“Maya” girl Ines de la Paloma, 9, (L), sits with her friend Nuria Sanchez Caballero, 6, at an altar during “Las Mayas” festivity in Madrid, Spain, May 8, 2016. “Las Mayas” festival is held annually at the beginning of May to celebrate the awakening of nature in Spring. Young girls are chosen to become “Mayas” and sit at altars decorated with flowers so that people can admire them. The “Mayas” are dressed in traditional costumes, often displaying shawls and a wreath of flowers on their heads. Musicians sing their praises and tell about their beauty while people dance and “Maya” girl assistants request money in exchange for sweets and flowers. After spending a couple of hours sitting still at the altars, the “Mayas” and their assistants carry out a floral offering to the Virgin at San Lorenzo Church. “Las Mayas” tradition is said to have its origins in a pagan ritual dating back to the Roman times, when the earth goddess Maia was worshipped to welcome the arrival of the Spring. The tradition got lost over time, but it returned in the mid-eighties. This year the rain forced the “Mayas” to share an altar indoors, after the ones built on the streets got too wet. (Photo by Susana Vera/Reuters)





Marina Guerrero, 10, gets dressed to become a “Maya” during “Las Mayas” festivity in Madrid, Spain, May 8, 2016. (Photo by Susana Vera/Reuters)





“Maya” girl Lucinda Usaola, 8, (R), sits with her friend Candela Garcia, 6, at an altar during “Las Mayas” festivity in Madrid, Spain, May 8, 2016. (Photo by Susana Vera/Reuters)





“Maya” girl Sara Prieto Aparicio, 9, sits at an altar during “Las Mayas” festivity in Madrid, Spain, May 8, 2016. (Photo by Susana Vera/Reuters)





“Maya” girls and their assistants are led in a dance by a woman during “Las Mayas” festivity in Madrid, Spain, May 8, 2016. (Photo by Susana Vera/Reuters)





“Maya” assistants sit at San Lorenzo church during “Las Mayas” festivity in Madrid, Spain, May 8, 2016. (Photo by Susana Vera/Reuters)





People dance as “Maya” girl Marina Guerrero, 10, sits still at an altar during “Las Mayas” festivity in Madrid, Spain, May 8, 2016. (Photo by Susana Vera/Reuters)





“Maya” girl Irene Garcia Sieteiglesias, 8, sits at an altar during “Las Mayas” festivity in Madrid, Spain, May 8, 2016. (Photo by Susana Vera/Reuters)





“Maya” girls sit at an altar during “Las Mayas” festivity in Madrid, Spain, May 8, 2016. (Photo by Susana Vera/Reuters)





“Maya” girl Lucia Carrillo, 12, leaves the altar for another “Maya” during “Las Mayas” festivity in Madrid, Spain, May 8, 2016. (Photo by Susana Vera/Reuters)





“Maya” assistant girl Lara Ibarra, 12, wears a medallion of the Virgin during “Las Mayas” festivity in Madrid, Spain, May 8, 2016. (Photo by Susana Vera/Reuters)





“Maya” girls and their assistants look at musicians play at San Lorenzo church during “Las Mayas” festivity in Madrid, Spain, May 8, 2016. (Photo by Susana Vera/Reuters)





“Maya” girl Ines de la Paloma, 9, (back), and her friend Nuria Sanchez Caballero, 6, jump from a staircase during “Las Mayas” festivity in Madrid, Spain, May 8, 2016. (Photo by Susana Vera/Reuters)





“Maya” girls and their assistants leave San Lorenzo church in the rain during “Las Mayas” festivity in Madrid, Spain, May 8, 2016. (Photo by Susana Vera/Reuters)





“Maya” assistant girls offer carnations in exchange for coins during “Las Mayas” festivity in Madrid, Spain, May 8, 2016. (Photo by Susana Vera/Reuters)





Women wearing traditional attires wait for the subway after taking part in “Las Mayas” festivity in Madrid, Spain, May 8, 2016. (Photo by Susana Vera/Reuters)