It's hours before dawn in Acehuche, a small town in Spain's western Extremadura region, and a group of youngsters is ending a parade by setting off fireworks and beating drums.
The noise awakes residents for some of the biggest dates in the local calendar: the three-day celebration of the fur-covered characters known as “Carantoñas" that resemble wild beasts.
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It's hours before dawn in Acehuche, a small town in Spain's western Extremadura region, and a group of youngsters is ending a parade by setting off fireworks and beating drums.
After the 2021 edition was canceled amid a strong surge in coronavirus cases, the festival went ahead in late January this year. It was held under strict mask-wearing rules due to record numbers of infections across Spain fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant.
On the second day of the celebration, as the image of St. Sebastian is carried in a procession over rosemary-covered pavements, the “Carantoñas” bow to the patron saint and the “Regaoras” cover the sculpture in confetti as traditional songs are sung and drums are played.
With the sculpture back inside the church, a new character emerges in the crowd outside: the “Vaca-Tora," a monstrous figure with enormous horns and an oversized loud cowbell that ushers away both beasts and revelers.
Revelers take cover during a firework battle as part of the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, early Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A men is dressed with animal skins during "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Men prepare themselves before taking part in "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. Looking like wild beasts, the "Carantonas" costumes are handmade from goats and usually are handover from one generation to the next one. The catholic religious festivity honours Saint Sebastian, the town's patron saint. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Men dress as wild beasts or "Carantonas" drink and eat prior the annual procession during "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A man dressed as a wild animal or "Carantona" poses for a portrait during the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A woman dressed in traditional attire known as "regaora" poses for a portrait during the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A man dressed as a wild animal or "Carantona" poses for a portrait during the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A woman dressed in traditional attire known as "regaora" poses for a portrait during the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A man dressed as a wild animal or "Carantona" poses for a portrait during the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
The carving of Saint Sebastian is greeted with salutes of honour while carried by worshippers during the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Catholic worshippers gather during the procession as part of the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. After the 2021 edition was canceled amid a strong surge in coronavirus cases, the festival went ahead in late January this year and under strict mask-wearing rules despite record numbers of infections across Spain fuelled by an ultra-contagion virus variant.(AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Catholic worshippers carry the carving of Saint Sebastian during the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. After the 2021 edition was canceled amid a strong surge in coronavirus cases, the festival went ahead in late January this year and under strict mask-wearing rules despite record numbers of infections across Spain fuelled by an ultra-contagion virus variant.(AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A man dressed as a wild animal or "Carantona" holds a wild olive branch during "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Jaime Garrido plays the flute and the drum during "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Men dressed as wild animals or "Carantonas" wait to bow in front the carving of Saint Sebastian during a Catholic procession as part of "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Women dressed in traditional attire known as "regaoras" and men dressed as wild animals or "Carantonas" gather during a procession as part of the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A man dressed as a wild animal or "Carantona" offers sweets as part of the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. After the 2021 edition was canceled amid a strong surge in coronavirus cases, the festival went ahead in late January this year and under strict mask-wearing rules despite record numbers of infections across Spain fuelled by an ultra-contagion virus variant.(AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A man gets dressed as a "vaca tora" during the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A man gets dressed as "vaca tora", center, drives away wild animals or "Carantonas" during the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. After the 2021 edition was canceled amid a strong surge in coronavirus cases, the festival went ahead in late January this year and under strict mask-wearing rules despite record numbers of infections across Spain fuelled by an ultra-contagion virus variant. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
An image depicting Saint Sebastian hangs from a balcony during the "Las Carantonas" Catholic festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A man dressed as a wild animal or "Carantona"and his son during "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. After the 2021 edition was canceled amid a strong surge in coronavirus cases, the festival went ahead in late January this year and under strict mask-wearing rules despite record numbers of infections across Spain fuelled by an ultra-contagion virus variant.(AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, St. Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans.
Men prepare themselves before taking part in "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. Looking like wild beasts, the "Carantonas" costumes are handmade from goats and usually are handover from one generation to the next one. The catholic religious festivity honours Saint Sebastian, the town's patron saint. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
After the 2021 edition was canceled amid a strong surge in coronavirus cases, the festival went ahead in late January this year. It was held under strict mask-wearing rules due to record numbers of infections across Spain fueled by the highly contagious omicron variant.
