Los Negritos of San Blas
Los Negritos of San Blas is a festival of Regional Tourist Interest that is celebrated in a small town in Extremadura, in Cáceres, Spain to celebrate San Blas on February 2 and 3.
What is the festival about?
This original festival begins on February 2 with the traditional procession where the colorful characters known as the "Negritos", the "Palotero" and the Drummer participate, who wear colorful costumes and dance, accompanied by the crowd that goes to the hermitage where the image of Saint Saint Blas rests.
On February 3, the tribute to the figure of the saint continues, for this, the main actors smudge their faces in black with burnt cork, to later attend mass. Finally, San Blas is carried in a procession through all the streets, where Negritos begin their dances, one of them, the popular dance of the Cordón.
Origin of this festivity
According to legend, the origin of this festival dates back several centuries when, on the eve of the celebration of the San Blas festivities, a very humble family appeared in the town of Montehermoso asking for alms and in gratitude, they performed some dances that enjoyed the approval of the attendees.
After a few years, their dances no longer enjoyed so much popularity, for this reason, they had the idea of blackening their faces to avoid being recognized by the villagers. But the locals realized the trick and, contrary to expectations, they invited them to come back every year around the same dates, and since then, this has been part of the tradition, which until now continues to be part of the celebration.
What to do and what places to visit in Montehermoso?
Montehermoso is a picturesque town in Cáceres where you can enjoy ancient settlements and fascinating views. Here the Roman ruin called "El Ronco" and the famous "Piedra" are located, which despite the years, are preserved in excellent condition.
Known as the "Cuna del Tipismo Extremeño", this town is characterized by following its traditions, where its crafts and the typical floklore of this region stand out.
There are also some neighboring towns such as "Pozuelo de Zarzón" where you can see a large number of majestic olive trees. Aceituna and its surroundings will also enchant you with its beautiful rural houses.
Within the gastronomy of this town, its great variety of meats stands out. A typical dish that is in great demand is Migas, made with breadcrumbs and pork. Another popular dish is Zorongollo, it is an exquisite salad or the famous Cochifrito, which is made with small pieces of suckling pig.
Nor can you fail to try its wide variety of sweets such as the rich Extremadura Flowers, the Sapillos or the exquisite puff pastry dessert known as Técula Mécula, filled with almonds and covered in chocolate.
