Festivals and traditions

Is the patron saint of Alpedrete.

On the 22^nd of May, a large number of events are organised so that everyone can enjoy these celebrations in the surroundings of the Sierra de Guadarrama.

Marian devotion is represented at its greatest on the eve of the festival when the people of the village go downhill to the  Santa Quiteria Country Chapel (where the representation of the Virgin is kept all year) and bring the image of the Virgin uphill to the church.

 The bullfighting shows and the caldereta dish served afterwards (prepared with the meat of the cattle grazed) are very popular with locals and many tourists who come here to live an unforgettable experience.

The 15th of August is the day of the patron saint of the Alpedrete Church. In her honour, religious processions, as well as other events such as concerts, children’s games and fireworks, are prepared to be enjoyed in the surroundings of the Sierra de Guadarrama.

Los Negrales neighbourhood organises religious services and events for all audiences to honour Our Lady of Carmen, in the surroundings of the Sierra de Guadarrama.

The Festival of San Sebastián, patron saint of El Boalo, is celebrated from 16th to 20th of January. It is the most solemn and deeply rooted festivity in the village. Its observance, on the 20^th of January, possibly comes from celebrating the end of the traditional slaughtering of pigs, which local people still carried out annually. It is this regained traditional festivity which allows people to participate in preparing different products from the pork.  In addition to the morning procession, a bonfire or Luminaria is lit at night time, and all those who attend are served milk chocolate spiked with anise and the typical greaves cakes to help fight the harshness of the night.

On the 5^th of February Saint Águeda is celebrated in Mataelpino. Better known as the Day of the Águedas, the Águedas are the protagonists of the festivity along with the patron saint. The women of the town and the nearby towns meet to eat together and play the role of matriarchs. It a wonderful occasion to strengthen bonds between families and between towns. The day begins with the assignment of the Staff of Command, followed by the mass and the procession. Afterwards, one can enjoy the dances, brass bands, the traditional tapas contest where “La Cresta de Oro” is disputed, and drinking hot chocolate with cakes.

On the 15^th of May, the pilgrimage to the El Boalo Country Chapel takes place. The chapel, dedicated to San Isidro Labrador, patron of the farmers, is located on the slope of the Sierra de los Porrones and from it one can see the La Maliciosa Mountain. The procession goes from El Boalo Church to the chapel; afterwards, a traditional mass takes place. Local people and those who visit the village can enjoy a rural outing in the recreation area.

At the beginning of July, in El Boalo the Summer Festival takes place. Bullfights, bull runs on the streets of the town as well as night dances and children’s activities for neighbours and visitors of the Sierra de Guadarrama are organised. Do not miss the popular Brotherhood Dinner.

On the 24^th of August San Bartolomé is celebrated, and a mass, a religious procession in honour of the saint, as well as a pilgrimage to the park, take place. Apart from the religious activities, one will find a brass band that enlivens the streets of Mataelpino, bullfights, dances and activities for children. It is worth mentioning the BOLOENCIERRO, a unique and exclusive experience of Mataelpino. It is a race open to all audiences. In the adult race a large ball made of expansive foam, of about 150 kilos and 3 meters in diameter chases the runners along a route and all the way to the town square. In the children’s’ race, the ball is lighter, but the race is equally exciting. This race is getting to be known around the globe, and each year, more people participate. We encourage you to visit us during the San Bartolomé Festival, the week of the 24^th of August, and enjoy with us our unique runs.

Cerceda Summer Festival begins on the last Thursday of August and for three days bullfights, bull runs on the streets of the village, as well as night dances and activities for the youth can be enjoyed.

On the 14^th of September Cerceda states its devotion to the Christ of Hope. In an atmosphere of respect, a procession honouring him is organised. Various leisure activities take up the whole day, and the traditional “rabbit dinner” ends it.

