Las Mayas: Welcoming the arrival of spring in collective rite dating back to medieval times

Nieves Avila Laguna takes part in the “Las Mayas” festival in Colmenar Viejo near Madrid.

Las Mayas, young girls aged between seven and 11, are required to sit still on decorated altars derived from pagan rites celebrating the arrival of spring.

A band of musicians roves from altar to altar, extolling the beauty and elegance of each girl. Other girls dressed in long white dresses and black jackets who serve as Las Mayas’ at t endants, asking for coins from spectators in exchange for cleaning their jackets with brushes.

Afterwards, everyone heads to church for mass.