Ravachol Parrot

Last updated
Ravachol Parrot
Pontevedra Capital Escultura Loro Ravachol.jpg
Ravachol Parrot statue
Species Parrot
Died26 January 1913
Pontevedra, Spain
Resting placeMourente, Pontevedra
OccupationPharmacist's pet
Years active22
Known forIntelligent and sarcastic conversation
OwnerD. Perfecto Feijoo
Residence Pontevedra
Named afterFrançois Ravachol

The Ravachol parrot lived in Pontevedra, Spain, between 1891 and 1913. It was the pet of pharmacist Perfecto Feijoo. It became one of the symbols of the city.

Contents

The burial of the Ravachol Parrot is commemorated every year during the carnival of the city of Pontevedra.

Origin of the name

There is no evidence that the parrot had a specific name during its first months in Pontevedra, but before a year had passed since its arrival in the city, all the neighbours knew it by the name of a famous French revolutionary. [1] François Ravachol was an anarchist who, as well as being a troublemaker, was known for his terrorist attacks with dynamite.

It was his owner Don Perfecto Feijoo himself who named the parrot Ravachol, because of its unruly and untamable character. [2]

History

The owner

The pharmacist from Pontevedra Perfecto Feijoo (1858–1935) graduated from the University of Santiago de Compostela. Since 1880 he had run the pharmacy located in the Plaza de la Peregrina, next to the Church of the Pilgrim Virgin on the corner of Oliva Street. He had a pleasant and friendly character and gathered the cream of Pontevedra's society in his pharmacy. Personalities from politics, the arts and sciences came to his pharmacy to participate in the most lively meetings. [3] He was undoubtedly one of the most charismatic personalities in Galicia at that time.

Origins

In 1702, the Spanish fleet, together with the French fleet, tried to land goods brought from America. The ships were attacked by the Anglo-Dutch fleet, which led to the Battle of Rande. Among the goods from the new continent was a cargo of exotic birds. After the ships sank, a large number of parrots managed to survive. They spread around and were captured by the villagers.

Ravachol in front of the church of the Pilgrim Virgin Ravachol.jpg
Ravachol in front of the church of the Pilgrim Virgin

The date of birth of the Ravachol Parrot is unknown, but it was in 1891 that Martin Fayes, a music teacher and director of the military band of Tui, a friend of D. Perfecto, gave it to him. The young parrot would stay in Pontevedra for 22 years. [4]

Arrival in Pontevedra

It took some time for the parrot to adapt to his new home but he soon showed his restless and irreverent nature. [5] His ability to speak was mixed with a vulgar vocabulary, said to have come from the soldiers in the barracks where his former owner Martin Fayes worked. Depending on the time of year and the time of day, the parrot's cage was located in the pharmacy, in the back of the pharmacy or outside the pharmacy next to a stone bench. It was in the latter location that the parrot was most comfortable enjoying the liveliness of passers-by.

Death and burial

On 26 January 1913, the Parrot died. [6] It is said that the cause of his death was over-consumption of biscuits soaked in wine or poisoning. [7] The society of Pontevedra was plunged into a sad sense of mourning and organised itself to bid farewell to the most emblematic reference of the city. The corpse was embalmed and displayed in the pharmacy.

The Society of Craftsmen organised the funeral and set up a burial chamber in the pharmacy. They set the date of the funeral for 5 February 1913. Famous people from Pontevedra took part in the funeral, which was a farewell to the beloved parrot Ravachol. [8] The mortal remains of the parrot were buried in the estate that D. Perfecto owned in Mourente.

Procession to the funeral of Ravachol Parrot in 2008 LoroRavachol2008.JPG
Procession to the funeral of Ravachol Parrot in 2008

Description

Personality

The parrot's temperament was very peculiar, its verbosity and ease of expression made it a singular attraction. Many customers gave sweets to the parrot, as those who did not do so received a good reprimand from Ravachol.

Official Ravachol Parrot souvenir Pontevedra Capital Souvenir oficial del Loro Ravachol.jpg
Official Ravachol Parrot souvenir

Curiosities and sentences

The life of the parrot was marked by a large number of anecdotes linked to its ease of expression and its particular sarcasm. The most surprising thing is that his mastery of the language was coupled with an intelligence that allowed him to hold small conversations. He also identified certain situations to apply his sentences, almost always in Galician, which soon became popular and were later used in the everyday language of the people of Pontevedra. For example, Ravachol could say the threatening words "se collo a vara..." (if I take the stick...) to address those who bothered him. If no one was looking after the customers and a customer came into the pharmacy, he would shout "Don Perfecto" (there are people in the shop). If the customer looked bad, he would shout: "We don't trust you here". On the other hand, when a priest arrived, he would imitate a crow. [9] To the president of the Spanish government, Eugenio Montero Ríos, and to the writer Emilia Pardo Bazán he dedicated insults that would be condemned at the time. Another example of his intelligence is that sometimes he would shout "Don Perfecto a despachar" (Don Perfecto, go and take care of the customers) and when the pharmacist approached him he would say "engañeiche! "(I fooled you!).

