The Alicante town of Ibi celebrated this Thursday, the Day of the Holy Innocents, one of the most peculiar days of its winter festivities in which a group of insurgents, 'els enfarinats' ('the floury ones'), has taken command of the town in a fictitious way and for a day through skirmishes and battles of flour, eggs and firecrackers.
This year, during the 'contest', 600 kilos of flour left over from bakeries, 12,000 expired eggs and 100 kilos of gunpowder were used, as confirmed to EFE by the mayor of the town, Sergio Carrasco.
The councilor has indicated that, for the moment, everything has gone "without any problem". Carrer les Eres has been the scene chosen by 'els enfarinats' for the skirmishes, since the Town Hall square, where it has historically been held, It is now undergoing a remodel
“For Ibi it is one of the most important days on the calendar; It is one of the oldest festivals that has achieved the most international significance,” stated Carrasco.
In this tradition, which dates back more than 200 years, 'els enfarinats', dressed in outlandish outfits and with their faces completely smeared with flour, subject this toy town in the interior of the province of Alicante to the government of the absurd and the chaotic, while raising funds ('taxes') mainly in businesses, money that this year will go to the Somriu association of Ibi.
They also penalize everyone since, for example, there is a fine for walking on the sidewalk as well as on the road, or walking in the sun or in the shade.
The 'victims' of the 'contest' have been, as always, the group of opposition to the fictitious government, who have the common denominator of wearing a black top hat decorated with paper stars, and the pedestrians who have not surrendered to the demands of the floured ones, who symbolically hold the positions of mayor, judge, sheriff, prosecutor, secretary, Treasury councilor and cashier, among others.
Declared of Regional Tourist Interest in 2009, this festival is one of the oldest in the Valencian Community, since it has been celebrated at least since 1797.
Carrasco has shown his “enthusiasm” and “excitement” after starring in the first year giving the baton to “mayor enfarinat”, a moment that, he has confessed, “he will never” forget.
In an area restricted to guarantee the safety of attendees, skirmishes have broken out, where the two rival sides have thrown eggs, vegetables, flour and talcum powder at each other. In addition, colored smoke canisters and flying or "drunk" rockets have been used in a setting that has been dyed white.
The festive day will end with the 'ball del Virrei' ('dance of the Viceroy') and the 'dançà' ('dance'), an event in which women dressed in luxurious suits, men covered in elegant capes and other peculiar characters will participate. known as 'els tapats', who are dressed in the most varied ways and with masks.
