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Since colonial times, the northeast of Antioquia was known for its prosperous economy based on gold mining that made towns such as Remedios, Zaragoza and Segovia some of the richest in the region.
To honor this tradition, which has largely forged the regional identity, the Gold and Mining Festivals (Fiesta del Oro y La Minería) are celebrated annually in the municipality of Segovia, normally during the third week of July.
During the weekend, typical activities are carried out that celebrate the town's mining vocation, such as the typical catangueros race (a worker who is responsible for carrying a package of product from a mine on his back) in which workers from mining companies compete for reach the finish line first carrying a heavy package.
Sports competitions such as soccer and basketball tournaments and the Gold and Mining pageant are also held.
The climax of these festivities comes with the iconic Gigantona Carnival, a massive parade in which Segovians carry a doll approximately three meters high while throwing cornstarch, moresco (a concentrated red fruit soft drink) and carnival foam.
The Gigantona Carnival also serves to remember and honor the victims of the many episodes of violence experienced in Segovia within the framework of the armed conflict, giving the doll the name of a different victim each year.
The Gold and Mining Festivals in Segovia not only celebrate the mining heritage, but also strengthen the sense of community and serve as a historical memory device, consolidating itself as a crucial event for the identity of the region.
