Spain's Jarramplas Festival

Jarramplas is a character that wears a costume made from colorful strips of fabric, and a devil-like mask and beats a drum through the streets of Piornal while residents throw turnips as a punishment for stealing cattle. The exact origin of the festival are not known, various theories exist from the mythological punishment of Caco by Hercules, to a cattle thief ridiculed and expelled by his neighbors. The Jarramplas Festival takes place every year from the 19th until the 20th of January on Saint Sebastian Day. 

Below are images by AP photographers Daniel Ochoa de Olza and Andres Kudacki from 2014 - 2015.

Spain Jarramplas Festival

People throw turnips at the Jarramplas as he makes his way through the streets beating his drum during the Jarramplas Festival in Piornal, Spain, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. Jarramplas is a character that wears a costume made from colorful strips of fabric, and a devil-like mask and beats a drum through the streets of Piornal while residents throw turnips as a punishment for stealing cattle. The exact origin of the festival are not known, various theories exist from the mythological punishment of Caco by Hercules, to a cattle thief ridiculed and expelled by his neighbors. Jarramplas Festival takes place every year from the 19th till the 20th of January on Saint Sebastian Day. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

APTOPIX Spain Jarramplas Festival

People throw turnips at the Jarramplas as he makes his way through the streets beating his drum during the Jarramplas Festival in Piornal, Spain, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. Jarramplas is a character that wears a costume made from colorful strips of fabric, and a devil-like mask and beats a drum through the streets of Piornal while residents throw turnips as a punishment for stealing cattle. The exact origin of the festival are not known, various theories exist from the mythological punishment of Caco by Hercules, to a cattle thief ridiculed and expelled by his neighbors. The Jarramplas Festival takes place every year from the 19th till the 20th of January on Saint Sebastian Day. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

Spain Jarramplas Festival

In this Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 picture people throw turnips at the Jarramplas as he makes his way through the streets beating his drum during the Jarramplas Festival. Jarramplas is a character that wears a costume made from colorful strips of fabric, and a devil-like mask and beats a drum through the streets of Piornal while residents throw turnips as a punishment for stealing cattle. The exact origin of the festival are not known, various theories exist from the mythological punishment of Caco by Hercules, to a cattle thief ridiculed and expelled by his neighbors. Jarramplas Festival takes place every year from the 19th till the 20th of January on Saint Sebastian Day. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

Spain Jarramplas Festival

People throw turnips at the Jarramplas as he makes his way through the streets beating his drum during the Jarramplas Festival in Piornal, Spain, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. Jarramplas is a character that wears a costume made from colorful strips of fabric, and a devil-like mask and beats a drum through the streets of Piornal while residents throw turnips as a punishment for stealing cattle. The exact origin of the festival are not known, various theories exist from the mythological punishment of Caco by Hercules, to a cattle thief ridiculed and expelled by his neighbors. Jarramplas Festival takes place every year from the 19th till the 20th of January on Saint Sebastian Day. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

Spain Jarramplas Festival

People carry a statue of Saint Sebastian during the Jarramplas Festival in Piornal, Spain, Monday, Jan. 20, 2014. Jarramplas is a character that wears a costume made from colorful strips of fabric, and a devil-like mask and beats a drum through the streets of Piornal while residents throw turnips as a punishment for stealing cattle. The exact origin of the festival are not known, various theories exist from the mythological punishment of Caco by Hercules, to a cattle thief ridiculed and expelled by his neighbors. Jarramplas Festival takes place every year from the 19th till the 20th of January on Saint Sebastian Day. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Spain Jarramplas Festival

In this Monday, Jan. 19, 2015 picture people throw turnips at the Jarramplas as he makes his way through the streets beating his drum during the Jarramplas Festival. Jarramplas is a character that wears a costume made from colorful strips of fabric, and a devil-like mask and beats a drum through the streets of Piornal while residents throw turnips as a punishment for stealing cattle. The exact origin of the festival are not known, various theories exist from the mythological punishment of Caco by Hercules, to a cattle thief ridiculed and expelled by his neighbors. Jarramplas Festival takes place every year from the 19th till the 20th of January on Saint Sebastian Day. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

