Dances of San Sebastian in Aldán

Past and present dance in Aldán

Galáns and madamas in colourful costumes and hats dance to the sound of bagpipes and drums

Ancestral, traditional and unique, the Dances of San Sebastián de Aldán return to this parish of Cangas every January. On the 20th the town celebrates the festivities in honour of the saint on a day when this colourful dance attracts all the attention.

Declared a Festival of Tourist Interest in Galicia, the lack of specific documentary sources makes it impossible to date the exact origin of this dance. However, it is known that this tradition dates back to the mid-17th century.

Madamas and galáns dance in the atrium of the church of Aldán.

Nowadays, this dance is a spectacle that begins in the atrium of the church of San Cibrán. There, a total of ten galáns, five ladies and a guide await the departure of the procession. After bowing to the saint, the group leads the procession with the particularity that the dancers never turn their backs. This is followed by the contradanza.

The ritual includes the bowing of the dancers before the image, three times when they approach and three times when they return to their initial position. The guide is in charge of directing the movements of the group at all times, which are performed to the sound of the bagpipes, the tambourine and the castanets.

Floral artwork

The costumes stand out for their uniqueness. Coloured handkerchiefs, black apron, white dress and Manila shawl make up the women's costumes, while the men dance in black shoes and a black suit enhanced with a felt hat. The hat made with flowers and coloured ribbons worn by the ladies stands out.

But this locality is not the only one to set the rhythm, as in the municipality of Cangas (in the region of O Morrazo) there are also outstanding dances such as those performed in the parishes of O Hío and Darbo in honour of San Roque and Santa María, respectively, which are part of the Ancestral Dances of Cangas.