The festival of San Jorge in Cáceres is a day in honor of the city's patron saint, which the people of Cáceres take very seriously. It includes a parade, a theatrical performance, the burning of the dragon, and the search for the golden eggs. Quite a lot!
Legend has it that when Cáceres was Muslim, and the Christians were trying to reconquer the city, the daughter of the Moorish lord who ruled the city fell in love with the Christian captain. She loved him so much that she showed him a secret door to access the walled enclosure.
Then, the Christians managed to conquer the city on the night of April 22 through that access. When the Moorish governor found out they had lost the city because of his daughter, he turned her into a hen that is said to reappear in the old town every April 22 at night.
The Festival of San Jorge in Cáceres Once we understand this story, the entire celebration makes sense. The afternoon begins with the parade, in which Moors, Christians, the dragon, and San Jorge on a white horse participate.
Upon reaching the Plaza Mayor, there is a theatrical representation of the previous legend, and at the end, the dragon arrives, which is burned and killed by San Jorge, symbolizing Christians as San Jorge and Muslims as the dragon.
At the end, there is a fireworks show launched from the town hall, and after midnight, the search for the golden eggs begins throughout the monumental city, which were placed by the Christian captain's lover turned into a hen. Those who find the golden eggs receive a cash prize.
And then to sleep, as it has been a very long day.
Recommendations for the San Jorge Festival in Cáceres We recommend that if you want to see the parade well, do it on Paseo de Cánovas, where there is plenty of space, and you can avoid feeling overwhelmed. Otherwise, if you want to prioritize getting a good spot in the Plaza Mayor, you will likely have to miss the parade to save your spot for the burning.