Last Thursday, the 3rd of May was Cruz de Mayo (Fiesta de las Cruces). As far as I know this religious holiday (mixed with more than a few pagan traditions) is celebrated exclusively in Spain and a few Hispano-American countries. Apparently it stems from the story of Emperor Constantine I, the guy who made Christianity popular in the fourth century. Before a battle with a whopping big enemy army, Constantine had a vision of a cross in the sky, and was told that with this symbol he would be victorious. You guessed it, Constantine wins, is baptized, and more or less institutionalizes Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. He sends his mom, Saint Helena to Jerusalem in search of the original, True Cross. El Día de la Cruz commemorates the day that she discovered said cross on Cavalry Hill.
In Spain, most people get the afternoon off of work, and each city has its own unique way of celebrating. Granada is particularly famous for outdoor festivities and numerous crosses hung in decorated courtyards, shop windows and plazas; the most beautiful arrangement wins a prize. I had a wonderful day walking around with friends to see the crosses and enjoy the ambiance. The streets were filled with colorful, traditional Spanish costumes, people dancing Sevillanas (flamenco-inspired dance for the layman), horses, and merry making. My fantastic group of Spanish friends were so warm and inviting to my American friends that joined us, we had a great afternoon!
An apple with scissors stabbed into it is at the foot of every decorative cross represents an interrupted "but"... as in, someone is commenting on the beautiful arrangement, how many flowers there are, etc. etc. "but it is missing a..." or "but the one down the street is prettier". No buts about it, there is the but, rammed through with a pair of scissors. I asked half a dozen Spaniards - so how is a "but" an apple?
Ni puta idea. No effing idea. Quite charming, though.
Me with A in her beautiful dress!
1st prize winning cross in the Albaicin!
Amongst my friends here I am infamous for creepily taking pictures of other people's children.
I think this is the best one I've taken all semester.
J and A danced for us whenever the music permitted Sevillanas... such an elegant dance and such
talented dancers!
Horses, horses everywhere! (I couldn't help myself.)
Basically every girl under the age of fourteen was wearing a flamenco dress, and plenty of adults and little boys were dressed up in colorful, traditional costume, too.
Ah España, te echaré de menos.
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