The Serranía month by month
February in the Serranía de Cuenca: Candlemas, San Blas and paloteos
February keeps the cold of winter, with an average of about 11 °C maximum and 1 °C minimum, and brings festivals with memory: Candlemas, on 2 February, celebrated in Talayuelas with the turroncillos cake made by the mayordomas, and San Blas and Carnival, with the paloteos of Reíllo.
- Candlemas
- San Blas
- Paloteos
- Carnival
- Mean max.
- 11 °C
- Mean min.
- 1 °C
- Rain
- 41 mm
- Frost days
- 11
Candlemas in Talayuelas
In Talayuelas, on the weekend before the festival, the mayordomas (women in charge of the feast) make a turroncillos cake that is offered to the Virgen de la Candelaria. It is a day of many hours of shared work in which the older women pass on the memory of the village.
Paloteos and couplets
In Reíllo, according to the study by López Requena published by the Provincial Council in 1989, the cycle of winter festivals includes Candlemas, San Blas and Carnival, with the paloteos, a stick dance accompanied by couplets, as its characteristic dance.
The sky in february
February nights are still long and clear in the high lands. If there is a new moon, it is a good time for deep-sky viewing; Orion can be seen in the south early in the night.
Candlemas and the turroncillos cake of Talayuelas
Talayuelas
Laguna de Talayuelas micro-reserve
29.66 haGoing to see it: For small festivals, ask the town council first: local dates change and are not always announced.
Frequently asked questions
When is Candlemas?
On 2 February in the liturgical calendar. In Talayuelas the cake is made on the weekend before the festival.
What are paloteos?
A traditional dance accompanied by couplets that is part of the festivals of Reíllo.