The Tarasca (from the French Tarasque, and this from the place name of the town of Tarascon, in Provence, France) is a mythological creature whose origin lies in a legend about Saint Martha.

According to the legend, this creature lived in Tarascon (Provence) and devastated the territory wherever it went. It is described as a kind of dragon with six short legs similar to those of a bear, a torso similar to that of an ox with a turtle shell on its back, and a scaly tail that ended in a scorpion’s sting. Its head was described as that of a lion with horse ears and an unpleasant expression.

The king of Tarascon had unsuccessfully attacked the Tarasca with all his ranks and arsenal, but Saint Martha enchanted the beast with her prayers and returned to the city with the thus tamed beast. The terrified inhabitants attacked the creature at nightfall, which died there without offering resistance. Then Saint Martha preached a sermon to the people and converted many of them to Christianity.

Every fair Wednesday, at mid-morning, the best-kept secret in Granada is revealed: the dress of the Tarasca. And one thing is sure: there will always be someone who criticizes it, no matter how the dress is, long or short, discreet or brightly colored, classic or modern, daring or coy. It is worth remembering the famous saying in the city that you are dressed worse than the Tarasca. Despite this, for any Granada professional in tailoring or design, it is a privilege to be called on to dress the most famous mannequin in the city. And we could well consider the Tarasca as the queen of these celebrations, is she not the most characteristic woman of Corpus? Lady of the party and empress of fun, the Tarasca parades through the city each year on the back of a fierce dragon that seems to fall at her feet, for this model of coquettish measures feels like the star of the city’s most famous runway. Furthermore, from Wednesday to Sunday, it is displayed in the foyer of the Town Hall, where it is visited by hundreds of people who approach her with peculiar veneration.

2017 

TARASCA                             Wednesday, June 14th 12.00

Town Hall, Reyes Católicos;  Gran Vía,  Cárcel Baja, Plaza de la Romanilla, Plaza de la Trinidad,  Mesones, Reyes Católicos y Plaza del Carmen.

CORPUS PROCESSION           Thursday, June 15th 10.15

Cathedral,  Pasiegas,  Marqués de Gerona,  Mesones,  Reyes Católicos, Plaza Isabel La Católica,  Gran Vía de Colón,  Cárcel Baja, Foot of the tower, Pasiegas, Cathedral.

Source: Granada Tur