Tue, 9 February 2010
Text size
We explore the weird and the wonderful side to a Spain most of us assume to be a wholly Catholic country.A mock up picture of a witches coven
The woman had already been put to The Question, and had confessed to practising witchcraft; for this, she was given the mercy of strangulation before burning.
She fainted when she saw the stake and the piled faggots, and was quickly despatched before being burned, with the full approval and sanction of both church and local authority.
Galacia, 1936 – the last legal witch-burning in Spain.
Old habits die hard, in Spain. In this thriving, European democracy, most towns still possess not only a massive degree of home-grown superstition, but, in many cases, even a practising Bruja, a white witch.
How can this be, in a nation renowned throughout the world for its almost fanatical dedication to Roman Catholicism, the birthplace of both the notorious Inquisition, and even of Opus Dei?
Father Diego Vicente, 67, has been a parish priest for over 40 years, and has considered this long and hard.
"When Granada finally surrendered to Ferdinand and Isabella in 1492, the Christian reconquest of Spain was complete.
"But how to unite a nation notorious for internecine feuding? It seemed simple; it was far too early for the people to be united by nationality, so Their Most Catholic Majesties united it by faith.
"Whether you came from Castille or Aragon, Leon or Andalucia – you were first and foremost a Roman Catholic; the faith came before anything, and the conquistadores carried the faith with them, to the New World."
"But a great many of the people were not naturally Christian,” he believes. "They had to have Catholicism enforced upon them, hence the need for the Inquisition. That is why, in times of upheaval, the Spanish people turn on the church very easily."
please make my all wishes true . mare marraige mare boyfriend k sath ho jaye satnam k parents aur mare parents hamare marriage k liye maan jaye . mare parents mujhe new cel phone dilwa de in this month mai kahi bhi a saku aur ja saku kabhi bhi aur mare parents muhe na roke.
mare parents aur mare brother aur mare sister mare cel phone na le kabhi bhi . mai kabhi bhi phone pe baat kar saku aur mare parents mujhe na roke. mare hair lmbe ho jaye mare kamar tak mare thodri height 5'8 ho jaye jaye. jo mai chahu vo mai kar saku
Here's a short introduction to our Renting a house or an apartment section for Spain.
Just moved to Spain? Check out our guide, your one-stop shop for surviving and thriving abroad.
Here's a short introduction to our Buying a house or apartment section for Spain.
Twitter
LinkedIn
Facebook
Flickr
General rating: Not rated yet
Rate article:
Add my rating