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Santa Águeda Espinosa de Henares Español
Four young women in traditional dress hold a checked-shirt effigy with yellow hair horizontally, laughing under a blue sky with clouds.

Chapter 9 of 12

Peleles

At first he was alone, and they shook him mercilessly. Then they thought he needed company. Leocadio and Leocadia end up together in the bonfire.

Leocadio, alone

The pelele was born years ago as a doll of rags and straw on which to let off steam: since men were not wanted nearby on that day, it was handy to have one to shake about, pull by the hair and do whatever came to mind. His name was Leocadio.

Two women in embroidered white aprons and red shawls hug and hold up a black-haired effigy in dark clothes, laughing on a sunny street. (enlarge)

Enter Leocadia

Over the years someone thought the poor man was very lonely and needed a woman. So Leocadia was born. Now they get along well, and the sisters lead by example: they take them out to dance by the bonfire and give them a good shake.

Four young women in traditional dress hold a checked-shirt effigy with yellow hair horizontally, laughing under a blue sky with clouds. (enlarge)

And onto the fire

The romance lasts as long as the day. As night falls, both end up in the embers. In 2014 Nueva Alcarria was already describing the dance with «straw effigies» later thrown into the flames; in 2022 the report calls them by name.

At night, a rag effigy dressed in red with a hat burns lying on branches; several standing figures and a car with its headlights on are visible in the gloom around it. (enlarge)

Photographs