Los Carochos (The Carochos)Los Carochos

Los Carochos is a traditional winter masquerade held on New Year’s Day (January 1) in the village of Riofrío de Aliste, in Zamora province, Spain[40†L68-L73]. The word "Carocho" refers to the cork masks worn by the two main demon characters (the “Carocho Grande” and “Carocho Chiquito”). Eleven masked characters in total parade through the streets in a dramatic pageant throughout the day[40†L68-L73][30†L12-L16]. The event is organized like a street theater with scripted fights and scenes. The two devils, dressed in black with red tenazas (pincer-like horns) and bells, burst out in smoke at noon (after a rocket launch) amid clanging cowbells[30†L12-L16]. This procession honors ancestral beliefs, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness and the renewal of the year[15†L29-L37][31†L15-L21]. The celebration culminates with a final procession in the early evening. Los Carochos is considered a vital part of local identity and even carries an official designation as a Fiesta of Tourist Interest (listed at regional or international level)[15†L39-L41][40†L68-L73].

The Carochos masquerade is part of the "mascaradas de invierno" traditions of Zamora, which date back centuries and coincide with the Christmas-New Year cycle. The masked characters and ritual antics (bells, ashes, water) are remnants of pre-Christian rites that celebrate fertility, renewal, and the fight against evil spirits[40†L68-L73][15†L29-L37]. Each character in the parade has symbolic meaning (for example, the devils, a madam, a blind man, etc.), reflecting social archetypes in a carnival-like fashion[40†L68-L73][30†L12-L16]. Neighbors of Riofrío de Aliste prepare elaborate costumes and props by hand, passing know-how from elders to youth. The community regards the ritual as an "ancestral rite" (ritual ancestral) and proudly presents it every year as part of their heritage[30†L12-L16][15†L29-L37].