'Xenerais da Ulla' – Traditional Rural Carnival [15 February-9 March 2025] | Celebrations and traditions | Official Tourism Website of Santiago de Compostela and its Surroundings

'Xenerais da Ulla' – Traditional Rural Carnival [15 February-9 March 2025]

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Highlighted, Festivity, Galicia, Emotion, Carnival, In Family, Featured Near Santiago, Ancestral traditions

[15 February-9 March 2025]

Boqueixón, A Estrada, Santiago de Compostela, Silleda, Teo, Touro, Vedra, Vila de Cruces.

The “Xenerais da Ulla” is the most outstanding feature of the Ulla region’s traditional Carnival. It has been held in the surroundings of Santiago since the first half of the 19th century: the “Xenerais” (generals) ride on horseback, dressed in colourful military garments similar to those of that time, also include purely carnivalesque adornments, which the horses also wear.

The finery, of both the “Xenerais” and their horses, stand out due to their tradition, originality, colours and degree of elaboration, making them highly valuable.

The “Entroido da Ulla” (Carnival) originated in the first half of the 19th century and is based on the combats that took place in the region during that century: the invasion of Napoleon’s army, the 1846 revolution and the Carlist wars. Its main characters are therefore brightly coloured figures that recreate those historical episodes.

“Xenerais” and adorned dispatch riders make up the spectacular nature of this authentic expression of Galicia’s traditional Carnival.

In view of its great interest, in September 2013 it was declared a Festival of Galician Tourist Interest.

Provisional Calendar:

Saturday 8 February

Presentation of the Traditional Carnival of the Xenerais da Ulla of the 8 Concellos.