!free! — Galician Night Crawling

The origins of Galician night crawling date back to the 18th century, when it was primarily practiced in the rural areas of Galicia. The tradition was born out of the need for social interaction and entertainment in these isolated communities. Young people would gather at a local house or a town square, and after a day of work, they would go out "randeir" or "crawl" from one house to another, singing and dancing.

In tascas (old taverns) no wider than a hallway, you’ll find queimadas — the ritual drink. Waiters pour orujo (grape spirit) into clay bowls, add lemon peels, sugar, and coffee beans, then set it on fire. Blue flames leap as they chant the conxuro (spell): “Mouchos, coruxas, sapos e bruxas… fuxide, demo, meigas e trasnos!” (Owls, screech owls, toads and witches… flee, demon, hags and goblins!). You sip the warm, aniseed fire, and for a moment, you believe in magic. galician night crawling

The music associated with Galician night crawling is characterized by the use of traditional instruments such as the gaita (a type of bagpipe), the pandeireta (a small drum), and the requinta (a small stringed instrument). The songs are typically written in Galician and are often about love, nature, and everyday life. The origins of Galician night crawling date back