In San Antero, a municipality located in Córdoba, the spiritual traditions of the region are celebrated and the National Donkey Festival is held. This event, which takes place every Holy Week, is an important part of the rite of the symbolic burning of Judas Iscariot. During Glory Saturday, a doll representing Judas mounted on a donkey walks through the streets of the town, while attendees take care of their work donkeys and accompany the procession.
Since 1987, the National Donkey Festival has become an emblematic event in San Antero. During the festival, parades and contests are held in which donkeys are creatively disguised. Activities such as bucking, donkey races, donkey exhibitions and stamping are also carried out. The event is full of dances, comparsas, local gastronomy and folkloric presentations, which include decimeros, mountain cries, cowboy songs and wind bands. In addition, sets of whistles and drums are presented, as well as imitators of the sounds of the donkey and other working animals.
The National Donkey Festival seeks to highlight the importance of donkey work and the support it provides to the peasants of the region and the municipality. San Antero has a broken geography and a large part of its territory is rural, which is why the donkey has been a fundamental ally in agricultural and transportation work. Although in recent years the donkey has been replaced by the motorcycle, this has not diminished the interest and affection that the event generates among the inhabitants, and it always manages to attract hundreds of visitors.
The costumes of the donkeys are in accordance with events of importance at the news level or of political interest, and even literary passages are used or recognized characters parading in troupes are represented. The "mobile donkey" that promotes the care of the mangroves stands out, such as the girl Emilia or Maburro.
In summary, the National Donkey Festival in San Antero is a celebration full of tradition and folklore, where the work of the donkey is honored and a festive atmosphere is enjoyed. With parades, contests, dances, and cultural activities, this event highlights the historical and cultural importance of these animals in the life of the rural community of San Antero.
