Spain’s baby jumping festival has taken place in the small village of Castrillo de Murcia in the country’s north.

Every June, men dressed as devils leap over newborn babies to drive away evil, part of the El Salto del Colacho festival, or El Colacho.

Footage filmed on Sunday (June 11) shows men in traditional costumes hurdling babies lying on mattresses while onlookers watch on.

The tradition has been taking place since 1620 and some Catholics believe the devils drive away evil.

It is said that the Pope has distanced himself from this rather dangerous-looking religious festival.

----

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Fernando Arce, local priest:
"El Colacho is the representation of evil, so evil wants to take over the children, it goes to catch them, but of course the Blessed Sacrament, which is Jesus, wants to protect the children and goes after them, so El Colacho runs away and jumps over all the children."

SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Garicoich Dueñas, father of participating baby, Oliver:
"Tradition is tradition! Every family member have been jumped over and in the end we have to follow the tradition and it doesn't stop."

Spain’s baby jumping festival has taken place in the small village of Castrillo de Murcia in the country’s north.

Every June, around the Corpus Christi day, men dressed as devils leap over newborn babies to drive away evil, part of the El Salto del Colacho festival, or El Colacho.

In late 16th century and 17th century, in order to counteract the Protestant heresy, it was ordered that all the confreres had to honour the Blessed Sacrament in the liturgical acts of Corpus Christi.

Footage filmed on Sunday (June 23) shows men in traditional costumes hurdling babies lying on mattresses while onlookers watch on.

In the procession, the Blessed Sacrament blesses the fields, blesses the people and, above all, blesses the innocence of the children who were born during that year and who await his arrival lying on mattresses. This is the culminating moment, the evil influence of the devil will flee from these children, when the Colacho jumps over the mattresses and flees in defeat.

The tradition has been ongoing since 1620 and some Catholics believe the devils drive away evil.
It is said that the Pope Benedict XVI has distanced himself from this rather dangerous-looking religious festival, because to baptize already purify and keep away the original sin from them.

-----

Soundbite, Fernando Arce, priest of the town said: the colacho is the representation of evil, so evil wants to take over the children, it goes to catch them, but of course the Blessed Sacrament, which is Jesus, wants to protect the children and goes after them, so the colacho runs away and jumps over all the children."

Father of a children Oliver : Garicoich Dueñas said:Tradition is tradition, all of us in the family have been jumped and in the end we have to follow the tradition and it doesn't stop.