Game of the faces

The game of Las Caras is a game of chance and tradition that is celebrated Good Friday in Calzada de Calatrava. Two copper coins from the time of Alfonso XII are used for this purpose. It is a profane party, the only one celebrated in Castilla-La Mancha during the time of Lent. It was declared Fiesta of Regional Tourist Interest in 1993. Currently, Calzada de Calatrava tries to fight for this game to be declared National Tourist Interest Festival.

Origin

There are several hypotheses about the Game of Faces, some say that it has its origin when the Romans stripped Jesus of his clothes and played the dice and the other is that Judas played the thirty coins with which he gave to Christ. This is why it is only played at Easter. Rules

The game consists of gathering a crowd with money around a circle organized by a person called "baratero". Three combinations can be given when casting the pieces; faces (win the bench), face and cross (repeat the roll) and crosses (win bettors).

They are a great focus of tourist attraction on Good Friday morning and is a meeting point for a large number of game enthusiasts in Calzada de Calatrava Easter. The faces, a game that is practiced without interruption from very distant epochs, are played exclusively on Good Friday, from morning to the procession of the Burial of Christ. It is practiced in the Plaza of Spain, streets and certain premises like the Casino Círculo Agrícola, social space where the most important ones are played and in which more money is bet.

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