Jan 3, 2016

The La Vijanera masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, took place in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, on Sunday. It is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and involving the participation of crowds of residents wearing different masks, animal skins and brightly colored clothing. The festival has its own complex function and symbolism in becoming the living example of the survival of archaic cults to nature.

: Men dressed in sheepskins and jingling bells to make noise, and so called “Zamarracos” march during the Vijanera Festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. The Vijanera masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and involving the participation of crowds of residents wearing different masks, animal skins and brightly coloured clothing with its own complex function and symbolism and becoming the living example of the survival of archaic cults to nature. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

: A young boy dressed in sheepskin with jingling bells to make noise, and so called “Zamarraco” poses for a photograph during the Vijanera Festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. The Vijanera masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and involving the participation of crowds of residents wearing different masks, animal skins and brightly coloured clothing with its own complex function and symbolism and becoming the living example of the survival of archaic cults to nature. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

: Men dressed in sheepskins and jingling bells to make noise, and so called “Zamarracos,” march during the Vijanera Festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. The Vijanera masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and involving the participation of crowds of residents wearing different masks, animal skins and brightly coloured clothing with its own complex function and symbolism and becoming the living example of the survival of archaic cults to nature. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

: A man dressed with a costume drinks liquor before taking part in the Vijanera Festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. The Vijanera masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and involving the participation of crowds of residents wearing different masks, animal skins and brightly coloured clothing with its own complex function and symbolism and becoming the living example of the survival of archaic cults to nature. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

: A man dressed in sheepskins with jingling bells to make noise, and so called “Zamarraco,” poses for a photograph during the Vijanera Festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. The Vijanera masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and involving the participation of crowds of residents wearing different masks, animal skins and brightly coloured clothing with its own complex function and symbolism and becoming the living example of the survival of archaic cults to nature. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

: Men dressed in sheepskins and jingling bells to make noise, and so called “Zamarracos”, march during the Vijanera Festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. The Vijanera masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and involving the participation of crowds of residents wearing different masks, animal skins and brightly coloured clothing with its own complex function and symbolism and becoming the living example of the survival of archaic cults to nature. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

: Men dressed in sheepskins and jingling bells to make noise, and so called “Zamarracos,” march during the Vijanera Festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. The Vijanera masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and involving the participation of crowds of residents wearing different masks, animal skins and brightly coloured clothing with its own complex function and symbolism and becoming the living example of the survival of archaic cults to nature. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

: A man dressed in sheepskins and so called “Zamarracos” has a break while marching during the Vijanera Festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. The Vijanera masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and involving the participation of crowds of residents wearing different masks, animal skins and brightly coloured clothing with its own complex function and symbolism and becoming the living example of the survival of archaic cults to nature. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

: A man, so called “Zamarraco,” dressed in sheepskins and bells to make noise, talks to a young girl during the Vijanera Festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. The Vijanera masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and involving the participation of crowds of residents wearing different masks, animal skins and brightly coloured clothing with its own complex function and symbolism and becoming the living example of the survival of archaic cults to nature. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

: A man, so called “Zamarraco,” dressed in sheepskins and bells to make noise, marches with others during the Vijanera Festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. The Vijanera masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and involving the participation of crowds of residents wearing different masks, animal skins and brightly coloured clothing with its own complex function and symbolism and becoming the living example of the survival of archaic cults to nature. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

: People dressed in costumes have a break while marching during the Vijanera Festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. The Vijanera masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and involving the participation of crowds of residents wearing different masks, animal skins and brightly coloured clothing with its own complex function and symbolism and becoming the living example of the survival of archaic cults to nature. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

: A man, so called “Zamarraco,” dressed in sheepskins with jingling bells to make noise, marches with others during the Vijanera Festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. The Vijanera masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and involving the participation of crowds of residents wearing different masks, animal skins and brightly coloured clothing with its own complex function and symbolism and becoming the living example of the survival of archaic cults to nature. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

: A man, so called “Zamarraco,” right, dressed in sheepskins and jingling bells to make noise, dances next to another dressed as a “Trapajon”, left, representing entities of nature, during the Vijanera Festival, in the small village of Silio, northern Spain, Sunday, Jan. 3, 2016. The Vijanera masquerade, of pre-Roman origin, is the first carnival of the year in Europe symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and involving the participation of crowds of residents wearing different masks, animal skins and brightly coloured clothing with its own complex function and symbolism and becoming the living example of the survival of archaic cults to nature. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)

Northern Spain’s La Vijanera festival

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