SAN ISIDRO

Hello everyone, today my blog going to be a little bit different because I’m not goint to speak about the project or something in relation with my experience in Poland. Today I would like to speak about one of the most important days during each year in my life since I have reason. Last friday (15 may) was official Saint of Madrid who is called San Isidro. It is really special day for all who were born in this city, because you celebrate with friends and family going and enjoying out in the hermitage and parks which are around.

First of all there is one typical dress for this day, one for the womans and one for the mans, we are called in a funny way, “chulapos” this name is because Madrid’s people are famous for to be pretty “pimp”. Also is typical to have a carnation flower, mens in the pocket and womans inside the head scarf.

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Normally in the morning you go to the San Isidro’s hermitage and give to the saint your offering (usually it is flowers) then, you take a little bit of holy water in your bottle and keep it with you all year until next time (the legend says that if you keep it for one year you have good luck in everything).

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When the offering is done, people go to drink beers and eat in the hermitage park, there are many small pavilions with music, drinks, and food and also there is one stage with some live music until the sunrise.

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The typical food for this day is Spanish Omelette, Spice Potatoes (we call it brava potatoes and alioli potatoes) and also for dessert they prepare special donuts (we call it Rosquillas de San Isidro) with many flavours (anise, vanilla, chocolate…).

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In this special day we also have typical music and dance which we call “chotis”, it is danced in couples and very slowly and close to the other. Basically the only movement is just turn on to the right but in the same place you can’t move to the other tile.

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Here is a video about how to dance chotis: