Las Mondas 2023 (Talavera de la Reina): dates, activities, schedules

When making a Getaway to Talavera de la Reina, In the province of Toledo, I matched it with one of the parties most important of this population of Castilla la Mancha: The Mondas.

It is not about the patron saint festivities of Talavera, which are those of Our Lady of the Prado and every year they are celebrated on September 8.

The Mondas It is a festival that has a very long tradition, which takes place during the week after the eastern.

Las Mondas 2023 Dates in Talavera de la Reina

The dates of Las Mondas 2023 in Talavera de la Reina consist of from Sunday, April 9 to Sunday, April 16, that is, a week during which various activities are carried out.

If this year you consider taking a getaway to this town in the province of Toledo, surely you are curious to know what are Mondas.

What are Mondas de Talavera?

This ancient popular celebration that is considered National Tourist Interest It dates back to the offerings that Roman farmers and ranchers made to the goddess Ceres.

The baskets that were used were known as world, a name that evolved into peels.

Therefore it is a festival closely linked to the country traditions that live in Talavera de la Reina and in the towns of its region.

What the Cortejo de Mondas Parade is like in Talavera

The celebrations themselves begin on Palm Sunday, and during the week there is an extensive program of events that have their climax in what is known as Courtship of Mondas.

In this Big parade which takes place throughout the saturday afternoon, in which up to 3.000 people and 75 folkloric groups representing the peoples of the ancient Talavera Lands.

As I was able to verify during my Talavera visit coinciding with the aforementioned Courtship of Mondas, It is a great popular festival.

Tour of the Las Mondas Parade in Talavera

Throughout the entire Saturday afternoon, thousands of people gather in this Toledo town, occupying the main streets of the historic center.

The parade runs from the center bread square to Basilica of Our Lady of Prado.

Floats in Las Mondas de Talavera

Several floats participate in the parade, some with representative themes of the history of Talavera, such as the Roman chariot or the float from the Visigothic era.

But you can also see other allegorical floats to unique corners of the town, such as the ceramics of the Frogs Fountain, Knights panel of the porch of the Prado Basilica, or the gate of seville.

Although among all the floats the greatest prominence is given to the so-called Shopping Cart, a small chariot carried by two rams, which were the symbol of the goddess Ceres.

Nowadays, and after the Christianization of this ceremony in the year 602, the rams continue to participate to venerate the Virgin of the Prado, so they end up entering the interior of the basilica as part of the ritual.

Folklore groups in Las Mondas

Although they are undoubtedly the traditional folk groups representing various towns in the region, which with their music and dances give the greatest festive atmosphere to this great parade.

During the Festival of the Mondas Other festive events also take place.

To highlight the charanga of Giants and big headeds that runs through the town to the basilica, or the Craft market that extends through streets and squares of the historic center of Talavera de la Reina.

Furthermore, the Saturday of the holidays coincides with the Medieval Market of San Jerónimo which takes place on the first Saturday of every month.

Program and schedules of Las Mondas in Talavera

Here you can check the program of the 2023 Las Mondas Festival in Talavera de la Reina, information that as of the date of this publication is pending updating, with schedules all activities that are carried out.

Photos from the Las Mondas party

Here you have more photos of the Mondas Festival celebrations in Talavera de la Reina, corresponding to the edition I attended.