Each June, the tranquil hamlet of Castrillo de Murcia in northern Spain’s Cantabrian Mountains transforms into the stage for one of Europe’s strangest yet most enduring festivals, El Colacho , or “The Devil.” For over four centuries, men dressed as yellow-and-red demons have leapt over rows of infants laid on mattresses in the streets, a ritual that brings together centuries-old paganism with Catholic tradition .

Although the earliest written evidence of El Colacho dates to 1621, when Pope Gregory XV formally recognised it, historians believe the custom had been practiced locally long before. The year 2025 marks roughly the 400th official celebration, excluding a brief pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. The event, which takes place on the Sunday after the Feast of Corpus Christi (around 60 days after Easter), is now a major draw for curious visitors and photographers alike.

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The leap of faith
At the heart of the celebration lies the extraordinary sight of men dressed as devils sprinting through the narrow cobbled lanes, brandishing whips and taunting onlookers to the beat of drums. But the defining moment comes when the “devil” — El Colacho — jumps over the babies. The infants, all born in the past year, are carefully laid out on mattresses covered with white sheets. As El Colacho bounds over them, it is believed that his leap purifies the babies of original sin, wards off illness, and protects them from misfortune.


According to local tradition, this act of leaping symbolises evil fleeing from innocence. Parents from the village, and increasingly from across Spain, take part by volunteering their babies to be part of the rite. Despite its alarming appearance to outsiders, the ritual has reportedly never resulted in an accident. The “devils” train for the jumps and take great care to clear the babies entirely.
From pagan roots to Christian blessing
Like many European folk customs, El Colacho likely began as a pagan purification ceremony, and over time, it merged with Catholic symbolism. In the 20th century, Pope Benedict XVI even suggested priests should not participate directly in the ceremony. However, rather than distance itself, the Spanish Church chose to adapt. Today, after El Colacho’s jump, a Catholic priest or the Archbishop of Burgos blesses the infants with holy water.

Beyond the headline-grabbing baby jump, El Colacho is a village-wide celebration. The day begins with a solemn procession involving members of the Brotherhood of the Blessed Sacrament, a Catholic fraternity dating back centuries. The streets are lined with white sheets, tablecloths, and blankets hung from balconies — symbols of purity meant to repel evil. Families decorate small altars beside the mattresses with flowers and religious images.

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Despite occasional rain, the entire village turns out in festive spirit. Music fills the air, locals prepare communal meals, and the event concludes with blessings, laughter, and celebration, a rare blend of devotion, folklore, and community pride.

For many residents, El Colacho is more than spectacle, it’s a reaffirmation of identity. The ritual binds generations of Castrillo de Murcia’s few hundred inhabitants, keeping alive a custom passed down through oral history. In recent years, it has drawn attention from ethnographers and cultural tourists who view it as a living link between Europe’s ancient rituals and modern faith.

While outsiders might find the idea of “devils jumping over babies” unsettling, for locals it represents protection, renewal, and continuity, values that have kept the community’s spirit alive for centuries.

As the drums fade and the devils hang up their whips for another year, Castrillo de Murcia returns to its quiet rhythm, until next June, when the devil once again leaps in the name of tradition.