Following the tradition, women dress up as “Regaoras” in colorful embroidered skirts and shawls, decorating intricate hairstyles with flowers, while a few dozen men gather in a garage to cover themselves in animal skins and fur to transform into “Carantoñas."
The handmade costumes can weigh more than 20 kilograms (44 pounds) and only male revelers above 16 are allowed to wear them.
Revelers play the drums and use fireworks to wake up neighbours during the "albora" as part of the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, early Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans.(AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
On the second day of the celebration, as the image of St. Sebastian is carried in a procession over rosemary-covered pavements, the “Carantoñas” bow to the patron saint and the “Regaoras” cover the sculpture in confetti as traditional songs are sung and drums are played.
“All the songs we play we have been recovered by oral tradition,” said Jaime Garrido, one of the musicians. “Some are common songs in the region and others are specific to this festival.”
The procession takes the saint's figure to face a chosen member of the local brotherhood who thanks St. Sebastian for keeping the town safe and healthy one more year.
Revelers use fireworks to wake up neighbours during the "albora" as part of the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, early Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
With the sculpture back inside the church, a new character emerges in the crowd outside: the “Vaca-Tora," a monstrous figure with enormous horns and an oversized loud cowbell that ushers away both beasts and revelers.
Revelers play the drums and use fireworks to wake up neighbours during the "albora" as part of the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, early Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Revelers take cover during a firework battle as part of the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, early Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A men is dressed with animal skins during "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Men prepare themselves before taking part in "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. Looking like wild beasts, the "Carantonas" costumes are handmade from goats and usually are handover from one generation to the next one. The catholic religious festivity honours Saint Sebastian, the town's patron saint. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Men dress as wild beasts or "Carantonas" drink and eat prior the annual procession during "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A man dressed as a wild animal or "Carantona" poses for a portrait during the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A woman dressed in traditional attire known as "regaora" poses for a portrait during the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A man dressed as a wild animal or "Carantona" poses for a portrait during the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A woman dressed in traditional attire known as "regaora" poses for a portrait during the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A man dressed as a wild animal or "Carantona" poses for a portrait during the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
The carving of Saint Sebastian is greeted with salutes of honour while carried by worshippers during the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Catholic worshippers gather during the procession as part of the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. After the 2021 edition was canceled amid a strong surge in coronavirus cases, the festival went ahead in late January this year and under strict mask-wearing rules despite record numbers of infections across Spain fuelled by an ultra-contagion virus variant.(AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Catholic worshippers carry the carving of Saint Sebastian during the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. After the 2021 edition was canceled amid a strong surge in coronavirus cases, the festival went ahead in late January this year and under strict mask-wearing rules despite record numbers of infections across Spain fuelled by an ultra-contagion virus variant.(AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A man dressed as a wild animal or "Carantona" holds a wild olive branch during "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Jaime Garrido plays the flute and the drum during "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Men dressed as wild animals or "Carantonas" wait to bow in front the carving of Saint Sebastian during a Catholic procession as part of "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
Women dressed in traditional attire known as "regaoras" and men dressed as wild animals or "Carantonas" gather during a procession as part of the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A man dressed as a wild animal or "Carantona" offers sweets as part of the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. After the 2021 edition was canceled amid a strong surge in coronavirus cases, the festival went ahead in late January this year and under strict mask-wearing rules despite record numbers of infections across Spain fuelled by an ultra-contagion virus variant.(AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A man gets dressed as a "vaca tora" during the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A man gets dressed as "vaca tora", center, drives away wild animals or "Carantonas" during the "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Friday, Jan. 21, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. After the 2021 edition was canceled amid a strong surge in coronavirus cases, the festival went ahead in late January this year and under strict mask-wearing rules despite record numbers of infections across Spain fuelled by an ultra-contagion virus variant. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
An image depicting Saint Sebastian hangs from a balcony during the "Las Carantonas" Catholic festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. (AP PhotoBernat Armangue)
A man dressed as a wild animal or "Carantona"and his son during "Las Carantonas" festival in Acehuche, southeast Spain, Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022. With roots in pagan traditions of fertility that were incorporated into religious symbolism, the ancient festival currently marks Acehuche's patron, Saint Sebastian, whom the Catholic tradition considers a martyr of the early anti-Christian Romans. After the 2021 edition was canceled amid a strong surge in coronavirus cases, the festival went ahead in late January this year and under strict mask-wearing rules despite record numbers of infections across Spain fuelled by an ultra-contagion virus variant.(AP PhotoBernat Armangue)