Central Madrid rang to the sound of sheep bells on Sunday (October 24) as shepherds guided their flocks by means of the center of the Spanish capital following historic migration routes.
Locals lined the path to welcome again the standard spectacle, which was cancelled final yr due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The occasion, which began in 1994, permits shepherds to train their proper to make use of conventional routes emigrate their livestock from northern Spain to extra southerly pastures for winter grazing.
Shepherd Miguel Gonzalez, 52, has labored nearly his whole life with the animals and mentioned he was proud to assist the standard migration.
“We’re reclaiming the Royal cattle routes which can be outdated paths that had been used to take cattle throughout Spain. From Castilla Leon to Extremadura and even all the way down to Andalucia. They had been paths the place the cattle had been taken. That is what the Royal cattle routes are. So we come right here to Madrid yearly to do the festivity of the migration and we like to return and assist it,” he mentioned whereas guiding the sheep.
The route would have taken them by means of quiet countryside a number of centuries in the past, however at the moment sees them traverse the busy metropolis centre of Madrid.
“Marvelous, I come yearly and it’s the primary time I’ve include my baby and he had a good time,” mentioned Graciela Gonzalez, 39.
The sheep walked to the sound of their jangling neck bells. Shepherds wearing conventional costume accompanied their flocks with music and dancing.
Kids extra used to seeing visitors jams than herds of sheep on the town streets loved the chance to rise up near the animals.
“We will generally contact them,” mentioned Carmen Iglesias, 8 who was watching together with her dad and youthful sister Noa, 6.