XII - The wedding party

Later that day, as the sun sets, the wedding party gets underway in a large hall in Zaragoza's funfair complex.

Tables are set outside. The men are offered cigars. A small electric band forms at one end of the hall.

As the band swings into rondeñas, the guests go into the hall and the bride takes to the floor. One by one, the male guests dance with her, pouring sugared almonds over her head as she crowns them with a white flower tiara. Then they lift her high in the air above their heads. The women throw more almonds from a distance while others sweep the floor around her.

The bridegroom shyly mingles with the crowd, but he is pulled out by friends and lifted high in the air - and then both bride and groom are carried together.

Now the bride and groom dance with all the guests in turn, young and old, grandparents and children alike.

The formal start to the wedding is complete - but the party has only just begun and will continue to the early hours of the morning.


Photographs: © Marcos Fernández Pardo
Texts: © Vicky Hayward
Edition: © Manuel Rodríguez
Copyright 2008

Contact: elangelcaido@elangelcaido.org


Matrimonio y boda de los gitanos y de los "payos", by Juan de Dios Ramirez Heredia, is published by CPEDA (Barcelona).