El Colacho: Baby Jumping and the “Leap of Faith”

El Colacho ( Baby jumping)

This is an old Spanish traditional festival that dates back to 1620.

It is carried out in Castrillo de Murcia a village in the province of Burgos, Spain, to mark the Catholic feast of the Corpus Christi.

The act of El Salto del Colacho is organized by the brotherhood of Santísimo Sacramento de Minerva and it comprises of a week long activities which ends with the devil’s Jump (El Salto del Colacho).

During the event, men dress up as the devil in red and yellow suits and with whips. They jump over infants born during the twelve months of the previous year.

It is said that this ritual cleanses the children from original sin, ensures safe passage through life and guards them against sickness and evil spirits.

The origin of this tradition is unknown.

It is also believed that sin is driven from the whole town in the process.

FESTIVAL:

Parents place their babies on a mattress in the village square.
A man dressed in yellow costume symbolizes the devil as he jumps over the babies.

Meanwhile, another man dressed in black walks around, beating a drum.

CRITICISM:

Pope Benedict has asked Priests in Spain to disassociate themselves from El Colacho.

The Pontiff insists that the “Original sin” can only be cleansed through baptism (most preferably infant baptism).