Pilares 2012

Last night was the start to las fiestas del Pilar 2012 or otherwise known as los Pilares 2012. It was CRAZY. Basically, I can't even describe it that's how crazy it was. These festivals last all week until the night of the 15th maybe? There are parades, fireworks, these gigantic heads and bodies that are like at least three times the size of a normal human being, maybe even four, and the entire population of Aragón and people from other Hispanic countries come to Zaragoza to worship and celebrate the coming of the Virgin of Pilar. People buy these petos, which are just overalls in different colors, and you have people sign them and write crazy things on them throughout the festival. They also wear them because, as it was explained to us, you don't want to get alcohol on your normal clothes! My friends and I didn't drink (because it's against school rules) but EVERYONE there did. It's just one of the parts of the fiestas. People are pulling around the little carts with just huge tubs of wine and there are floats (that are basically just like pickup trucks with wine and beer and anything else you can imagine in it). I've never seen anything like it before. It was really INSANE!! Last night was the official start after la pregona gave her speech. This year, it was a girl from the Paralympics who lives in Zaragoza and has won the same amount of medals as Michael Phelps has won in swimming, as well! I'm pretty sure I was on Spanish TV at least twice because we were standing right behind a group of protestors who are against budget cuts and there were SO many cameras and reporters, I'm DEFINITELY on Spanish TV! Not many people are able to say that! I can't really describe the atmosphere because honestly, you really have to experience to know. But there's alcohol flying everywhere, the Spanish flag tied around people's shoulders, people throwing alcohol and wine onto other people, random guys coming up to you and asking you where you are from and giving the pretty girls a deal on their alcohol (which no one takes, of course but it's still funny), getting hit on by random Spanish guys (also some African guys that don't really speak Spanish), whistles being blown nonstop, people shouting and protesting with signs and banners, music playing everywhere from the European pop sensations to Lady Gaga, American kids meeting and making friends with Spanish kids and Americans meeting with other Americans (my friend spotted right off the bat a group of college Americans and turns out they were from Rhode Island and New Hampshire!), and people just having a blast and celebrating Pilar. Three days of school this week, then more fiestas! Maybe I will be able to  go watch the toros at some point!