They are the patrons of Collado Mediano takes place on the 23^rd and the 24^th of January. On the 23^rd of January, San Ildefonso is commemorated. The day begins with a mass, followed by a procession. The procession tours part of the town and arrives at the Town Hall Square (Plaza del Ayuntamiento) where honey fritters, pastries and doughnuts watered with sangria are tasted while listening to dulzainas and a small drum.  The neighbours and visitors of this town of the Sierra de Guadarrama dance the famous “Rondón. One day later, on the 24^th of January, it is the turn of the patron saint Nuestra Señora de la Paz. On this day, a mass and a procession are organized in her honour. Afterwards, the parish priest offers at the porch of the church a tasting of the typical honey fritters, pastries and doughnuts watered with sangria. The festival last four days, each dedicated to a community, boys, girls, married people and children. During these days there is dancing in the evening and at night, until dawn.

This festival takes place on the 3^rd of May and is a great gathering of neighbours and foreigners during which potatoes with meat are tasted in a unique setting, on the Roblelpoyo prairie. The cross is carried all the way up to the prairie and people eat, dance and sing around it.

On the 15^th of August, the neighbours dress up as “chulapos” and “chulapas” for the popular dance that takes place in the Town Hall Square (Plaza del Ayuntamiento). It is a party for adults and children, neighbours and tourists of the Sierra de Guadarrama.

The festival takes place at the end of August and begins with the proclamation of the queen and her bridesmaids in the municipal park. During this six-day festival many activities for children, youth and adults, neighbours and visitors of the Sierra de Guadarrama take place: bullfights, cycling races, football tournaments, “chito” championships, clay pigeon shooting, card game championships, dancing, fireworks and a wide range of cultural, religious and festive activities. The festival ends in the Town Hall Square (Plaza del Ayuntamiento) with a great dinner of the Brotherhood of the Partners of the Fetsival in which a traditional stew of bull meat is served, followed by dancing.

 Her big day is the 8^th of September, and a procession is held there followed by traditional games shows. Numerous bullfights, sports tournaments, fireworks, popular festivals and cultural events take place the days before and after this date. The Caldereta feast organised during the festival also worth mentioning, as more than 1,000 kilos of bullfighting meat are tasted.

This pilgrimage takes place at the beginning of October, and the procession honours the Virgen del Rosario. Once celebrated, a country meal is organised in La Cabilda Municipal Park.

 The first festival of the year is the San Blas Festival, which takes place on the 3^rd of February. The previous afternoon, when the Candelaria festival is celebrated, the school children ran after the doughnut. The custom was to buy some doughnuts among all and race; the winner of the race became the owner of the precious sweet, which eventually they all shared. In the past, the Town Councils ordered three beautiful doughnuts with butter, anise seeds and candies. In the afternoon the town met with the local authorities and three races were held: the first for the married people, the second for the singles and the third for the kids, granting a doughnut to each of the champions of these groups. Nowadays, this festival still takes place, and although it is mostly a children’s competition, the whole town participates. The Town Council gives a doughnut to anyone who asks for one, and the winners of the contest continue to have the privilege of enjoying their great doughnut.

That afternoon you can hear the noise children and young men make by shaking the cowbells tied behind their backs. It is how they advertise the San Blas Festival.

The festival begins on the 2^nd of February, when the dog catchers get back to town from the mountains, formerly from the Pico de la Pala, making a big fuss with their cowbells. According to the tradition, during the French occupation, the Napoleonic troops ransacked the properties of the people of Miraflores, and the locals decided to recover them. Armed with cowbells, at night, they imitated the stampede of a herd of cows making the French troops that were stationed in the town to run away and thus recovered their belongings.

On the 3^rd of February, around 09:00 h everyone gathers; the dog catchers wear a typical costume – a white top hat, pants and shirt, all adorned with coloured ribbons and bows and with scarves – and have cowbells placed on their backs and shoulder a shotgun. They begin the pilgrimage to the San Blas shrine where all the neighbours taste the traditional potatoes with cod offered by the town council. In ancient times the pilgrimage was from the town, but today many go by car to the countryside. Still, many others take a pleasant walk, thus maintaining the custom of yesteryear to go on foot. Once on the San Blas esplanade, sports competitions, such as races, and games for the youngest are held. At 13:00 h a mass is celebrated at the San Blas shrine, where the effigy of the saint is held; afterwards, everyone enjoys the tasty and traditional potatoes with cod that the Town Council offers to neighbours and visitors. After the meal, on the way back to town, while the music of drums and dulzainas is played, the death of the heifer is staged, and the lemonade offered to the neighbours represents its blood. The afternoon ends drinking chocolate and eating churros (small deep-fried batter sticks).

