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Abejera is my town. Here I was born a handful of years ago. Yes, I was born and growth in this town. And maybe that's why everything I type next is influenced by my experiences. But none needs to have been born in the village for having ties with it, and that's why everyone who goes to Abejera will always return.
What is it?
At first glance seems ordinary people (too common), but that is only perceived if you have not stopped more than half an hour into it ... if you do it, woe to you! You'll be tied for life to this land, because in the air of this place exudes a magnetic "I don’t know" that makes you to want to come back. And it is when it catchs you ... and you can not resist coming back every time you get a chance, and talk about it, and enjoy the people who are part of what we call ABEJERUCOS, born here or not, because for us this encompasses all those that feels from Abejera.
If you want to know more just keep reading ...
Where is it?
Abejera is located in the northwestern part of the province of Zamora, region of Castilla and Leon, Spain. It is part of “Sierra de la Culebra”, a natural paradise that we pride to get and which belongs the wolf as its most emblematic specie.
Since when does Abejera exist?
It is believed that the Celts had settled in the land (proof of this is the rock of "El Castro") and the Romans also passed through here (“armena” is a place name of battlement (“almena”), so it seems that at least some of the Hispanic troops hovered these parts). Places like "El Convento" (The Convent) talks us about the possible existence of such construction prior to the founding of the modern town in 1541. It was in that year that the neighbors had their homes on this nucleus signed a membership agreement of the Marquees of Tábara.
Places that speak of history and village life
"El Casal", belonged to some Abejera’s neighbours for decades and that provided them all firewood and pasture for livestock. Today it is one of the areas that serve to take care of the reservation of the "Sierra de la Culebra" to control hunting areas.
The chapel of the "Cristo de la Vera Cruz" rebuilt in 1991 by residents themselves. This keeps an altarpiece worth that is admired by all who visit it.
“Los Corrales” (pens), typical constructions of the" Sierra de la Culebra" used by the shepherds to keep their flocks of sheeps and ensure that they would not be attacked by the wolf (if it entered it do not go out, which allowed knocking it out easily).
"The Negrillera" one of the elms of the village, which gave shadow for decades but, like almost all, they died; now they are re-sprouting. The oldest elm in the village, "Negrillico" saw and heard for years, for centuries, after mass councils, the converts to leave the rosary, baptisms, weddings, funerals, so many children's games ... in sum, the entire life of the people. But it also surrended to the graphiosis.
The rock "El Castro", easily identifiable location from anywhere in town because of its rocks. An holm oak emerges which gives it a distinctive profile. Together with the rock of "La Corbacera" it is full of legends and mysteries of the past. Part of its history is being discovered little by little.
Festivals and cultural traditions
January 1st
"Los Cencerrones" winter masquerade, a representation made by different characters who once carried out the "conscripts " of the year and that nowadays has been recovered despite the lack of new young people.
January 17th
“San Anton”, feast dedicated to the town's patron, Saint Anthony, in which animals are blessed to be healthy all year (since this saint is seen as the protector of animals).
February 2nd
"The Candles" feast dedicated to Holy Mary. I remember it as one of the days when we lost half of the school, which was always a source of joy.
8 and 15 May
“San Miguel” and “San Isidro” festivities dedicated to the blessing of crops. Saint Isidro was revered with a "bouquet" of threads that once blessed, was distributed to neighbors.
September 8th
“Nuestra Señora de la Natividad”, feast dedicate to Holy Mary that also celebrates the summer harvest, the most important of the year and for which they worked all summer from dawn to dusk. Today, it remains only the party since the harvest is done in a few days.
September 15th
"La Vera Cruz" feast dedicated to the Christ that presides the chapel. For years it was relegated to oblivion; however in recent years it has recovered.
December 24th
"Loga” of the Lamb, in which shephers made a perfomance at the church to pray for protection to their herds and grateful for the gains, although rare, they provided them. In recent years it was staged in the church on the 1st of January, before " Cencerrones" performance; it has also been played in the Main Theater of Zamora and would not be bad to continue playing.
If you want to know more just keep reading ...
Where is it?
Abejera is located in the northwestern part of the province of Zamora, region of Castilla and Leon, Spain. It is part of “Sierra de la Culebra”, a natural paradise that we pride to get and which belongs the wolf as its most emblematic specie.
Since when does Abejera exist?
It is believed that the Celts had settled in the land (proof of this is the rock of "El Castro") and the Romans also passed through here (“armena” is a place name of battlement (“almena”), so it seems that at least some of the Hispanic troops hovered these parts). Places like "El Convento" (The Convent) talks us about the possible existence of such construction prior to the founding of the modern town in 1541. It was in that year that the neighbors had their homes on this nucleus signed a membership agreement of the Marquees of Tábara.
Places that speak of history and village life
"El Casal", belonged to some Abejera’s neighbours for decades and that provided them all firewood and pasture for livestock. Today it is one of the areas that serve to take care of the reservation of the "Sierra de la Culebra" to control hunting areas.
The chapel of the "Cristo de la Vera Cruz" rebuilt in 1991 by residents themselves. This keeps an altarpiece worth that is admired by all who visit it.
“Los Corrales” (pens), typical constructions of the" Sierra de la Culebra" used by the shepherds to keep their flocks of sheeps and ensure that they would not be attacked by the wolf (if it entered it do not go out, which allowed knocking it out easily).
"The Negrillera" one of the elms of the village, which gave shadow for decades but, like almost all, they died; now they are re-sprouting. The oldest elm in the village, "Negrillico" saw and heard for years, for centuries, after mass councils, the converts to leave the rosary, baptisms, weddings, funerals, so many children's games ... in sum, the entire life of the people. But it also surrended to the graphiosis.
The rock "El Castro", easily identifiable location from anywhere in town because of its rocks. An holm oak emerges which gives it a distinctive profile. Together with the rock of "La Corbacera" it is full of legends and mysteries of the past. Part of its history is being discovered little by little.
Festivals and cultural traditions
January 1st
"Los Cencerrones" winter masquerade, a representation made by different characters who once carried out the "conscripts " of the year and that nowadays has been recovered despite the lack of new young people.
January 17th
“San Anton”, feast dedicated to the town's patron, Saint Anthony, in which animals are blessed to be healthy all year (since this saint is seen as the protector of animals).
February 2nd
"The Candles" feast dedicated to Holy Mary. I remember it as one of the days when we lost half of the school, which was always a source of joy.
8 and 15 May
“San Miguel” and “San Isidro” festivities dedicated to the blessing of crops. Saint Isidro was revered with a "bouquet" of threads that once blessed, was distributed to neighbors.
September 8th
“Nuestra Señora de la Natividad”, feast dedicate to Holy Mary that also celebrates the summer harvest, the most important of the year and for which they worked all summer from dawn to dusk. Today, it remains only the party since the harvest is done in a few days.
September 15th
"La Vera Cruz" feast dedicated to the Christ that presides the chapel. For years it was relegated to oblivion; however in recent years it has recovered.
December 24th
"Loga” of the Lamb, in which shephers made a perfomance at the church to pray for protection to their herds and grateful for the gains, although rare, they provided them. In recent years it was staged in the church on the 1st of January, before " Cencerrones" performance; it has also been played in the Main Theater of Zamora and would not be bad to continue playing.
