Five curiosities about the april fair
1."See you at Joselito el Gallo"
This phrase is repeated a thousand times by Sevillians during the April Fair, but not everyone knows who Joselito el Gallo was and why a street of the fairground is named after him. The truth is that the fairground has 15 streets intertwined, and all of them have names of renowned Sevillian bullfighters.
When the fair was relocated from Prado de San Sebastián to Los Remedios, it was decided that the best way to honor the bullfighters who had once performed at the Maestranza bullring was to name the streets after them. Let’s remember that along with the April Fair, an important bullfighting season also begins, so both traditions have always been related.
However, there is one street with a different name: Calle del Infierno (Hell Street). It is named after the strident sound of the carousels that usually flood that area of the fair. The fairground is also referred as «El Real,» it gets its name because in the past, horse-drawn carriage drivers charged one «real» to take people to the fairground.
2. Fair for everyone
One of the characteristics that draws the attention of outsiders visiting the fair is that many of the “casetas” are private. However, the fair has nearly twenty public casetas, belonging to the city’s districts, trade unions, and political parties.
The idiosyncrasy of the fair invites us to enjoy eating, drinking, and moving from one caseta to another. In fact, the April Fair has the Caseta de Sevilla, with the aim of providing a place for those who come from outside so they can dance and enjoy themselves . Public casetas welcome anyone who wants to enjoy the event.
3. The "albero" stain on your dress
«Albero» is a ubiquitous substance in the fair. But it wasn’t always like this. Albero began to become popular in the city of Seville from the Ibero-American Exposition of 1929. Until then, the predominant color of the city was white, since the buildings were coated with white lime. However, on the occasion of the Exposition, many buildings in the city were painted in albero color, replacing white and entering the chromatic range that makes Seville distinctive.
Thus, the use of albero in the April Fair contributes to creating a traditional and authentic aesthetic. Its color and texture combine with the architecture of the casetas and the flamenco dresses, adding visual cohesion and a distinctive atmosphere to the fair.
Furthermore, albero is ideal for absorbing moisture and keeping the ground dry and firm, making it perfect for paths and transit areas within the fairground. Albero is easy to clean and maintain, helping to keep the fairground in good condition throughout the week. After the fair, it can be easily swept and collected, preparing the ground for other events or for everyday use.
4. The lanterns, the light of the fair
Another element of the fair that is very recognizable today, although it was not always present, is the light of the lanterns.
The paper lanterns are inspired by traditional Chinese paper lamps and were first used with the visit of Queen Isabella II to the fair in 1877. The fair, at that time, had a much less uniform and somewhat chaotic appearance, and the authorities commissioned several artists to redesign some decorative elements of the event. Gustavo Bacarisas was chosen to create the famous lanterns. With the arrival of electricity to Seville in 1883, the use of lanterns became safer, and in 1983 their public use was regulated, giving the fair the appearance it has nowadays.
5. The fair's facade, an ephemeral work of art
The fair’s facade is renewed every year, and its designs always aim to amaze visitors and Sevillians.
The origins of the fair’s facades are impressive. Initially, the facade did not serve as a gate but rather as a walkway connecting San Fernando Street with the Prado de San Sebastián fairground. However, the bottom part of the facade was seen by Sevillians as a sort of entrance to the fairground, and when the city council decided to demolish it in 1920, they demanded a new one to be built. In 1949, it was established that the fair would always have an ephemeral facade chosen through a competition, and over time, this tradition spread to other fairs in Spain.