Celebrated on the 15^th of May, San Isidro is the quintessential patron of the peasants, he is the saint to whom many ask for rain. Traditions place his baptism in the San Andrés Church, in Madrid capital city.

The beginning of this festival, in Miraflores de la Sierra, took place during the 17t^h century, when the cult of this saint expanded through the rural communities, coinciding with his canonisation. It took place until the Civil War, after which the enthusiasm for this festival faded away.

At the end of the 60s, the president of the agrarian chamber gave a boost to the festival. The chamber covered all the festival expenses, but also kept the fruits of the auctions, and part of the allocations of the town farmers and cattle breeders. Nowadays, the procession is still held; wheat is thrown in the streets, and the farmers bring the tractors, from where they observe and participate in the march. Several people and children dress up as mountain-dweller and ride tractors. Typical products donated by the Miraflores de la Sierra neighbours are traded in auctions held outside the church. The bouquet of apples that hangs from the saint, from his arms and plinth is the last thing auctioned. Lemonade and cookies from the local agrarian chamber follow, and the festival ends with a dance in Plaza de España.

The patron saint’s day celebrations in honour of Virgen de la Asunción take place during the week of August 15^th. The festival begins with the proclamation officiated by the mayor and the town councillor in charge of celebrations. Afterwards, the local preacher highlights the virtues and defects he has noticed throughout the year in the management of the Municipal Corporation. Following the proclamation, the young people together with the mayor or town councillor go to the New Fountain (La Fuente Nueva). In one of the big basins of the fountain, a vat of wine is placed. When the mayor or councillor get inside this basin, the most playful part of the festival begins.

This traditional festival takes place in January in honour of San Sebastián. People gather around a bonfire and chocolate with churros (small deep-fried batter sticks), and cakes are served

 It takes place at the beginning of May with a pilgrimage on the streets of the town and a mass in the chapel of La Tejera Park. Afterwards, barbecue and wine are served. Cultural and children’s activities also take place.

They take place at the end of September. For a whole week, a large number of events and shows for everyone are held. Bullfights, children’s activities, musical performances, brotherhood meals and leisure events are some of the examples of how much can be done during these celebrations.

On the 1^st of November takes place this festival that recalls the house parties of the past. On this day, one can enjoy the traditional dessert known as “Puches” and prepared by the senior women of Moralzarzal, while listening to music.

This festival that is deeply ingrained in the population of Soto del Real takes place on the 3^rd of May. With the arrival of good weather, the residents and visitors go to the countryside to have a snack; they bring along tortilla, rice pudding and peach in syrup, among others things and enjoy the music of the dulzaina and other traditional instruments. Moreover, in recent years, the typical regional costumes are being rediscovered, and La Maya or the Queen of the Spring is chosen among all the female attendees.

Soto del Real enjoys its patron saint’s day celebrations on the first Sunday of August, but the celebrations continue the previous and subsequent days. Thousands of visitors join the residents of Soto and enjoy the numerous activities that are organised for everyone: musical performances, religious services, rides, fireworks, sports competitions, bullfighting and cultural events.

On the 15^th of August, anyone interested can attend the pilgrimage to the country chapel in honour of the Virgin. A food village party with potatoes-based dishes and musical performances also take place

On 7^th of the October, Soto del Real celebrates the festival of the patron saint of Soto, Nuestra Señora del Rosario. It is a full day that begins with a mass, a procession and an auction of the butler of the Brotherhood position. Activities for children and food street party with potatoes-based dishes and lemonade are also organised. At the end of the day, people are invited to taste chocolate with “churros” (small deep-fried batter sticks).