At this point, it is not trivial to think that the Seville Fair, beyond an excuse to celebrate one’s culture, is also history. Books and books could be written about the number of events that have taken place on the “albero” (bullring). However, in Sevilla Secreta we have selected 16 curiosities of the Feria de Abril that will leave you amazed.
1. Why does the Real get this name?
The Real de la Feria is so named because a real (25 cents of a peseta) was the price charged by the horse drivers for transporting people to the fairgrounds.
2. And the street of Hell?
On the other hand, the street of Hell is so called because of the noise caused by the number of attractions there are in it. More than 100 attractions!
3. Fair Without Noise
The City Council of Seville, through the Delegation of Major Festivities and at the request of the Asperger-TEA Association, made effective in 2019 a revolutionary measure in the April Fair.
For the first time, the Calle del Infierno reduced the sound emissions of the attractions for a few hours. In other words: an accessible and inclusive ‘Feria Sin Ruido’, for the enjoyment of everyone, which has been in force ever since .
4. The best decorated booths
The decoration of the booths is taken care of to such an extent that the city council awards prizes to those that are best decorated.
5. Beginnings as a livestock fair
In its beginnings the Fair was held for the purpose of buying and selling livestock. It was a Basque and a Catalan who promoted this event and in 1846 they asked for permission to hold it.
6. And why are the booths private?
The Seville Fair was held for the first time in 1847. That first Fair located in the Prado de San Sebastián had 19 booths and was focused on livestock and agriculture.
The following year, the brother-in-law of Queen Isabel II, the Duke of Montpensier, organized the first known private fair.
He set up a luxurious campaign, in a private and guarded enclosure, in order to enjoy the fair days with an audience “of his own level”. And this was imitated by the nobles of the time in the years that followed, turning the Seville Fair into an event in which different social strata began to coexist, with access restrictions.
7. The year in which the April Fair was held at home
The health crisis caused by Covid-19 forced the cancellation of the April Fair in 2020 and 2021. However, the Fair could be held in private homes and there were those who managed to mimic their terrace with the booths of the Real.
In addition to the years of the pandemic, the fair was only canceled on three other occasions: the editions coinciding with the Civil War in 1937, 1938 and 1939.
8. “La Guita”.
There are still those who hang a guita on their wrist from the brand of manzanilla with the same name, “La Guita”. This bottle had a little string that people used to carry with them to know how many bottles they were getting.
9. Since when have paper lanterns been used as decorations?
The paper lanterns of the April Fair find their origins in the year 1877, when Queen Isabel II made a visit to the Sevillian event.
In order to make the space occupied by the fair look more orderly, Gustavo Bacarisas devised the lanterns, inspired by Chinese lamps, oriental style.
Since 1983, moreover, a municipal ordinance declared them obligatory.
10. Origin of the flamenco dress
The women of the peasants served as inspiration for what would later become the flamenco dress. Thus, they realized that the work coat tight at the waist and the ruffled hems stylized the female body.
11. A mistake? on the cover
The 2005 cover was intended for the centenary of Sevilla FC. However, someone made the mistake of inserting the Betis coat of arms in the image of King San Fernando.
You can consult more curiosities related to the covers of the Feria de Abril of Seville in this link.
12. Illustrious characters
The Feria de Abril has been visited by the likes of Rainier of Monaco, Grace Kelly and Jacqueline Kennedy.
13. A fair without horses
Despite the controversy, horses are still part of the imaginary of the Feria de Sevilla. 1990, however, was the only year in which there were no horses due to horse plague.
14. The fire of 1964
In 1964 there was a fire that destroyed 67 booths and caused several injuries and one death.
15. Its current location
Los Remedios was the location of the Fair since 1973. Previously it was held in the Prado de San Sebastián.
16. The tradition of pescaíto
One of the great curiosities or questions that foreigners ask themselves when they arrive at the April Fair in Seville has to do with the pescaíto dinner.
Its origin connects with the traditional format of the fair, which runs from Monday to Sunday, and that invited to batter the fish the day before, because on Sunday the fishermen are not used to work.