Modern burial

In 1985, a group of Pontevedrians, in collaboration with the municipal festivities committee, decided to recreate the wake and burial of the Ravachol Parrot during the city's carnival. [10] The success of this first recreation was such that within a few years the burial of the Parrot Ravachol became one of the most popular events of the Galician carnival. The celebration closes the carnival week in Pontevedra. It is customary for Ravachol to appear on Carnival Monday in a costume that changes every year depending on the current events. Initially, the funeral was held on Friday, but was moved to Saturday after Ash Wednesday to facilitate the participation of thousands of people in the funeral procession.

Relevance

There are many examples of recognition for this figure of the Pontevedra carnival. He has been the subject of television reports, journalistic columns, [11] historical studies and literary inspiration. It also has its own saeta, rumba, tanguillos and coplas murgueras, [12] badge and various merchandising items. The parrot has had a monument since 23 February 2006 at the very spot in the city where his picturesque exploits took place. [13] It is precisely there that Don Perfecto Feijoo's chemist's shop, demolished in 1947 to widen Michelena Street, is rebuilt every year and the famous gatherings are recreated.

The parrot also has a dedicated figurine in the famous Galician pottery of Sargadelos. [14] The cakes called Ravacholitos are also dedicated to the Ravachol Parrot. [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alberto Núñez Feijóo</span> Spanish politician (born 1961)

Alberto Núñez Feijóo is a Spanish People's Party politician who serves as Member of the Congress of Deputies and as president of the People's Party. He served as the President of the Autonomous Government of Galicia from 2009 to 2022. Feijóo was appointed government formateur following the 2023 election, however his investiture ultimately failed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Galician regional election</span> 2012 elections in Galicia

The 2012 Galician regional election was held on Sunday, 21 October 2012, to elect the 9th Parliament of the autonomous community of Galicia. All 75 seats in the Parliament were up for election. The election was held simultaneously with a regional election in the Basque Country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Galician regional election</span>

The 2016 Galician regional election was held on Sunday, 25 September 2016, to elect the 10th Parliament of the autonomous community of Galicia. All 75 seats in the Parliament were up for election. The election was held simultaneously with a regional election in the Basque Country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Galician regional election</span>

The 2020 Galician regional election was held on Sunday, 12 July 2020, to elect the 11th Parliament of the autonomous community of Galicia. All 75 seats in the Parliament were up for election. The election was initially scheduled for 5 April 2020 but was postponed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was held simultaneously with a regional election in the Basque Country.

Néboa is a Spanish mystery-thriller television series starring Emma Suárez and Isabel Naveira. Created by Xosé Morais, Víctor Sierra and Alberto Guntín, produced by RTVE and Voz Audiovisual and set in Galicia, the plot concerns the investigation on a series of serial murders taking place in a small island community during the carnival. It aired on La 1 in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of the Pilgrim Virgin</span> Baroque and neoclassical church in Pontevedra, Spain

The church of the Pilgrim Virgin is a scallop-shaped Roman Catholic chapel located in the city of Pontevedra, in Spain, along the route of the Portuguese Way of St. James.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pontevedra Museum</span> Museum in Pontevedra, Spain

The Pontevedra Museum is a museum in the Galician city of Pontevedra in Spain. It was founded by the Provincial Deputation of Pontevedra on 30 December 1927 and has six buildings for its exhibitions. It has permanent and temporary exhibition rooms. The museum's collections are multidisciplinary, classified into rooms for painting, sculpture, archaeology, decorative arts, engraving and ethnography.

