A Sea of Sheep Cross Spain’s Capital. In Madrid the event the transhumance has been a part of local tradition for 601 years. The word means a transfer of livestock from one grazing ground to another, typically higher pastures in summer and lower valleys in winter. Every year shepherds cross the heart of Spain’s capital taking their stock to a warmer location and people make a party of it with singing and dancing. Women in mantillas, customary head coverings, and large, colorful skirts with aprons and men in wide pants tucked into long socks swirl around each other in a jota, a traditional Spanish dance. The whole event is a strange sight to behold. #seaofsheep #transhumance #oddnews #strangenews