SPANISH LEGION AND THE CHRIST OF THE GOOD DEATH IN MALAGA (SPAIN)

One of the highlights in Malaga is Maundy Thursday, when hundreds of Spanish legionnaires arrive from Melilla, a Spanish enclave in north Africa to carry the wooden figure of Cristo de la Buena Muerte (Christ of the Good Death) in the visually stunning Procession of the Cross.

The Spanish Legión (Spanish: Legión Española, La Legión or colloquially El Tercio), formerly Spanish Foreign Legion, is an elite unit of the Spanish Army. Founded as the Tercio de Extranjeros ("Foreigners Regiment"), it was originally intended as a Spanish equivalent of the French Foreign Legion, but in practice it recruited almost exclusively Spaniards. The Spanish Legion's animal mascot is the Legión's goat.

Novio de la Muerte (Bridegroom of Death) is the official hymn and regimental slow march of the Spanish Legion, made in 1921 with words by Juan Costa set to music by Fidel Prado.

Bridegroom of Death

No one in that Tercio knew about
That Legionnaire who once lived
They didn't know about his life
and when he joined the Legion.
For all his life no one did ever
supported him more than the Legion
when a great sorrow came upon him
and like a wolf, hit his heart.


When anyone tried to ask all about him,
He would answer with agony and sadness:
"I'm a man whose luck had
with a beast's claw just struck on me,
I'm the bridgegroom of death
that have been worthy of having companions
with the strongest of bonds."


In the middle of battle, when
the firing is at its worst ever
the Legionnaire advances forward
defending his flag at all costs.
Before he's becoming victorious
while unafraid of the enemy's push
all of a sudden he died bravely
but his flag was somewhat saved.


In burning ground he utters sadly
as his blood on the soil's a-pouring:
"I'm a man whose luck had
with a beast's claw just struck on me,
I'm the bridgegroom of death
that have been worthy of having companions
with the strongest of bonds."


When he's been finally seen at last
they see in his chest shirt hanging
a letter small and a pretty woman's
small portrait attached.
The letter, as read, says these words:
"If I can reach you right now,
ask God for you to claim my place
so that to you I can later go."


After this, they for the last time hug him,
they bid his final farewell as well.
When I sought to be to you,
My dear companion loyal
Death's bridegroom I have become,
have tied her with the strongest bonds and
her love has become my flag!