<i>Tertulia Monument (Literary Circle in Modern Coffee)</i> Sculptural group in Pontevedra, Spain

The Monument to the Tertulia, known as the Literary Circle in Modern Coffee, is a sculptural group created by the Spanish sculptor César Lombera, in Pontevedra (Spain). It is located in Saint Joseph's Square in front of the Café Moderno and the central building of the former Provincial Savings Bank of Pontevedra and was inaugurated on 13 January 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Praza da Ferrería</span> Medieval square in Pontevedra, Spain

The Praza da Ferrería is a large square located on the edge of the old town of Pontevedra (Spain), inside the old city walls. It is the main square of the old town and has an area of about 2,000 m2. It includes the small squares of the Estrella on the north side, the Orense square on the south side and the Casto Sampedro square on the east side, making a total of almost 5,000 m2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Café Moderno (Pontevedra)</span> Art Nouveau Building in Pontevedra, Spain

The Café Moderno is an art nouveau and eclectic building located in St. Joseph's Square in Pontevedra, Spain. It is the building with the most important Art Nouveau interior in the city. It is currently the headquarters of one of the socio-cultural centres of Pontevedra Afundación, owned by the Abanca bank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pazo de García Flórez</span> Mansion in Pontevedra, Spain

The Pazo de García Flórez is an 18th-century baroque pazo located between Sarmiento Street and Plaza de la Leña in the city of Pontevedra, Spain, in the heart of the old town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Town of Pontevedra</span> Neighbourhood in Pontevedra, Spain

The historic centre of Pontevedra (Spain) is the oldest part of the city. It is the second most important old town in Galicia after Santiago de Compostela, and was declared a historic-artistic complex on 23 February 1951.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaza de la Peregrina</span> Medieval square in Pontevedra, Spain

The Plaza de la Peregrina is an 18th-century square located in the city centre of Pontevedra (Spain), on the edge of the historic centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfonso Rueda</span> Spanish politician (born 1968)

Alfonso Rueda Valenzuela is a Spanish People's Party (PP) politician. Elected to the Parliament of Galicia in 2009, he succeeded Alberto Núñez Feijóo as president of the People's Party of Galicia (PPdeG) and President of the Regional Government of Galicia in 2022. In the 2024 election, he led the party to another absolute majority.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaza de Barcelos</span> Square in Pontevedra, Spain

The Plaza de Barcelos is a square dating from the beginning of the 20th century located in the city centre of Pontevedra (Spain), to the east of the historic centre of Pontevedra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liceo Casino</span> Neoclassical building in Pontevedra, Spain

The Liceo Casino is a neoclassical building from 1878 located in the historic centre of Pontevedra, which houses the oldest cultural and leisure society in Pontevedra, Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plaza de Curros Enríquez</span> Medieval square in Pontevedra, Spain

Curros Enríquez Square is a square of medieval origin located in the heart of the historic centre of Pontevedra (Spain), on the Portuguese pilgrimage way.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calle de la Oliva</span> Street in Pontevedra, Spain

The Calle de la Oliva is a street in Pontevedra (Spain) located in the city centre, on the edge of the old town. It is one of the main streets of Pontevedra and one of the most commercial.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calle Michelena</span> Street in Pontevedra, Spain

The Calle Michelena is a street in Pontevedra (Spain) located in the city centre, on the edge of the old town. It is one of the main streets of Pontevedra and one of the most commercial streets of the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calle Daniel de la Sota</span> Street in Pontevedra, Spain

The Calle Daniel de la Sota is a central street in the Spanish city of Pontevedra, located in the city's first expansion area. It is one of the best-known streets in Pontevedra.

References

  1. "Ravachol viste del puente de O Burgo". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 24 February 2020.
  2. "Ravachol aterriza en el entroido pontevedrés para sumarse a la lucha feminista". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 4 March 2019.
  3. "Ravachol quema el carnaval". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 1 March 2020.
  4. "Ravachol aterriza en el entroido pontevedrés para sumarse a la lucha feminista". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 4 March 2019.
  5. "Ravachol aterriza en el entroido pontevedrés para sumarse a la lucha feminista". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 4 March 2019.
  6. "Cuando la muerte de Ravachol dio paso al mito". Faro (in Spanish). 27 January 2013.
  7. "Las mil caras de Ravachol". Diario de Pontevedra (in Spanish). 6 February 2021.
  8. "Cuando la muerte de Ravachol dio paso al mito". Faro (in Spanish). 27 January 2013.
  9. "Las mil caras de Ravachol". Diario de Pontevedra (in Spanish). 6 February 2021.
  10. ""Este ano Ravachol queda na casa"". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 28 January 2021.
  11. "Las curiosidades del carnaval de Galicia: el loro Ravachol, los merdeiros y los choqueiros". Cadena COPE (in Spanish). 25 February 2020.
  12. "Ravachol promocionará el carnaval pegado a la pared con cinta americana". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 8 February 2020.
  13. "Rompen la escultura del loro Ravachol en A Peregrina". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 9 December 2018.
  14. ""Ravachol ya forma parte de la «fauna» de Sargadelos". La Voz de Galicia (in Spanish). 19 February 2020.
  15. "Los ravacholitos estrenan cajas que cuentan la historia del popular loro". Pontevedra Viva (in Spanish). 9 February 2022.

See also