Our legends of January-Spanish Legend

 

JARA´S HAND. SPANISH LEGEND. JANUARY

                                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

 

 

 

This legend began in the Zaragoza town of Maella…There, a beautiful girl, called Jara, lived. She was deeply in love with Gaston and only dreamt of becoming his wife. But, the wedding could not be held without consent from the castle owner, Manuel de Ariño. He lived in the castle together with his wife Francisquina de Santa Pau and their son Miguel. However, the meanness of this nobleman and his abuses caused fury among the inhabitants.

Gaston wanted to give the Ariño family a lesson and assembled the most courageous people together.The young men went up the ramp and after crossing the walled enclosure, they went into the chambers where they found Francisquina and her son.  Manuel de Ariño was enjoying a pleasant day of hunting when one of his servants ran to notify him of what was happening. He went in search of support from other nobles.       

The young men stayed in the castle and waited for Manuel de Ariño…An army made up of distinguished men stormed the enclosure and captured every rebel.   After jailing the young men, the judge decided to give an exemplary punishment to Gaston. He was taken to the place where they executed prisoners condemned to death.                   

As soon as Jara heard what had happened, she rushed towards the castle in despair. She appealed, begged, implored, wept, cried, wailed…but nothing affected the nobleman. However, Miguel, who had watched the scene hidden behind a column and he became spellbound by Jara´s beauty, asked Jara to marry him. If she accepted, Gaston would be released.

She sadly looked down and accepted. The young girl left the castle and went home to tell her family what had happened. A piercing scream broke the silence of that dawn, in Jara´s bedroom, a stream of blood ran while Jara´s lifeless hand rested on a white handkerchief.                                      

Hara went up to the castle, crossed the courtyard and asked a servant for a silver tray. She put her hand upon it. Finally, the Ariños decided to release Gaston.

This legend gave Maella its name and in recollection of that love, the coat of arms of the town includes the young girl´s hand.