Powder Day
Encyclopedia
Powder Day or Day of the Powder, is celebrated in the southern Spanish
village of Tolox
on Shrove Tuesday
, the final day of the annual Tolox carnival
. This local tradition
involves the throwing of talcum powder at one another.
One reason given for the custom is that it takes place the day before Ash Wednesday
on which the priest
declares to the faithful "Remember, man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return”.
A more likely origin of the tradition is said to have its roots in a Christian
/Moorish riot
in the 16th century when Tolox, then under Christian control
, had a large Moorish population. During Christmas of 1539 there was civil strife between the predominantly Moorish peasant
s and the Christian landholders. One chronicler states that this custom originated in a dispute between a Moorish and a Christian girl who were in love with the same man. Both worked in a bakery
and as the argument grew more heated, they ended up throwing all the flour
they could find at each other.
In years gone by, the custom evolved that young men wanting to request their girlfriends’ hand in marriage would throw flour at them. Girls not wishing be subjected to this, would refrain from going out on the streets, forcing the boys to come up with ingenious ways to powder their target. The young men would dust their hands with flour and try to enter a young girls house and smother their faces with flour. If doors and windows were closed, it meant they were not desired by the girl. If the lad was still keen, he had to smartly outwit her by climbing to the roof or breaking windows and doors to get her smeared with the flour, thus winning her heart in a symbolic way, or simply to impress her.
Nowadays this tradition especially appeals to the young people who hurl talcum powder instead of flour at each other, without preference or distinction as to gender or origin, until they are completely covered with it. Many outsiders come to Tolox to take part in this peculiar fiesta
. Up to 3,000 kilogram
have been known to be thrown in the village.
A similar custom takes place in Alozaina
, in which hundreds of people celebrate the “hariná”, in remembrance of the times when their ancestors covered young women with wheat flour from the mills
to show their love.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
village of Tolox
Tolox
Tolox is a village and municipality in the province of Málaga, Andalusia, southern Spain. The municipality has a population of 2,317 . It is situated in the centre of the Sierra de las Nieves Nature Park, at the foot of Sierra Blanca and Sierra Parda. In addition to La Torrecilla Peak , there...
on Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday is a term used in English-speaking countries, especially in Ireland, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Germany, and parts of the United States for the day preceding Ash Wednesday, the first day of the season of fasting and prayer called Lent.The...
, the final day of the annual Tolox carnival
Carnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
. This local tradition
Tradition
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...
involves the throwing of talcum powder at one another.
One reason given for the custom is that it takes place the day before Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday, in the calendar of Western Christianity, is the first day of Lent and occurs 46 days before Easter. It is a moveable fast, falling on a different date each year because it is dependent on the date of Easter...
on which the priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
declares to the faithful "Remember, man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return”.
A more likely origin of the tradition is said to have its roots in a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
/Moorish riot
Riot
A riot is a form of civil disorder characterized often by what is thought of as disorganized groups lashing out in a sudden and intense rash of violence against authority, property or people. While individuals may attempt to lead or control a riot, riots are thought to be typically chaotic and...
in the 16th century when Tolox, then under Christian control
Catholic Monarchs
The Catholic Monarchs is the collective title used in history for Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon. They were both from the House of Trastámara and were second cousins, being both descended from John I of Castile; they were given a papal dispensation to deal with...
, had a large Moorish population. During Christmas of 1539 there was civil strife between the predominantly Moorish peasant
Peasant
A peasant is an agricultural worker who generally tend to be poor and homeless-Etymology:The word is derived from 15th century French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside, ultimately from the Latin pagus, or outlying administrative district.- Position in society :Peasants typically...
s and the Christian landholders. One chronicler states that this custom originated in a dispute between a Moorish and a Christian girl who were in love with the same man. Both worked in a bakery
Bakery
A bakery is an establishment which produces and sells flour-based food baked in an oven such as bread, cakes, pastries and pies. Some retail bakeries are also cafés, serving coffee and tea to customers who wish to consume the baked goods on the premises.-See also:*Baker*Cake...
and as the argument grew more heated, they ended up throwing all the flour
Flour
Flour is a powder which is made by grinding cereal grains, other seeds or roots . It is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures, making the availability of adequate supplies of flour a major economic and political issue at various times throughout history...
they could find at each other.
In years gone by, the custom evolved that young men wanting to request their girlfriends’ hand in marriage would throw flour at them. Girls not wishing be subjected to this, would refrain from going out on the streets, forcing the boys to come up with ingenious ways to powder their target. The young men would dust their hands with flour and try to enter a young girls house and smother their faces with flour. If doors and windows were closed, it meant they were not desired by the girl. If the lad was still keen, he had to smartly outwit her by climbing to the roof or breaking windows and doors to get her smeared with the flour, thus winning her heart in a symbolic way, or simply to impress her.
Nowadays this tradition especially appeals to the young people who hurl talcum powder instead of flour at each other, without preference or distinction as to gender or origin, until they are completely covered with it. Many outsiders come to Tolox to take part in this peculiar fiesta
Festival
A festival or gala is an event, usually and ordinarily staged by a local community, which centers on and celebrates some unique aspect of that community and the Festival....
. Up to 3,000 kilogram
Kilogram
The kilogram or kilogramme , also known as the kilo, is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units and is defined as being equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram , which is almost exactly equal to the mass of one liter of water...
have been known to be thrown in the village.
A similar custom takes place in Alozaina
Alozaina
Alozaína is a town and municipality in the province of Málaga, part of the autonomous community of Andalusia in southern Spain. The municipality is situated approximately 52 kilometres from Málaga and 41 from the city of Ronda. It has a population of approximately 2,200 residents...
, in which hundreds of people celebrate the “hariná”, in remembrance of the times when their ancestors covered young women with wheat flour from the mills
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
to show their love.