Flex your muscles in Spain

The annual festival of La Carreta in Spain, which takes place on December 30th, is as strenuous as it is fun and exciting.

La Carreta means the Wagon Fiesta and a large part of it is the chopping, gathering and carting of wood in order to build a massive bonfire. The gathering of wood, usually oak, from nearby hillsides can take up to two days and is no mean task.

However, during the whole process many breaks are taken to delve into cavernous picnic baskets and drink unending bottles of wine.

Once the wood has all been stacked, the bonfire is lit and the festivities begin in earnest. There is usually drinking, dancing and laughter all through the night. The festival also involves a statue of the baby Jesus, which is taken out of the church and installed in a local house. Then the whole village troops through, paying their respects to the statue.