The Disguised Devils is the name with which a feast with a long tradition is celebrated in Almonacid del Marquesado, Cuenca province, during February 1, 2 and 3 honoring the Candelaria Virgin and Saint Blass.

Throughout these three days, nearly 130 “devils” dressed up with colorful suits and big cowbells hanging over their backs, tour the town’s streets and the Saints are taken out for the procession, dedicating dances and jumps to them.

The Disguised Devils is a feast of national tourist interest since 1964.

There are no evidences about the origin of this peculiar tradition since documents being kept by the City hall were destroyed during the Spanish Civil War.

The oral tradition tells us two simultaneous stories to explain the Devils of Almonacid’s origin, if it is referred to La Candelaria or Saint Blass.

With respect to Candelaria, the need of presenting Baby Jesus in the temple ashamed Mary because of the people that might observe her, since she knew no male. And here it is where devils find their role that with their noise of cowbells and weird dressing, would call the audience’s attention, thus getting the virgin, rid of malicious looks from the rest.

But Saint Blass has another explanation and it is completely different: some shepherds found the San Blass’ image buried in the place of Majanares, thus a disagreement came up with the neighboring municipality of Puebla de Almenara, which was gracefully solved in favor of Almonacid.

The shepherds’ joy because of these events caused the sounding of cowbells from their cattle’s and they hang them up to their backs.

In order to wash the saint’s face they used eau de vie, that was the only thing they had, event which is still recalled every year.

The devils used colorful suits, many of them with flower motifs, made handcrafted. All suits are different but within this diversity, there is a weird joint complex, turning into a unique colorful show.

The cowbells are the real protagonists of the feast; people regularly wear three big ones, though their quantity and size depend on the force and willingness of everyone.

They are hung to their backs by means of a leather belt, forming what is called “string” (threading). The devils make them sound slowly during their trek and frenetically and passionately during their dances.

The devils wear a cap adorned with flowers in the upper part during one day and until the evening of February 2, during the Candelaria festivity.  Right from here, it is changed by a red miter with yellowish trimmings, to honor San Blass who was the Sebaste’s bishop.

The “nightstick” is a kind of scepter with a long stick in whose end a head or figure is placed, many times monstrous or deformed. The nightstick is raised during the Saints’ dances.

In ancient times, all devils wore a mask with heinous characterizations. Nowadays this habit is no longer practiced, though some people wear it.

In order to form part of the devils’ sisterhood, it is necessary to be a boy and son of the Almonacid’s people. If these requirements are fulfilled, the joining should be asked to the “oldest devil” who is the undeniable chief of the sisterhood, continuously occupying such a responsible post for the longest term. It is also necessary to pay a quantity of money in cash.

The devils’ sisterhood has a strict local regime, being necessary to keep the traditional regulations, attires and instructions issued by the oldest devil, which is authorized of fining and even expelling from the devils’ membership to anyone having made serious felonies.