Amanda Rivkin

Spain Fiestas Municipales

COSTUR, SPAIN. Young women parade through the town in traditional Valencian attire during the municipal fiestas on August 15, 2009.
   
COSTUR, SPAIN. Locals attend mass before the start of a procession towards the cavalry and cemetery above the town during the municipal fiestas in the town on August 16, 2009.
   
COSTUR, SPAIN. The traditional hairstyle of Valencian women in the main square during the municipal fiestas on August 15, 2009.
     
  
COSTUR, SPAIN. Locals form a procession towards the cavalry and cemetery above the town during the municipal fiestas in the town on August 16, 2009.
   
COSTUR, SPAIN. Locals form a procession towards the cavalry and cemetery above the town during the municipal fiestas in the town on August 16, 2009.
   
COSTUR, SPAIN. Locals hold candles after arriving at the cavalry and cemetery above the town following a procession during the municipal fiestas in the town on August 16, 2009.
     
  
COSTUR, SPAIN. Men carry Jesus on the cross after arriving at the cavalry and cemetery above the town following a procession during the municipal fiestas in the town on August 16, 2009.
   
COSTUR, SPAIN. Locals hold candles after arriving at the cavalry and cemetery above the town following a procession during the municipal fiestas in the town on August 16, 2009.
   
COSTUR, SPAIN. Locals hold candles after arriving at the cavalry and cemetery above the town following a procession during the municipal fiestas in the town on August 16, 2009.
     
  
COSTUR, SPAIN. An orchestra parades through the square surrounding the church signaling the start of a procession towards the cavalry and cemetery above the town during the municipal fiestas in the town on August 16, 2009.
   
COSTUR, SPAIN. Following the solemn act of a Sunday procession, a midnight pagan ritual, "Corre Fuegos" or "Running with Fire" begins as locals are chased through the streets by flame throwing and firework yielding men dressed in all white during the municipal fiestas on August 17, 2009.
   
COSTUR, SPAIN. Fideua, a traditional Valencian seafood macaroni dish similar to paella, for 400 is prepared for lunch with the help of outsiders for the entire town during the town's municipal fiestas on August 19, 2009.
     
  
COSTUR, SPAIN. A town dinner in the gymnasium during the municipal fiestas on August 18, 2009.
   
COSTUR, SPAIN. Men prepare a bull for an "embolado" ceremony, where flaming charcoal is affixed to the bulls horns, during the municipal fiestas on August 19, 2009. For several days, wild bulls and cows take their turn roaming the streets and square surrounding the church in Costur as people jump in and out of human cages to taunt and animate them; the "embolado" is a tradition that pre-dates electricity so people would be able to see the illuminated bull as he runs through the darkened streets.
   
COSTUR, SPAIN. Men prepare a bull for an "embolado" ceremony, where flaming charcoal is affixed to the bulls horns, during the municipal fiestas on August 19, 2009. For several days, wild bulls and cows take their turn roaming the streets and square surrounding the church in Costur as people jump in and out of human cages to taunt and animate them; the "embolado" is a tradition that pre-dates electricity so people would be able to see the illuminated bull as he runs through the darkened streets.
     
  
COSTUR, SPAIN. Members of the "penya," or group of friends calling themselves "Els Kutos," or "the pigs" in Catalan, prepare their Native American attire for Costume Night celebrations during the municipal fiestas on August 17, 2009.
  
COSTUR, SPAIN. Children watch as the orchestra begins to play after a big town dinner during the municipal fiestas on August 15, 2009.
   
COSTUR, SPAIN. The second place winners of the Costume Night celebrations during the municipal fiestas in Costur, Spain on August 17, 2009 came dressed as 1930s Chicago-style mafiosos; each first, second, and third place winner was awarded a case of rum.
     
  
COSTUR, SPAIN. Couples and young people dance late into the night during the municipal fiestas on August 15, 2009.
   
COSTUR, SPAIN. The first place winners on Costume Night celebrations, Michael Jackson and the "Thriller" entourage, perform after receiving the first place title during the municipal fiestas on August 17, 2009; each first, second, and third place winner was awarded a case of rum.
   
COSTUR, SPAIN. The town of Costur, Spain as seen from the cavalry and cemetery overlooking the town during the municipal fiestas in the town on August 16, 2009.