The Queimada Spell is a type of ceremony still practiced by the Galician community to ward off evil spirits. It is perfect to perform at any time, whether at a celebration or a dinner party, and the following article will reveal everything you need to know about this ritual.
Meaning of the Queimada
In order to better understand the meaning of the queimada spell, it must first be clarified that it is the queimada as such. The queimada is a drink, it is made using a Galician brandy. Said drink is based on pomace which comes from grape skins.
This type of brandy includes a whole ritual to prepare it which is related to the removal of evil spirits and many people attribute to the queimada an incredible number of properties for spiritual healing.
What is the Queimada Spell?
The queimada is related to many types of ceremonies where fire is mainly involved. It is a custom that is currently carried out by many people and that still generates great controversy because it is not clear if the ceremony is pagan or mysterious.
This potion, possessing magical powers, has an origin lost in the shadows of ancient nights steeped in spells. The primary goal of this ritual is to purify the body, save the soul, and banish evil spirits so that good ones may enter. For those wishing to learn other rituals to achieve even greater benefits, we recommend reading "How to Attract Money ."
Origins
This traditional ritual has its origin in the old castro cultures. Thus, the Celtic culture through the years managed to leave its symbolic designs engraved on rocks that could be found in many of the surroundings of the Galician community. The symbols that were repeated the most are those that have the shape of spirals, among them the trisquel stands out, which is an image that has 3 heads that in turn forms the silhouette of a cross.
From the moment these symbols were discovered, historians left multiple interpretations. However, the simplest and most logical explanation is that the trisquel is related to the three most important elements in human life, that is, water, earth and fire.
On the other hand, the spell of the queimada also carries with it a more internal meaning, which refers to the unification of these three elements, which results in a magical ingredient which was a gift left by the ancient Celts and has lasted to through the years.
In relation to these three elements, it is important to add that the earth is embodied by the clay pot, the water is represented by the brandy that has to be shaken and melted with the earth at the same time that the fire begins to dance freely in order to create the potion with magical powers so that it lights up those who perform the ritual, purifying their body and soul.
Beliefs
Apart from driving away evil spirits and those witches who, according to custom, persecute men and women to curse them in retaliation or distraction, either for any action they have performed or for any other reason, this queimada spell can be performed in any occasion, however, people who practice it say that the best time to do it is after dinner when night falls.
In this way all the people after dinner are located on the sides of the queimada in order to rejoice their souls and strengthen the bonds of friendship. Any of the people present should be in charge of raising the burning liquid using a large spoon and then dropping it into the pot while the words of the ritual are pronounced, which creates a very cozy atmosphere.
Ingredients to prepare the spell
Next, you will find all the ingredients needed to prepare the queimada spell, which is enough for approximately 6 people:
- A clay pot.
- 1 liter of Galician pomace brandy.
- 150 grams of white sugar.
- Lemon or orange peel.
- A handful of unground coffee beans.
- Pieces of apples or grapes.
- Any other member you want to add.
It should be noted that there are many people who strongly defend the practice of this ritual, which is why they do not agree with adding coffee beans, pieces of apples or grapes and others. The additional ingredients that you want to use will depend solely and exclusively on the custom of the people who are going to perform the ceremony.
It is also important to note that you must have the spell at hand to be able to recite it just when the queimada begins to light up.
Preparation of the Queimada Spell
To begin, take the clay pot, which can be obtained at any pottery store, add the brandy and sugar. In order to have a controlled measure of the proportions of each ingredient, make sure you use 150 grams of sugar for each liter of Galician pomace brandy.
In case more than 2 liters of pomace are going to be used, it is best to reserve approximately 300 grams of sugar and a little more to plant in the flames. Next, the lemon or orange peels are added, the coffee beans, the pieces of grapes or apples are added, and then the stirring begins.
Using the same spoon that is used to stir the mixture, a small proportion of the pomace is taken and a little sugar is dissolved, then it is brought closer to the fire so that said spoon lights up in flames. The ladle is quickly brought closer to the pan where all the mixed ingredients are found, so that the fire can do its thing.
