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Festival of la Maya

Colmenar Viejo, Cuenca Alta del Manzanares, Madrid

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Festival of la Maya

Activity · Colmenar Viejo, Cuenca Alta del Manzanares, Madrid

Every 2 May several young girls, dressed in inherited petticoats and Manila shawls, stand motionless and silent at altars covered with flowers gathered the day before, in a tradition of pagan roots that welcomes in spring. Beside them, other similarly dressed girls ask passers-by, brush and tray in hand, "para la maya, para la maya, que es bonita y galana." Although girls from one to thirteen years old may take part, it is usual for the mayas to be between thirteen and fourteen. In 2016 a photo report on the festival came second in the World Press Photo contest, People category. A Fiesta of Regional Tourist Interest (Spain's regional tourism-interest designation) since 2005, it was declared a Bien de Interés Cultural (Spain's highest level of heritage protection) in 2023.

Photo: Fiestamaya (Public domain)

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