The Burning of Judas

Urracal Town Council invites you to share in the Burning of Judas on Saturday of Glory and Easter Sunday.

HOW DOES THE BURNING OF JUDAS TAKE PLACE?

On the afternoon of Glory Saturday, the young people of Urracal get together to gather dry brushwood to prepare for the “burning of Judas” on Easter Sunday. They cut down a poplar tree, remove all the branches and move it to the centre of the village square, where, if we go on any other day of the year, we will see a chest, a sign that the poplar tree is “planted” there on Easter Saturday.

During the afternoon and evening, they “dress” the pole with rockets and undergrowth. They make a doll, made of several very long sticks, which is covered with old rags, esparto grass and other objects, where rockets and firecrackers are placed to make the moment of burning more spectacular. This doll is placed in the top of the poplar tree and represents “Judas”. At midnight, just after the Resurrection mass, it is a tradition to go and watch a small fireworks display and then cheer and/or help to raise the stick. A difficult and dangerous task, but all the more attractive for the visitor and the locals. Once the pole has been raised, the applause and joy breaks out. Afterwards, the boys build a hut around the pole, with the branches they have previously removed, and there they will stay all night guarding the pole, until Sunday morning, after the Eucharistic celebration and the procession through the streets of the village of Cristo Resucitado, the young people who participate in the making of the “Judas”, pass their hats around the people waiting to see the show, the person who donates the most money, is the one who gets all the wood used for this event (ensuring firewood for next winter!). ). Finally, the branches are removed from the hut and the “Judas” is burnt.

A centuries-old tradition.