Wacky religious stunt or celebration of one's culture? You decide!

[No2W2004]

A man, called El Colacho, jumps over babies during the El Salto Del Colacho festival in Castrillo de Murcia, near Burgos, Spain, Sunday June 13, 2004. The Colacho, who represents the devil, is supposed to rid the babies of original sin, according to the age-old tradition. (AP Photo/Israel Lopez Murillo)

[Dogmudgeon]

1. Ridding the babies of original sin?

Wouldn't baptism be a lot easier and quicker?

I know that a lot of people are on the outs with Christian religion, but El Colacho might be taking it a bit far.

--bkl
Is El Colacho right for your baby? Talk to your doctor today.

[noonwitch]

3. I'll bet this has its roots in pre-christian pagan religion

Some communities never let go of all the traditions and christianized them over the years.

[Dogmudgeon]

7. Like Olentzaro?

Olentzaro is the Basque version of Santa Claus. The word actually means "The best season" in Basque; "Olentzaro" is also used as the name of the personage. It's a good bet that the festival and legend of Olentzaro long predate the Christian era.

Several of these links contain information about pre-Christian Basque mythology in general. The last one is a large, comprehensive site, but it's in Basque; I understand very little of the language, and as far as I know, no on-line translator like Babelfish is working yet, not even Basque to Spanish. However, there are a number of pictures on that website which may be interesting.

Basque Mythology (Blas Pedro Uberuaga -- "Buber")

Some important Basque words and a bit of culture (Larry Trask)

Quelques Personnages De La Mythologie Basque (French/Français)

OLENTZAROren txokoa interneten ("Olentzaro's internet place"; it's usually just a home page) (Basque/Euskara)

Eusakl Mitologia (includes a drawing of Olentzaro) (Basque/Euskara) (home page)

--bkl

[Gasolinedream]

2. What if he lands on one...

breaking its ribs or cracking its skull...Would that mean it was evil and that was meant to happen??

[No2W2004]

4. I don't live there

and I have no understanding of the culture. I do know, however, that I wouldn't put my kids at risk like this just to satisfy some superstition.

[johnnie]

5. The devil in running shoes?

Ahhh...tradition. I say to each their own. Everyone has some sort of "wacky" tradition.

[arwalden]

6. There's A Superstitious Ritual That's Flirting With Disaster

-- Allen