within earshot of locals. It’s El Colacho. And it’s been that way for 400 years .
Quick Facts Summary
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Festival Name | El Colacho (El Salto del Colacho) |
| Location | Castrillo de Murcia, Burgos Province, Spain |
| Country | Spain |
| Continent | Europe |
| Typically Held | Sunday after Corpus Christi (late May–June) |
| Founded | c. 1620–1621 |
| Main Event | Men dressed as devils jump over infants born in the previous year |
| Other Activities | Religious processions, drumming, whip-cracking, flower decorations |
| Animals Involved | Horses and mules in processions; horsetail whips used by devils |
| Purpose | Cleanse infants of original sin, protect from evil and illness |
| Safety Record | No infant injuries ever recorded in nearly 400 years |
| Church Position | Pope Benedict XVI asked priests to distance themselves |
| Best For | Photographers, cultural travelers, anyone seeking the truly unique |
| Nearby City | Burgos (30-40 minutes away) |
This article is part of aaibi.com‘s series on the world’s strangest animal festivals. Read the complete collection: “25 Strangest Animal Festivals on Earth That Feel Completely Unreal.”
Cover image: Men representing devils leap over babies during the festival of El Colacho in
Leave a Reply