Los Escobazos, Jarandilla

According to the local people, the "Escobazos" festival of the comes from a shepherding tradition. It seems that when the shepherds returned from the mountain, they lit up their path with blazing brooms which they would put out by beating, hitting each other playfully, when they got to Jarandilla.

Ever since, the "Escobazos" festival has been held every year on 7th December: a festival that has been declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest due to its unique nature.

The holiday begins with a request for a fritter. The prefect, the priest, families and friends go through the streets of Jarandilla de la Vera shouting "Viva" to the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception to the sound of a drum. When they have finished, all the squares fill up with people preparing their brooms so that, as soon as it begins to get dark, they can light them and begin to hit each other. But nobody gets hurt because, amongst other precautions, nobody is allowed to hit anyone else above the waist.

The streets of the town turn into a spectacle of light and fire with all the excitement of the inhabitants' brooms hitting each other. Meanwhile, many more patiently await the return of the prefect - who has gone to fetch the Immaculate Conception's standard. He receives it on horseback from the hands of the parish priest at the door of the Church of Santa María de la Torre, and he parades it all around the town of Jarandilla de la Vera shouting: "Long live the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception!" To which all the attendees respond with loud, heartfelt cries of "Viva".

Once the Standard has been presented to the town, the procession - joined by horses and devotees on foot - goes along lit up by the blazing brooms while the people sing the typical songs of the Immaculate Conception to the rhythm of pots, pans, mortars, anisette bottles, etc.

When the Standard reaches the square again, it is given back to the parish priest and the battle of the brooms comes to an end.