The flour battle of Xinzo de Limia's carnival – in pictures
During this festive battle during Xinzo de Limia’s carnival in Spain, participants throw flour and bran at each other in a kind of purification ritual
-
A man throws flour at another during the Domingo Fareleiro (floury Sunday in Galician language) festival in Xinzo de Limia.
Photograph: Miguel Riopa/AFP/Getty Images
-
Clouds of flour hang in the air as people target each other in the festive battle.
Photograph: Felipe Carnotto/NurPhoto/Corbis
-
Participants are smothered in a mixture of farelos (flour and bran) during the ritual.
Photograph: Brais Lorenzo/EPA
-
Swimming goggles are employed as protective gear by these children, who have done their best to avoid the worst of the flour.
Photograph: Miguel Ripa/AFP/Getty Images
-
-
A man is lost in billowing cloud of flour, as others gang up on him during the melee.
Photograph: Miguel Riopa/AFP/Getty Images
-
Victors and casualties mixing among the flour fight.
Photograph: Felipe Carnotto/NurPhoto/Corbis
-
Purified? Perhaps. This well-covered man enjoys the best of the event.
Photograph: Miguel Riopa/AFP/Getty Images
-
Xinzo de Limia’s carnival is considered the longest in Galicia – attracting a diverse crowd of onlookers and participants.
Photograph: Miguel Riopa/AFP/Getty Images
-
-
Faces and costumes alike are lost in the fun of the fight.
Photograph: Miguel Riopa/AFP/Getty Images
-
People sling flour at each other, with one shopping trolley-bound man using a shovel to gather the white powder.
Photograph: Miguel Riopa/AFP/Getty Images
-
Xinzo de Limia’s flour battle draws all kinds: this man is perhaps ill-suited for the fight.
Photograph: Felipe Carnotto//NurPhoto/Corbis
-
Participants skid and scuffle in the white powder covering the streets.
Photograph: Miguel Riopa/AFP/Getty Images
-
View all comments >