Cortylandia, Cortylandia ¡Vamos todos a cantar!

December 19, 2013 7:52 AM

"Every year since 1979, madrileños young and old have lined the streets, craning their necks for 15 minutes each hour to see the Cortylandia show – music, blinking lights and singing puppets different every year. Celebrating Christmas in Madrid is incomplete without seeing Cortylandia."

"Every year the big department chain Corte Inglés presents the Cortylandia for Christmas. One store precisely, the Corte Inglés de Preciados, sets up the city’s most visited Christmas spectacle. Memorable Cortylandia displays include a giant sparkly version of the ubiquitous Don Quixote (1989) and a 15-ton King Kong (2005)."

Although the display changes yearly, the song remains the same:

Cortylandia, Cortylandia
Vamos todos a cantar
Alegría en estas fechas*
Porque ya es Navidad

*It sounds like "fiestas" but all the sources I could find said "fechas".

When the music starts on the top of the hour, children are hoisted onto shoulders and stare at the singing display having an experience that can only be described as "sublime" as everyone dances and sings along with the denizens of Cortylandia in an effervescent burst of joy and consumerism.

Please forgive the quality of some of these videos -- they are done by amateurs who wish only to revel in and share the spirit of Cortylandia.

This year's Cortylandia (Feel free to skip ahead -- nothing happens for about the first two minutes.)

Cortylandia 2012

Cortylandia 2011

Cortylandia 2010 -- a phenomenal assortment of world landmarks and stereotypes (this might be the most amazing)

Cortylandia 2009

Cortylandia 2008

Cortylandia 2007

Cortylandia 2006

posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl (4 comments total)

I will mention that I am aware that we are discouraged from posting based on the idea "This is important and people should see it" but, well, I saw Cortylandia and thought "this is important and people should see it" so here we all are.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 7:53 AM on December 19, 2013

I love the googly eyes on the 2010 one. Googly eyes for everyone!

(◕‿◕✿)
posted by lysdexic at 10:30 AM on December 19, 2013

ponga un pájaro en él!
posted by stenseng at 11:27 AM on December 19, 2013

I used to live a good 500 meters from El Corte Inglés, Sol location. A woman I really liked lived even nearer. I hate, hate, hate Cortylandia with all my might. I thought moving to Melbourne would save from having to hear its ghastly inane singsong ever in my life. But it's playing again. In my head. Thanks to you, Mrs. Pterodactyl. Grrr. Where are trigger warnings when one needs them?
posted by kandinski at 5:15 AM on December 20, 2013