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Sts. Philip and James the Less (Balmaseda, between 19^th and 20^th centuries). Archive: Harresi Kulturala Elkartea.

Different groups of children take to the streets on May Day or the Day of the Holy Cross (3 May) to celebrate the feast of the “sanfelips” (St. Philips) in the charter town of Balmaseda. They dress in their usual clothes and wear a decorated bishop’s mitre made out of card or cardboard on their heads. As they go round the town carrying a platform with the “little angels” or “tiny saints” or a small cross adorned with a shroud, they chant a repetitive song “a cappella”, while they ask for alms. And 2023 celebrates 150 years since the first account was published about this unusual and specific custom in Los Niños. Revista de Educación y recreo (Madrid, May 1873).

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