Celedón facts for kids
Celedón is a very special character in the Virgen Blanca Festivities held in Vitoria-Gasteiz, a city in the Basque region of Spain. He wears a traditional beret and a blouse, and always carries an umbrella. Celedón is a symbol of the start of the big annual party!
The Story of Celedón
The idea of Celedón's "descent" was created in 1957. A group of people from Vitoria wanted to give their city a unique tradition. They came up with the idea of Celedón flying down to the main square. This was meant to show how people from the countryside would travel to the city to celebrate the holidays.
People say Celedón was born in Zalduondo, a small village in Álava. His real name might have been Juan Celedonio de Anzola. Others think he was a brigadier (a type of military leader) named Celedón Aguiluz from Andagoya.
Since 1957, four different people have played Celedón:
- Jose Luis Isasi: He was the first and played Celedón for 22 years.
- Enrique Oribe: He took over in 1976.
- Iñaki Landa: He played the villager from Zalduondo from 1980 to 2000.
- Gorka Ortiz Urbina: He started playing Celedón in 2001.
Who Was Celedonio Alzola?
Many people in Vitoria-Gasteiz believe that Celedón's "flight" is inspired by a real person. This person was Celedonio Alzola, a villager from Zalduondo who lived in the late 1700s. He loved the Virgen Blanca Festivities very much.
It's said that Celedonio would arrive in Vitoria and immediately become the life of the party. He would invite everyone to join him and enjoy the city's celebrations. He was a famous bricklayer and lived on "The Shoe Store Street" between 1796 and 1866. He was known for spending time with his friends at local bars.
In 1957, some local groups came up with the idea of a doll descending from the bell tower of the Church of San Miguel. This would mark the start of the Virgen Blanca Festivities. The very first attempt with the doll didn't work well. So, they decided to have a real person do it instead, and it was a huge success! Jose Luis Isasi was the first person to appear as Celedón from the town hall balcony. Since then, only four people have been chosen by the local groups to play Celedón.
Celedón's 50th Anniversary
The year 2007 was special because it marked 50 years since Celedón first descended. In his very first descent in 1957, the rope actually broke! But this didn't stop Jose Luis Isasi from going out onto the balcony and starting the holidays.
For the 50th anniversary, Gorka Ortiz de Urbina and Iñaki Landa made an emotional entrance together. On the balcony, they honored Jose Luis Isasi, who was unable to be there due to illness.
Today, you can see a sculpture of Celedón on the balcony of San Miguel. This sculpture has the face of Jose Luis Isasi Moltalbán, who was the first Celedón and one of the people who helped create this wonderful tradition.
See also
In Spanish: Celedón para niños