When you see that the pan is on fire, you should not stop stirring, it should be done very slowly, there should be no concern in case the flames increase, the ladle should be used to raise and lower the drink while it is on fire as if it were a waterfall, this is for the most daring people, fans must be very careful.
After this, a little sugar is going to be placed in the ladle and then placed on top of the queimada, when it is completely melted like caramel, it is added to the fire and you must continue stirring until the alcohol is consumed depending on the to the taste of the guests or until the preparation turns off by itself. On many occasions the queimada does not go out completely, but its edges are burning, this is normal.
Just when people begin to notice that the queimada is going out, but the flames are still present, the entire spell is recited aloud and at the end the hot queimada is served. One point that should be clarified in this part is that at the time of reciting the spell, the lights must be completely off.
Now, remember that in each clay or ceramic glass you have to add coffee beans, lemon or orange peel, apples or grapes and proceed to drink without problems. There are many people who affirm that when drinking the queimada they have to blow to put out the flames that are passed into the glass, this so as not to burn themselves, but the experience is one of the best.
Traditional spell of the Galician Queimada
In addition to what has been explained about the queimada spell, it is appropriate to add that this ritual was an invention of Mariano Marcos Abalo in 1967, specifically in Vigo. This man invented this spell for a floral games meeting that was going to take place in a confiscated ship that was moored in the port of Vigo.
By the year 1974, Mr. Mariano Abalo added to the spell a series of allusions that were related to Satan and Beelzebub, which he put into practice in a nightclub known as Fausto de la Ciudad Olívica. In this same year a printing house located in the same city began to make copies of the spell of the queimada to sell them without having the permission of its creator. After they got permission, they paid Mr. Abalo one peseta for each copy sold.
The success of this spell was imminent, so other companies began to be interested in selling other copies as well, without obtaining the authorization of Mr. Abalo. So when the copies were marketed, his name was ignored, so people began to believe that this spell belonged to an anonymous author. So, finally for the year 2001, Mr. Abalo made the wise decision to patent the intellectual property of the ritual.
Today you can find a wide variety of versions of this spell that have some very minor differences. However, one of the most used translations is the one quoted verbatim below:
"Owls, toads, barn owls and sorceresses,
supernatural beings, devils and goblins of the snowy vegas,
vultures, salamandrians and witches, rites of the healers,
putrefied perforated reeds, abode of worms and vermin,
flames of souls in pain, evil eye, black witchcraft,
plague of corpses, thunder, lightning and sparks,
dog's groan, prophecy of death, satyr's mouth and rabbit's foot...
Boneless sinner of a bad woman linked to an old man.
darkness of Satan and Beelzebub, bonfire of the dead in flames,
castrated bodies of the immoral farts of the devilish asses,
howl of the angry sea,
useless womb of the celibate woman,
meows of cats in heat,
bad and filthy hair of the poorly calved goat...
With this ladle I will raise the flames of this fire,
that resemble those of hell,
causing the sorceresses to be cleansed of all their cruelty,
many will flee on horseback from their sweepers,
towards the beach to be able to submerge in the waters of Finisterre…
Hey, hey! these shrieks that witches make,
that are burned in the brandy,
In this way they are purified...
And when this drink goes down our throats,
we will all obtain freedom from all the evils of our soul,
as well as all the enchantments...
Forces of earth, air, fire and sea!
we make this call to you,
If it is true that they have much more power than man,
eliminate all the evil that is in our land,
right at this moment, make the spirits of absent friends,
be collaborators with us of this queimada”
The following video perfectly complements the information contained in this article. So, in case there are any doubts, they can be quickly dispelled with the information contained in it:
Recommendations
Those who practice this incredible ritual are sure to experience a wonderful time with their family and friends. It's truly enjoyable to learn about the customs of other cultures and, if you belong to that culture, to keep it alive. Consecrating tobacco is also an excellent ritual that can be performed for protection and spiritual cleansing.
You definitely have to have a fairly open mind to enjoy this type of ceremonies and give way to the belief in the existence of magical beings and spells that will help expel curses.
Keep in mind that this is a rite for protection and ultimately it is what you want for your loved ones. It is recommended to do it specifically on the night of San Juan, that is, on June 24. If it cannot be done that day, then it can be done at any time during the summer.