The Cascamorras of Baza and Guadix

Celebration dates

Las dos carreras principales tienen fechas fijas: on 6 September in Baza y on 9 September in Guadix. The procession leaves Guadix for Baza at midnight, which opens on the 6th. Between both days, religious events, requests for donations and ceremonies linked to the Virgen de la Piedad take place.

These traditional dates do not constitute a state or regional public holiday in and of themselves. Possible local holidays depend on the official calendar approved by each municipality for each year.

Dos ciudades y dos carreras

In Baza, the arrival of the Cascamorras begins a participatory race through the town centre to the surroundings of the Temple of La Merced, where the Virgin of La Piedad is venerated. The popular objective is to prevent the envoy from arriving clean: participants and character end up covered in a black substance, while the water helps to cool the September route.

On the 9th, the Cascamorras returns to Guadix without the image. There he runs again accompanied by neighbors until completing the reception ceremony. The specific itineraries, access points and security measures may change and must be consulted in the municipal information for each edition.

Origin and history

Tradition places its origin in the discovery of an image of the Virgen de la Piedad in Baza by a worker from Guadix, known in popular history as Juan Pedernal. The dispute over which city should guard it would have led to the symbolic pact that sustains the festival: Guadix could take it if his envoy reached the temple without a single stain.

The heritage documentation places the celebration in a more complex historical process, related to the devotion to the Virgen de la Piedad, the brotherhoods and ancient festive forms. The current figure preserves elements of burlesque and minstrel characters and established itself as a ritual mediator between the two cities.

The character and his symbols

• El traje: a brightly colored clothing, with a harlequin air, that identifies the character before being blackened in the race.
• La porra: Finished with ribbons, it serves to direct progress, mark pauses and attract participants around it.
• La bandera: The Cascamorras waves it over groups that kneel during the traditional "juras".
• Tambor y cohetes: They announce the passage of a procession in which representatives of the brotherhoods also participate.

Events and participation

In addition to the races, the cycle includes the designation and presentation of whoever embodies Cascamorras, the farewell from Guadix, requests for donations, processions dedicated to the Virgin of La Piedad and ceremonial and institutional events. Brotherhoods, town councils, associations, clubs, security services and thousands of participants support the celebration.

It is a physical party with great popular concentration. It is advisable to wear appropriate clothing and footwear, protect your eyes and respiratory tract, stay hydrated, respect the corridors and follow official access and recommendations.

Reconocimientos

Cascamorras was declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest in 2006 and a Festival of International Tourist Interest in 2013. In 2019, the Regional Government of Andalusia registered the activity of Guadix and Baza in the General Catalog of Andalusian Historical Heritage as an Asset of Cultural Interest, with the typology of Activity of Ethnological Interest.

Sources

• Ministry of Culture: activity of ethnological interest El Cascamorras.
• Regional Government of Andalusia: declaration of Cascamorras as an Asset of Cultural Interest.
• Guadix City Council: history and development of Cascamorras.
• Baza City Council: Cascamorras, Festival of International Tourist Interest.