Verbena (fair)

In Spanish-speaking cultures, a "verbena" is a country fair, modest amusement park, and/or a dance party, especially one held at night. An old tradition, they usually take place after dark in the summer. Nowadays some major cities (such as Barcelona) have locations that attempt to be permanent "verbenas", but these inevitably have less of the character of the tradition than those which appear for only a few days a year.

A larger contemporary "verbena" would feature mechanical amusement rides, side show attractions, and usually some sort of gambling. Typical "verbena" food includes churros, ham, cheese, marzipanFact|date=July 2007, candied egg yolks ("yemas")Fact|date=July 2007, candied quince ("membrillo")Fact|date=July 2007, sugared fruits, and the like, although in recent years miscellaneous modern junk foods have been finding their way into the mix. There are always alcoholic beverages, usually Spanish wine, sangría and lager beer.

There will usually be music and dancing, either on an organized or spontaneous basis. In recent years, recorded popular music, rock music, and even karaoke have found their way into the "verbenas", but in Andalusia and sometimes even beyond, "verbenas" are still dominated by flamenco or other traditional music. [http://www.travelnet.co.il/espagne/menu/TheEntertainmentinSpain.htm] , [http://www.hectorocio.com/fiestas.html] While the musicians take a break, a runner carrying fireworks ("toro de fuego") may dash into the crowd.

The word "verbena" comes without alteration from Latin. The term originally referred to the plant verbena, from which the term for a fair derives. [http://www.elalmanaque.com/Ecologia/verbena.htm]

Artistic representation

One of the most famous zarzuela (Spanish operetta) pieces in the "género chico" ("smaller genre") is "La Verbena de la Paloma" ("The Fair of the Dove") set at a "verbena" on the night of the Virgin of the Paloma, August 14 [http://www.musicweb.uk.net/classrev/2003/Oct03/breton.htm] ; it was also made into a 1963 movie. [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057641/]

There is also a 1939 film called "Verbena Tragica" ( also known as "Tragic Festival").

The song "Verbena de San Cayetano" [http://ingeb.org/songs/versanca.html] celebrates a "verbena" in Madrid.