Velada
{{for|the Mazatec healing ritual and vigil (Spanish: velada)|Velada (Mazatec ritual)}}
{{more citations needed|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Velada
| settlement_type = Municipality
| nickname =
| image_flag = Bandera de Velada.svg
| image_shield = Escudo de Velada (Toledo).svg
| image_map =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Spain
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Spain
|coordinates = {{coord|39|59|N|4|59|W|region:ES|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint =
| coordinates_footnotes =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{ESP}}
| subdivision_type1 = Autonomous community
| subdivision_name1 = Castile-La Mancha
| subdivision_type2 = Province
| subdivision_name2 = Toledo
| subdivision_type3 = Municipality
| subdivision_name3 = Velada
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| area_magnitude =
| area_total_km2 = 145
| area_land_km2 =
| area_water_km2 =
| elevation_m = 432
| population_note =
| population_as_of = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_as_of}}
| population_footnotes = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_footnotes}}
| population_total = {{Spain metadata Wikidata|population_total}}
| population_density_km2 = auto
| timezone = CET
| utc_offset = +1
| timezone_DST = CEST
| utc_offset_DST = +2
| latitude =
| longitude =
| website =
| footnotes =
| }}
Velada is a municipality located in the province of Toledo, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2006 census (INE), the municipality has a population of 2,436 inhabitants.
Name
Velada comes from "{{Wikt-lang|es|velar}}" ('to stay awake at night'/'to be vigilant', from Latin '{{smallcaps|vigilare}}').{{Sfn|Jiménez de Gregorio|1997|p=50}} Prior to Velada, the place was known as Las Atalayuelas de Guadierva.{{sfn|Franco Silva|1990|p=34}}
History
Segregated from the land of Ávila, the Crown awarded the place in 1271 to knights from the former city, tasked with the repopulation of the area.{{Sfn|Franco Silva|1990|pp=33–34}} Known as Las Atalayuelas de Guadierva, the place was ensuingly renamed as Velada on royal initiative.{{Sfn|Franco Silva|1990|p=34}}
Velada was possibly granted the privilege of township towards 1588.{{Sfn|Jiménez de Gregorio|1997|p=22}}
Watermelon of Velada
The velada watermelon is one of the main engines of the economy of this municipality. Being a dry and ecological crop, these watermelons have great flavor and the largest can reach up to 30 kg in weight. They grow in a large area called "El Baldío" and their collection usually goes from mid-July to mid-October, and even depending on the year, until November. The planting takes place between April and May.
Velada's watermelon is exported in Spain and abroad.
References
;Citations
{{reflist}}
;Bibliography
- {{Cite journal|url=https://revistascientificas.us.es/index.php/HID/article/view/5892|title=La fundación de pueblas en tierras situadas al noroeste del reino de Toledo a fines del siglo XIII|journal=Historia Instituciones Documentos|issn=0210-7716|issue=17|year=1990|publisher=Universidad de Sevilla|location=Seville|last=Franco Silva|first=Alfonso}}
- {{Cite book|first=Fernando|last=Jiménez de Gregorio|volume=90|author-link=Fernando Jiménez de Gregorio|title=La comarca de El Alcor y El Berrocal|publisher=Instituto Provincial de Investigaciones y Estudios Toledanos. Diputación Provincial|isbn= 84-87103-74-X|location=Toledo|year=1997|series=Temas Toledanos|url=https://realacademiatoledo.es/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/files_temastoledanos_90.%20La%20comarca%20de%20El%20Alcor%20y%20El%20Berrocal,%20por%20Fernando%20Jimenez%20de%20Gregorio.pdf}}
{{Municipalities in Toledo}}
{{authority control}}