Castellar de Santiago facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Castellar de Santiago
Municipality
Coat of arms
Castellar de Santiago Location in Spain
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Castile-La Mancha
Province	Ciudad Real
Comarca	Campo de Montiel
Area
• Total	95.50 km2 (36.87 sq mi)
Elevation	821 m (2,694 ft)
Population  (2022)
• Total	1,819
• Density	19.047/km2 (49.332/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Castellareños
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code	13750

Castellar de Santiago is a small town, or municipality, in Spain. It's located in the province of Ciudad Real, within the region of Castile-La Mancha. In 2022, about 1,819 people lived there. It's also part of the Valdepeñas judicial district, which means it's connected to that area for legal matters.

Exploring Castellar de Santiago's Location

Castellar de Santiago is in southeastern Spain. It's about 150 kilometers from the big city of Córdoba. Spain's capital, Madrid, is 212 kilometers away.

The town sits on the northern side of the Sierra Morena mountains. Its landscape is full of olive trees and grapevines. The land is also very good for farming and growing different crops.

The mountains here are home to many holm oak trees. You can also find plants like cistus, juagarzos, broom, thyme, rosemary, and marjoram. Many different animals live among these plants.

Long ago, when Arab groups came to this area, they thought the oak forests were special. They named the place Mata de Vencaliz.

Who Lives in Castellar de Santiago?

In 2022, Castellar de Santiago had 1,819 residents. Most of them, 1,725, were Spanish citizens. The other 94 residents were from other countries. There were slightly more males than females living in the town.

Fun Festivals and Traditions

Like many towns, Castellar de Santiago has special customs. Some have been celebrated for a long time, while others have changed or disappeared.

August Fair - Castellar de Santiago

The main festivals each year are:

• The 'El Cristo de la Misericordia' festival on September 14th.
• The 'San Marcos Festival' on April 25th.
• The August Fair on August 15th.

Bonfires: A Fiery Start to Festivities

One old tradition that still happens is the lighting of bonfires. These bonfires kick off the 'Christ of Mercy' festival. Every September 13th, at 9 PM, people light bonfires in the streets. This marks the start of the celebrations.

At the same time, hundreds of rockets are launched. These are in honor of the Santísimo Cristo de la Misericordia. It looks like the whole town is glowing from the fires and fireworks.

These bonfires are made from branches of the chaparro tree. This tree grows a lot in the area.

After the bonfires die down, neighbors gather for a barbecue. They cook sausages, bacon, sardines, and other tasty foods together.

Most Holy Christ of Mercy: The Town's Patron Saint

The Most Holy Christ of Mercy is the special patron saint of Castellar de Santiago. His annual festival is on September 14th. It's known as the most important festival in the town.

On that morning, a procession takes place. People carry the image of the Santísimo Cristo de la Misericordia. A music band plays, and shotguns and fireworks add to the celebration along the way.

The festival ends on the night of September 16th with a big fireworks show. More and more visitors come to this festival each year. They gather in the Plaza de la Constitución for the main events.

The bonfires lit on September 13th are connected to this festival. People gather around them to share barbecued food. No one knows exactly how the bonfire tradition started. Some think it came from the first settlers in the 16th century. Others believe it's linked to ancient rituals or the town's agricultural past.

No matter its origin, fire is a main part of the September 13th celebration. It's a simple and heartwarming tradition that has stayed the same for centuries. On the morning of the 13th, people gather branches. They make a pile of wood at each door. At 9 PM, these piles are lit. Smoke and glowing embers rise into the sky, dancing with the rockets and shotguns.

Saints' Day: A Night of Fun

Another special tradition in Castellar de Santiago is Saints' Day. On the night of October 31st, which some cultures call Halloween, young people gather. Older people also join in. They meet in houses, often old barns, and spend the night together. They have dinner and a party. After the fun, they decide where to sleep for the night. Some people also follow a tradition similar to San Isidro Labrador by spending the day in a farmer's field.

San Marcos Festival: A Pilgrimage to Nature

The festival of San Marcos is one of the most colorful and fun events. It's a pilgrimage that starts on April 25th. It can last for several days if it falls on a weekend.

The festival takes place at a spot called La Herrumbrosa. Locals often call it Rumblosa or Rumbrosa. It's located at the foot of the Sierra Morena mountains. This spot is right on the border between the province of Ciudad Real and Jaén, about 8 kilometers from Castellar de Santiago.

It's a beautiful place with many trees. During these days, almost everyone from Castellar de Santiago moves there. People bring their tents and camp for several days. They eat and celebrate in the open air. At night, there's a stage with an orchestra or rock band, and everyone dances. While San Marcos lasts, the town of Castellar de Santiago is almost empty because everyone is at La Herrumbrosa.

The Mayos: Messages on Walls

The Mayos is another unique tradition. On the first day of May, many houses have their front walls painted with messages. These messages are for the married people of the town.

This tradition has become less popular over time. This is partly because people don't always understand the humor in the messages. Sometimes, the messages are hard to understand because they lack context. The "mayos" can range from nice messages to funny insults. They are an interesting way for the town to express its culture and traditions.

A Look at History

How Castellar de Santiago Began

The area around Castellar de Santiago has been lived in since ancient times. The mountains offered good hunting and natural shelters. This made life easier for early humans. Many Iron Age settlements have been found here. Iberians and Celts lived in this important location. It was a pathway between the plateau and Andalusia.

Hannibal's army crossed this area during the Second Punic War against Rome. The nearby mines of Obulco and Cástulo were very important. This led the Romans to build a major road through the Sierra Morena mountains. Many groups likely crossed through Aldeaquemada and Castellar de Santiago.

After the Roman Empire declined, Arabs arrived in the Iberian Peninsula around 711 AD. What started as a small visit became a large invasion. Only a few Christian kingdoms in the north remained.

In 1212, a big battle called Las Navas de Tolosa was won. After this victory, the Archbishop of Toledo stayed at the Calatrava fortress. They worked to rebuild the lands taken from the invaders. They also took over forts and castles in the Sierra Morena area with the help of the Calatravos Knights.

The tower, or 'castillete', that gave the town its name was no longer used for watching and defense. Instead, it became the first place where people settled. They moved from the Castellón hill to the current location of Castellar. This spot is between the Rambla de Castellar and Fontona streams. It was known as the Mata de Mencaliz, which was the town's original name: Castellar de la Mata de Mencaliz.

Castellar de la Mata is in the Campo de Montiel region. It was influenced by the Order of Santiago. The town's location has stayed the same ever since. When it was first settled, it was close to a river. It was also on a hill, which helped with rainwater drainage. It was protected from northern winds and near an important road.

By the late 1400s and early 1500s, the town grew. It was protected by the Order of Santiago. On September 14, 1564, Castellar de Santiago became independent from Señorío de la Torre de Juan Abad. This happened when King Felipe II signed a letter of independence. The town paid five thousand ducats for this freedom. This money helped pay for costly wars against the Turks. At that time, Castellar de Santiago had 360 families, including 30 Hidalgos (people of lower nobility).

See also

In Spanish: Castellar de Santiago para niños