Feria del Caballo de Jerez de la Frontera |
||
RUTA: HOME > FERIA DEL CABALLO > THE HISTORY |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||
| History of the Fair The 9th of October of the year 1264, after the definitive conquest of Jerez de la Frontera by the King Alfonso X “The Wise”, this king awarded the city of Jerez with two duty-free fairs to be held in April and in September. Later, his son Sancho “The Brave” confirmed this privilege in Seville, the 23rd of August of the year 1282. A document dated from the 13th of September of the year 1481 (Chapter Acts, sheet 219) specifies in a very clear way that these public festivities should be held at the Calle Feria Street. Beginning on Puerta Real (also called Marmolejo) and going as far as Calle Francos Street, including the Plaza de la Yerba Square. In those days, the neighbours had the duty of placing candles at the door of their houses for providing lighting during the celebration. If not, they were fined 12 maravedises. It should also be mentioned that traders were issued with a safe-conduct stating they could neither be arrested during the fair and three more days, nor their goods could be seized because of debts to the King or Queen. It is also interesting to point out that the first traders were mainly English rag-and-bone men, Breton lancers and merchants from Flanders, who besides selling their goods, came to buy wine, must and raisins. |
The
less business, the more fantasy. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The
Jerez fair has also been held at the Santiago suburb (the gypsy neighbourhood
today), and even at the city fortress surroundings. The fair held in May at
the city fortress surroundings had nothing to do with the fair held currently
in May. During those days, the fair consisted mainly in the trading of crockery,
manufactured goods, harderdashery… It was destiny that around the city fortress,
a street market is held currently every Sunday. There you can find about everything
you can be looking for. Along the years, the fair turned into a cattle market. In 1868, this cattle market was established at the so-called “Hato de la Carne” (stopping place for shepherds), and it was then moved (1872) to the Saint Telmo beaches. Four years later (1876), the fair was held at the Caulina cattle track, and it was then when the fair had the first electric lighting. At the beginning of 1902, Mr. Julio Gonzalez Hontoria decided to change the place where the cattle market would take place. The cattle market would, from that moment on, be held in the area around Paseo de Capuchinos. Eventually, the project of holding the fair where it is held currently was then passed on the 18th of July of 1902. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The
Fair today The present day fair is completely different from that one in which royal privileges played an important role. The “Horse Fair”, as it is today, was born with the major Miguel Primo de Rivera y Urquijo. However, its origins come from Mr. Alvaro Domecq y Diez, who first held the “I Horse Week” during the 1955 fair. During the fair, the equestrian program includes all existing disciplines and a morphological contest. Jerez turns into the capital of the horse during those days. The Fair has undergone many changes all through the time. However, it has kept its essence, colour and flavour. The party goes on all day and night everywhere: at the Real (fairground), on the avenues and in the casetas (fair booths). During a whole week, the guitar, wine, dancing and singing play all an important role in the people who come to the fair. In the fair days, the Gonzalez Hontoria Park turns into a huge party; a place where everybody is invited. The city and its people are the best host you will ever find. Come to Jerez! Come soon! |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
 |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20.03.08 | Jerez2020 | @2008 |