Tag Archive for 'Christmas'

The Zambomba of Maria del Mar in the Bar El Arriate

What the hell is a ‘Zambomba’?

I try to explain — but of course you are invited to post other explanations:

First, everyone can call a Zambomba, e.g. bares, cofraidas (confraternity, brotherhood), private persons, organisations.

It is a typical Christmas event from Jerez — do you know other places where they have it? — that includes drinking, eating, singing together, using percussion instruments like the tambourine (and one that looks like a drum steeped in by a vertical stick).

The photos below were made by me visiting the Zambomba of María del Mar Moreno and her dancing school in the bar ‘El Arriate’ of Ricardo. See Maria’s site.

An overview of the Zambomba season next year which starts end of November and ends a day before Christmas eve I will give you early enough this year.

arriate_outside Bar ‘El Arriate’ from outside, located at C/ Francos.
session You see the circuit of percussion playing and singing audience, in the middle a dancer.
María del Mar María in action.
Ricardo Ricardo is a friendly guy who had a lot to do this night and still had time to have some fun. He has very good breakfast too, e.g. ‘mollete con aceite, tomate, queso y jamon’ — A special toastbread with olive oil tomatoe cheese and ham, try it ;). You can sit outside and watch the people passing.
pestinos Here you see pestiños, typical Spanish Christmas pastries. Delicious, sweet and fat.
arriate_outside Of course you should visit ‘El Arriate’ anytime, not only for Zambombas.