Drummer beats out rhythm so hard his hands bleed in traditional Spanish festival

Drummer beats out rhythm so hard his hands bleed as partying crowds take to the streets in traditional Spanish festival

  • The carnival, or entroido, is celebrated in Viana do Bolo in the Galacian region of north-west Spain before Lent
  • Traditional drums called bombos are used during the procession of scary colourful masks called peliqueiros
  • The ancient carnival is the oldest in the Galacian region and is believed to have its roots in Pagan culture 

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A drummer has been pictured beating on a drum so hard that his hands drip with blood during a traditional Spanish carnival. 

The carnival, or entroido, is celebrated in Viana do Bolo in the Galacian region of north-west Spain and features a grand procession of people wearing brightly coloured masks and banging on traditional drums called bombos.

It is believed that bombos were used as a form of communication between the valleys in Viana do Bolo and they have to be hit very hard to make enough noise to ward off evil spirits.

A drummer is seen beating on a drum so hard that his hands drip with blood during a traditional Spanish carnival, or entroido, that is celebrated in Viana do Bolo in the Galacian region of north-west Spain

The carnival features a grand procession of people wearing brightly coloured masks, called peliqueiros, and banging on traditional drums called bombos to make enough noise to ward off evil spirits 

The carnival features a grand procession of people wearing brightly coloured masks, called peliqueiros, and banging on traditional drums called bombos to make enough noise to ward off evil spirits 

The bombos are the traditional drum of the region and it is believed that they were once used to communicate between valleys and mountains in the area. As many as 40 drummers could join in the carnival procession

The bombos are the traditional drum of the region and it is believed that they were once used to communicate between valleys and mountains in the area. As many as 40 drummers could join in the carnival procession

Surrounded by forests and mountains, the region is very isolated so traditions from medieval times are kept alive and untouched. The term entroido is used to describe the ancient pagan traditions that are celebrated as winter turns to spring

Surrounded by forests and mountains, the region is very isolated so traditions from medieval times are kept alive and untouched. The term entroido is used to describe the ancient pagan traditions that are celebrated as winter turns to spring

The term entroido is used to describe the ancient pagan traditions that are celebrated as winter turns to spring.

The region is mountainous and has lots of forest surrounding it which causes isolation. It is believed that it is this isolation that allowed the area to retain its unique traditions. 

While the exact history of the masked carnival characters isn’t known, they are thought to be connected to farming celebrations which encompass customs that go back to medieval times. 

While the exact history of the masked carnival characters isn't known, they are thought to be connected to farming celebrations which encompass customs that go back to medieval times. The masked people, or boteiros, run around town holding wooden sticks that double up as a way of warding the public off

While the exact history of the masked carnival characters isn’t known, they are thought to be connected to farming celebrations which encompass customs that go back to medieval times. The masked people, or boteiros, run around town holding wooden sticks that double up as a way of warding the public off

The peliqueiros are carved from wood and then hand painted with bright colours and then typically adorned with a floral head dress, called a pantalla, and ribbon

The peliqueiros are carved from wood and then hand painted with bright colours and then typically adorned with a floral head dress, called a pantalla, and ribbon

Along with the traditional masks of the region, some masks and floats will serve to satirise the government and current affairs. The loud noises from the bombos and the bells that are worn by the boteiros are thought to ward off evil spirits

Along with the traditional masks of the region, some masks and floats will serve to satirise the government and current affairs. The loud noises from the bombos and the bells that are worn by the boteiros are thought to ward off evil spirits

The loud noises from the bombos are thought to ward off evil spirits. 

The masks, or peliqueiros, are carved from wood and then hand painted in bright colours by locals who vary their technique and style before adorning them with a headdress, called a pantalla. 

Along with the traditional masks of the region, some masks and floats will serve to satirise the government and current affairs. 

The masked people will run around the town and interact with locals and tourists while wearing their traditional mask and colourful outfit that is usually adorned with bells. They carry wooden sticks and sometimes metal farming tools with them as they run

The masked people will run around the town and interact with locals and tourists while wearing their traditional mask and colourful outfit that is usually adorned with bells. They carry wooden sticks and sometimes metal farming tools with them as they run

The masked people will sometimes wear bells and run around the town making noise while being followed by people banging on tombos. 

They also carry colourful wooden sticks that they use to keep the public away from the parade.

Once the parade finishes at midday everyone is invited to join the food portion of the festival in a tent filled with up to 5,000 people.   

The entroido carnivals take place just before Lent so the traditional dish, androlla, was originally made so people could indulge in food they wouldn’t be allowed to eat while fasting – sausage and potato. 

The carnival ends with the ‘Burial of the Sardine’ – a ritual where a representation of a sardine is either burned or buried and symbolises the burial of the past to allow for a new beginning.

Once the parade finishes at midday everyone is invited to join the food portion of the festival in a tent filled with up to 5,000 people where a traditional sausage and potato meal is eaten called androlla 

Once the parade finishes at midday everyone is invited to join the food portion of the festival in a tent filled with up to 5,000 people where a traditional sausage and potato meal is eaten called androlla 

The carnival ends with the 'Burial of the Sardine' - a ritual where a representation of a sardine is either burned or buried and symbolises the burial of the past to allow for a new beginning

The carnival ends with the ‘Burial of the Sardine’ – a ritual where a representation of a sardine is either burned or buried and symbolises the burial of the past to allow for a new beginning

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