The dance of the Virgen de la Salud is one of the so-called ritual dances and its first records date back to 1757, although the first information found in that year already refers to a traditional dance, so its earlier origin is unquestionable. A curious fact is the proven presence of a drummer from Fregenal on Christopher Columbus’ second voyage to America in 1493. His peculiar costume, clearly feminine in character, with heavily starched petticoats and a profusion of red adornments, except in the case of the “Guion”, which are green, ends with a headdress of mithral-shaped flowers.
The Fiesta de la Virgen de la Salud, to which the dance is attached, is celebrated every 8th September, the main day of the festivity, although the drummer alone, with drum and bagpipes, goes through the streets of the town from the 30th August, making the parade and stopping at the door of each brother to offer him a fragment of the music of the dance.
The dance and festival of the Virgen de la Salud were declared an Intangible Asset of Cultural Interest (BIC) in 2017.
