It marks the start of the Carnival.
This is a festival of popular origin that dates back to the time when the washerwomen of the city celebrated the end of the harsh winter carrying around and burning a rag and straw doll, the Pelele, which symbolised the worst of this time of the year.
The celebration was lost but thanks to the initiative of the students of Oral History, Senior Citizens’ Class of the Popular University of Cáceres, it was restored in 1989 and nowadays it is held on Carnival Friday.
A few days before Friday, in the Senior Citizens’ Class, the Pelele and typical sweets, such as coquilles, are made, which will be shared out among the public.
The Pelele is carried on a donkey from the Class’ location to the Plaza Mayor accompanied by the washerwomen dressed in the typical costume of this trade, a brass band and pupils from the schools of Cáceres who carry their own Peleles. Once in the square, the Washerwomen's manifest is read and subsequently the Pelele, which represents February, is burnt together with the puppets made in the schools. At the end of the festival, coquillos and spirits are handed out in the Foro de los Balbos, accompanied by regional music.