Babies get the jump on the devil each year in the Spanish town of Castrillo de Murcia as a Christian brotherhood leaps over the infants to keep them from harm.

Der Spiegel said Thursday that residents of the town take part in the tradition as part of their El Colacho festival that has been a mainstay in the village since 1620.

The unusual tradition involves placing babies on mattresses laid out in the town's streets and then having men dressed like demons jump over the newborns to frighten away any spirits living within them.

The brotherhood of Santisimo Sacramento de Minerva takes on the role of those demon leapers, who are also tasked with creating mischief throughout the town during the days before the festival begins.

Der Spiegel said after the completion of the annual ceremony, participants form a parade that helps corral the released evil spirits. The celebratory group then drives those invisible spirits to the town's church where they can be destroyed and the babies can be saved.

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