Roles, funciones y significados de los animales en los rituales festivos. la experiencia extremeña

Abstract

The objective of this work is to study the roles, functions and significance of animals in festive rituals. A revision is carried out at a theoretical level introducing a whole range of cases as from a wider ethnographic research carried out in Extremadura. Based on the corresponding oral testimonies, the rite known as the "Bull of San Marcos" is specifically approached. The practice of this rite is already verified during the nineteen-sixties and this example is taken by the author to stress the importance of ethnologic studies on the role and place of animals in a festive context.