European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 9, 1992, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Fiesta Spanish tradition still going Strong by j. King Cruger Mediterranean Bureau Spain threw up the shutters and emerged from its decades Long night after the death of Francisco Franco in 1975. Since then the country has turned itself into a constitutional monarchy presiding Over a stable democracy and powered itself from a standing Start into a major Industrial powerhouse. This year the country takes its place in the Sun hosting the olympics in Barcelona and expo 92 in Seville. Spain s hat trick is Complete with the crowning of Madrid As the european City of culture in 1992. Correspondingly billions of dollars have been spent on a new transportation infrastructure face lifts for its old buildings and renovation of its most popular monuments. Sadly Spain appears to have lost some of its soul in its mad dash into modernity. Nowadays Spain is changing so much that its folkloric grandeur is often deformed or demolished by the Pursuit of fast food and fast Money. The sounds of guitars and clicking castanets As cliched As they May be Are heard less often and folkloric fiestas Are increasingly hard to find. But seek out a town on the feast Day of the Patron Saint of one of its churches and you will trip Back in time with the locals As they celebrate their heritage. The town of Al escorial 30 Miles West of Madrid celebrated just such an event on a recent sunday. For a time the streets were devoid of cars As their places were taken by papier mache Gigantes and Cabezudo giants and big headed Dwarf swirling dancers and exploding fireworks. How do you ferret out such fiestas tourist bureaus throughout Spain distribute free tourist calendars cataloguing these Folk traditions. Fear not that there won t be one taking place near where you Are in Spain for there Are More than 3,000 of them yearly. Quot take the time to go see one. The old Days May not have been so Good but the customs still Are. Kimii a a at top a woman in costume Waits for the Parade to begin. Above a line of dancers castanets clicking and skirts swaying swing through the streets of Al escorial. Costumed children trying to maintain straight faces but unable to avoid a few playful smiles wait for their Chance to join the procession. At left the Long and Short of a Spanish Parade Stern looking Gigantes and a playful Cabezudo move through the streets. Above Young dancers caught up in the spirit of the Day Stop and twirl for onlookers. A amps photos by Dave Casey 12 stripes Magazine april 9, 1992