'Devils' take to the streets as a Spanish village celebrates the Endiablada festival

‘Devils’ take to the streets as a Spanish village celebrates the Endiablada festival

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Every February 2nd in the small Spanish village of Almonacid del Marquesado, local residents celebrate the feast day of the Virgin of Candelaria, with “devils” and dancers taking to the streets in a vibrant display of faith and tradition (AP Video by Iain Sullivan).

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Members of the Endiablada brotherhood take part inside of a church during the ‘Endiablada’ traditional festival in Almonacid del Marquesado, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Costume accessories of the Endiablada brotherhood are pictured during the ‘Endiablada’ traditional festival in Almonacid del Marquesado, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Benito Martinez Martinez, 58, member of the Endiablada brotherhood poses for a photo during the ‘Endiablada’ traditional festival in Almonacid del Marquesado, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Members of the ‘Endiablada’ brotherhood march during the ‘Endiablada’ traditional festival in Almonacid del Marquesado, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Women dance during the ‘Endiablada’ traditional festival in Almonacid del Marquesado, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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A member of the Endiablada brotherhood jumps during the ‘Endiablada’ traditional festival in Almonacid del Marquesado, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Members of the Endiablada brotherhood take a break during the ‘Endiablada’ traditional festival in Almonacid del Marquesado, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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A woman looks from her home as members of the Endiablada brotherhood march past during the ‘Endiablada’ traditional festival in Almonacid del Marquesado, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Jose Sobrino Martinez, 67, member of the Endiablada brotherhood poses for a photo during the ‘Endiablada’ traditional festival in Almonacid del Marquesado, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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A woman reacts as members of the Endiablada brotherhood take part inside a church during the ‘Endiablada’ traditional festival in Almonacid del Marquesado, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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A member of the Endiablada brotherhood walks during the ‘Endiablada’ traditional festival in Almonacid del Marquesado, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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A woman leaves her house with a child during the ‘Endiablada’ traditional festival in Almonacid del Marquesado, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Members of the Endiablada brotherhood march during the ‘Endiablada’ traditional festival in Almonacid del Marquesado, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Members of the Endiablada brotherhood march during the ‘Endiablada’ traditional festival in Almonacid del Marquesado, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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Members of the Endiablada brotherhood march during the ‘Endiablada’ traditional festival in Almonacid del Marquesado, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

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A member of the Endiablada brotherhood takes a break during the ‘Endiablada’ traditional festival in Almonacid del Marquesado, Spain, Sunday, Feb. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)

ALMONACID DEL MARQUESADO, Spain (AP) — Every year in early February, local residents in the Spanish village of Almonacid del Marquesado celebrate the feast day of the Virgen of Candelaria, with “devils” and dancers taking to the streets in a vibrant display of faith and tradition.

The village has celebrated the “Endiablada” (Brotherhood of the Devils) festival each Feb. 2-3 since at least medieval times.

During the festival, men from the town dress up as devil-type characters in colorful jumpsuits and red miter hats.

Donning large, heavy copper cowbells around their waists, which clang incessantly, the men walk, dance and jump through the town’s winding streets and visit the cemetery.

Only men born in the village or descendants of villagers are allowed to be “devils” and participate in La Endiablada.

“(The cowbells weigh) about 13, 14 kilos (28-31 pounds), but for us it is not tiring because we live it, we carry it inside us,” said Carmelo Sánchez, one of the “devil” participants.

Young boys take part with small cow bells hanging from their backs, ensuring the tradition will continue into the next generation.

“It was very, very peculiar with so many cowbells,” said Hiroko Notomi, a tourist who was among the spectators watching La Endiablada. “It’s a very interesting festival and besides it is not like a big city festival, I liked that a lot.”