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Inside the caseta (Tents - Booths)

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Feria de Abril (Seville Fair)

Inside the casetas (Striped colored booths/tents)

Life inside a caseta holds the essence of the Feria. The casetas however are not all the same, in structure nor in liveliness. A large caseta belonging to an association or club offers the advantage of space and live music or shows. Nonetheless, many people prefer the charm of a smaller, "familiar" caseta, tents that usually belong to a group of ten or fifteen partners. The sevillana music is usually piped in (canned) and often space is cramped, yet most everyone knows eachother. The chances of experiencing the true meaning of "art" of the event are greater in this setting. One is usually invited to a caseta by one of it's members. Normally, upon arrival a royal welcome with the first convidá (wine toasting) is offered. From that moment onwards, the caseta becomes a place for conversation, friendship and sevillana dancing. Although this last topic deserves its own chapter.

Caseta advise

Being inside a friend's caseta is unlike being in a bar with a friend. Instead its more like being in the home of a friend. One must assume this important premise in order to be clear on how one must behave in a caseta.

Feria Wine

It's not possible to understand how human relations flow during Feria without considering those golden lubricants, the wines of Jerez and Sanlúcar (sherry wines of Jerez). Although for some the fino and manzanilla wines represent a most holy duality. In fact they are not what people worship during the Feria. Fair-goers practice a monotheistic adoration for friendship. Wine plays an essential liturgical role in honoring such a ritual. Though don't underestimate the ends of these means.

When the macro figures of alcohol consumption during the Feria are published annually, the enormous number of empty bottles and the sea of wine which flowed from them could lead one to think that the Feria de Abril is little more than a huge, collective seven day drunken binge. Nothing further than reality. A Feria drunk is the exception to the rule.

But then... how is it possible that this apparent miracle of abundant wine pouring occurs without suffering unworthy consequences? If asked to Sevillians, they'd answer with one voice: the wine at the Feria has been watered down. The wine producers however insist that this is no more than a rumor and they push to claim that the grading is the same as always. This beloved debate is repeated year after year, from Feria to Feria. Its more reasonable to look at the norms of consumption of manzanilla and fino wines. One tends to drink a little at a time, always while eating something and also, no one stays still: dancing, singing, hopping from caseta to caseta, ...

Sevillanas dance

The Sevillana dance (folk dance that strongly influenced flamenco) is the Queen of the Feria. Contemporary sevillana music can't be considered regional song per se. It includes a whole genre, in which dozens of groups each year scramble to release an infinity of new songs in the market. If one can't dance sevillanas, you'll miss out on an important part of the fun. Of course, in the case of the man, not knowing how to dance is less tragic: most of them improvise by following more or less gracefully, the steps of the woman. No one in their right mind can pretend to learn to dance Sevillanas straight away. But during Feria, who's in their right mind anyway?

Sevillanas are the most genuine expression of the soul of the people of Seville. According to specialist Concepción Carretero, sevillanas depict joviality, health and happiness; overflowing and controlled equally. Joyfulness without losing self control, healthiness due its balanced movements, happiness that's only contagious.

The flirting wooing maintained during the first three sets/verses (coplas), leads into the fourth with uncontainable passion. The look on the face of the partners changes, the insinuation gives way to blatant desire. The stares have lost their shyness and at intervals swift yet profound glances occur. Heat, color and dynamism ascend, reflected in their faces. Suddenly the dance stops and the couple remains frozen in elegance.

Advise on how to stay afloat in a sea of manzanilla (sherry wine)

Don't drink compulsively. Mazanilla and fino wines are fresh and smooth, go down easily, yet at the same time between drink, and another accompanying conversation, song, dance and clapping...
There should always be something to nibble on. Casetas don't tend to be, the truth is, temples of food. However, all of them serve snacks (often simple tapas) that tend to reduce the effects of alcohol. Proteins and carbohydrates are our best allies of the night.
Although more and more tall drinks invade the Feria with a surge, let it be known that mixing them with the traditional manzanilla or fino wines is a guaranteed one way ticket to disaster.
When one feels that one's ship starts to resemble the Titanic, then one must immediately turn to the ever efficient caldito de feria (broth). Just as put in the sevillana song, that to this hot broth which brings one back down to levels resembling one's real self, a monument should be made in its honor.

Tel: 954595288/954221714 Fax: 954595295/954229566 Email: laredo.turismo@sevilla.org / barranco.turismo@sevilla.org turismo@sevilla.org