Lentorama 2021: Take Your Holiday to Go

Day 29: Powder Day

Celebrated in the Spanish village of Tolox, Powder Day sees people (mostly younger people) throw talcum powder at each other until they are coated in the stuff. It takes place on Shrove Tuesday, and marks the end of carnival in Tolox. 

Some point to the Ash Wednesday reminder that we "are dust, and unto dust shall you return" as the reason for the powdering, but local history points to a more secular beginning. The story goes that two women in the town were in love with the same man, and got into a fight over him. Both worked at the same bakery, and they started throwing flour at each other as they fought. This became a kind of courting ritual, with men throwing flour on women in whom they had a romantic interest. Women who did not want to get hit with flour (or who weren't interested in the man most likely to throw the flour) would stay home.

This led to some frankly appalling behavior, with men breaking into homes in order to throw their flour. Take a hint, dude.

At least one other town in Spain has a similar practice, though neither appear to be related to the Hindu festival of Holi, where participants throw colored powders at each other.