Day of the Holy Innocents

Day of the Holy Innocents
Official nameDía de los Santos Inocentes
Observed bySpain, Hispanic America, Philippines
TypeReligious and Cultural
SignificanceCommemoration of the Massacre of the Innocents; equivalent to April Fools' Day
CelebrationsPranks (inocentadas), fake news, religious services
DateDecember 28

The Day of the Holy Innocents (Spanish: Día de los Santos Inocentes) is a tradition celebrated on December 28 in Spain, Hispanic America, and the Philippines. While its origins are religious, based on the biblical account of the Massacre of the Innocents by Herod the Great, it has evolved into a popular secular custom of playing practical jokes, similar to April Fools' Day.[1]

Religious origin

The day commemorates the victims of the Massacre of the Innocents, the young male children of Bethlehem whom King Herod ordered to be killed in an attempt to eliminate the infant Jesus, as described in the Gospel of Matthew.[2] In the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, the day is classified as a Feast.

In Spanish-speaking cultures, the tradition of playing pranks (known as inocentadas) is the central feature of the day.

Pranks and practical jokes

Common pranks include changing sugar for salt, placing paper cutouts (often in the shape of a person, called a monigote) on people's backs, or telling elaborate fake stories to friends and family. When a person is successfully fooled, the prankster traditionally shouts: "¡Inocente, inocente!" (Innocent, innocent!) or recites the verse "Inocente palomita que te dejaste engañar" (Innocent little dove that let yourself be fooled).[3]

Media involvement

Similar to April first in the English-speaking world, major newspapers, radio stations, and television channels in Colombia, Spain, and Mexico often publish or broadcast "fake news" stories. These stories are usually retracted the following day or revealed as jokes at the end of the segment.[4]

Borrowing tradition

A traditional, though declining, custom involves borrowing objects or money from friends on December 28. According to the "rules" of the day, the borrower is not strictly obligated to return the item, as the lender is considered "innocent" for trusting someone on this specific date.[5]

Regional variations

  • Colombia: it is common for news networks to air year-end blooper reels (los descaches) of their presenters. In Pasto, the day marks the start of the Blacks and Whites' Carnival with the Arcoíris en el Asfalto (Rainbow on the Asphalt) event, where people draw in the streets with chalk.[6]
  • Spain: In Ibi, Spain, the festival of Els Enfarinats is celebrated, involving a mock battle with flour and eggs.
  • Venezuela: known as the Fiesta de los Locos (Festival of the Crazies) in some regions, where participants dress in colorful costumes and masks.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Bowler, Gerry (2000). The World Encyclopedia of Christmas. McClelland & Stewart. p. 110. ISBN 978-0771015359.
  2. ^ "Holy Innocents". The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 7. Robert Appleton Company. 1910.
  3. ^ Comercio, El (2022-12-26). "Día de los Inocentes 2022: ¿por qué se suele realizar bromas?". El Tiempo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  4. ^ Stearns, Peter N., ed. (2008). "Latin America". The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Modern World. Vol. 5. Oxford University Press. pp. 105–120. ISBN 9780195176322.
  5. ^ Castro, Rafaela (2001). Chicano Folklore: A Guide to the Folktales, Traditions, Rituals and Religious Practices of Mexican Americans. Oxford University Press. p. 69. ISBN 9780195146394. LCCN 2001018550.
  6. ^ "Pasto: Arcoíris en el Asfalto, la fiesta de color cada 28 de diciembre". www.radionacional.co. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  7. ^ Dinneen, Mark (2001). Culture and Customs of Venezuela. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 55. ISBN 9780313306396. LCCN 00057649.
  8. ^ "Undeck the Halls". Modern Family. Season 1. Episode 10. December 9, 2009. ABC.
allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%ADa_de_los_Inocentes