The greased pole over the Guadalquivir dock is the most recognisable symbol of the Velá de Triana. Since 1910, young and not so young have challenged the river to get the scarf.
When the cucaña reaches the zapata, Triana knows that the Velá is about to begin. The greased mast that extends over the Guadalquivir dock becomes the centre of attention for a few days. There, balance and skill merge in a dance where the prize is a scarf and the punishment, a plunge into the river.
The cucaña is not just a game; it is a hallmark of the Velá de Triana, which this year is celebrated until Sunday, 28 July. The image of the horizontal pole over the water is part of the promotional poster, created by María Tapia, and the typography designed by Laura Anaya. A symbol that, for the people of Triana, marks the countdown to the big days of the neighbourhood.
The tradition of the cucaña in Seville originated in 1852, when the Dukes of Montpensier incorporated it into the celebrations for the birth of Infanta María Cristina of Orleans. However, the city adapted the game to its maritime character: while in other places a vertical pole is climbed, here one walks on a long greased mast suspended over the river. This version was incorporated into the Velá in 1910 and has not missed a single occasion since.
The challenge consists of walking along the pole, smeared with soap or grease to make gripping difficult, until reaching the scarf tied at the end. Those who succeed demonstrate not only skill but also courage, as balance is precarious and falling into the water is guaranteed for most. The younger participants are the main protagonists, although there are also veterans who return year after year.
The cucaña is just one part of a Velá that this Saturday will pay tribute to Triana's women. At 22:00 hours, a concert presented by Isabel Fayos will bring together artists such as Silvia Pantoja, Rocío Díaz, la Flaka and Pilar Astola. The celebration will conclude on Sunday, the feast day of San Joaquín and Santa Ana, with a fishing competition starting at 8:30 hours and the awarding of prizes. The grand finale will be marked by fireworks and a performance by the group Los Alpresa.
For the residents of Triana, the Velá is much more than a festival: it is the moment when Calle Betis regains its neighbourhood soul. For a few days, the hustle and joy take over the riverbank, and the cucaña stands as the symbol of a tradition that resists disappearing. The youngest see it as a rite of passage, and the older ones, a memory of their own youth.
The cucaña of the Velá de Triana is, in short, an example of how a popular tradition remains alive thanks to the participation of those who accept the challenge of walking on water each year. A spectacle that, for over a century, has been part of the Seville summer and will once again gather hundreds of people at the Guadalquivir dock this year.
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