It is unclear when the tradition of throwing a goat from the belfry of the Church of Saint Vincent Martyr [Wikidata] in the town of Manganeses de la Polvorosa began.
[2] If the goat survived it was revered and paraded through the small village, becoming a local legend for years to come.
The event was organized by young men, who had just turned 18, and were now eligible for military service.
[3] The event is inspired by a legend that states that a priest's goat, whose milk fed the poor, fell out of the tower, but landed safely.
[5] Over the years, animal rights groups demanded an end to the practice of throwing the goat.