Spain Jarramplas Festival

People throw turnips at the Jarramplas as he makes his way through the streets beating his drum during the Jarramplas Festival in Piornal, Spain, Monday, Jan. 20, 2014. Jarramplas is a character that wears a costume made from colorful strips of fabric, and a devil-like mask and beats a drum through the streets of Piornal while residents throw turnips as a punishment for stealing cattle. The exact origin of the festival are not known, various theories exist from the mythological punishment of Caco by Hercules, to a cattle thief ridiculed and expelled by his neighbors. Jarramplas Festival takes place every year from the 19th till the 20th of January on Saint Sebastian Day. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Spain Jarramplas Festival

A man get dress as Jarramplas during the Jarramplas Festival in Piornal, Spain, Monday, Jan. 20, 2014. Jarramplas is a character that wears a costume made from colorful strips of fabric, and a devil-like mask and beats a drum through the streets of Piornal while residents throw turnips as a punishment for stealing cattle. The exact origin of the festival is unknown. However, various theories exist from the mythological punishment of Caco by Hercules, to a cattle thief ridiculed and expelled by his neighbors. Jarramplas Festival takes place every year from Jan. 19 - 20 on Saint Sebastian Day. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Spain Jarramplas Festival

Sergio Salgado, 31 years old, and a boy walk the streets dressed as Jarramplas during the Jarramplas Festival in Piornal, Spain, Monday, Jan. 20, 2014. Jarramplas is a character that wears a costume made from colorful strips of fabric, and a devil-like mask and beats a drum through the streets of Piornal while residents throw turnips as a punishment for stealing cattle. The exact origin of the festival are not known, various theories exist from the mythological punishment of Caco by Hercules, to a cattle thief ridiculed and expelled by his neighbors. Jarramplas Festival takes place every year from the 19th till the 20th of January on Saint Sebastian Day. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Spain Jarramplas Festival

People hold turnips to throw at Jarramplas during the Jarramplas Festival in Piornal, Spain, Monday, Jan. 20, 2014. Jarramplas is a character that wears a costume made from colorful strips of fabric, and a devil-like mask and beats a drum through the streets of Piornal while residents throw turnips as a punishment for stealing cattle. The exact origin of the festival are not known, various theories exist from the mythological punishment of Caco by Hercules, to a cattle thief ridiculed and expelled by his neighbors. Jarramplas Festival takes place every year from the 19th till the 20th of January on Saint Sebastian Day. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Spain Jarramplas Festival

A man throws turnips at the Jarramplas as he makes his way through the streets beating his drum during the Jarramplas Festival in Piornal, Spain, Monday, Jan. 20, 2014. Jarramplas is a character that wears a costume made from colorful strips of fabric, and a devil-like mask and beats a drum through the streets of Piornal while residents throw turnips as a punishment for stealing cattle. The exact origin of the festival is unknown. However, various theories exist from the mythological punishment of Caco by Hercules, to a cattle thief ridiculed and expelled by his neighbors. The Jarramplas Festival takes place every year from Jan. 19 - 20 on Saint Sebastian Day. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Spain Jarramplas Festival

People gather under a net to prevent get hit while others throw turnips at the Jarramplas as he makes his way through the streets beating his drum during the Jarramplas Festival in Piornal, Spain, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015. Jarramplas is a character that wears a costume made from colorful strips of fabric, and a devil-like mask and beats a drum through the streets of Piornal while residents throw turnips as a punishment for stealing cattle. The exact origin of the festival are not known, various theories exist from the mythological punishment of Caco by Hercules, to a cattle thief ridiculed and expelled by his neighbors. Jarramplas Festival takes place every year from the 19th till the 20th of January on Saint Sebastian Day. (AP Photo/Daniel Ochoa de Olza)

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