Chiviri

The chíviri is a popular festival which takes place in the Spanish town Trujillo. Held since the beginning of the 19th century as the culmination of the Easter, on Resurrection Sunday. The main square became a meeting point for people dressed in typical regional costume who sing, dance, eat and drink to the beat of popular songs. The following Monday is a holiday in the city (Easter Monday) and people usually go to eat in the countryside.

Activities

The festival begins at dawn on Easter Saturday to Sunday. From twelve o'clock, an orchestra plays in the Main Square of Trujillo popular tunes (see detail in songs). Over 15,000 people come, some dressed in costumes typical of the city, others simply with a red scarf at the neck, to dance and sing to the rhythm of these songs. At the same time there are people who drink in the Square, on this day that is allowed. The festival lasts all night and, after the spectacle in the Plaza Mayor, people move to the pubs and clubs of the city. On Sunday the festival continues on the Plaza Mayor until the evening, when takes place the International Folklore Festival (a concert of folk music).

Songs

The songs in Chíviri are mostly based on the works of the Trujillian poet Gregorio Rubio Mariño, popularly known as Goro, between 1917 and 1936, and were composed initially for Carnival.

An example:

Trujillo in Easter, I do not know what it resembles, oh, chiviri, chiviri, chiviri, oh, chiviri, chiviri, Chon. The outsiders come and gatecrash just like fish, oh, chiviri, chiviri, chiviri, oh, chiviri, chiviri, Chon.

Gregorio Rubio Mariño

Image

External links

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