A Calender of Local Fiestas
Spanish people love to party, and there’s a fiesta going on somewhere almost every day of the year -over 3,000 are celebrated in Andalucia alone. The following are just a selection of those in easy reach of Almachar and Cutar.
January
Procession of the Three Kings (Fiesta de los Reyes)
Twelth Night is the official time for Spanish children to receive their Christmas presents. Processions take place in many local villages including Almachar and Cutar. The effect of this is that the Christmas period in Spain is a long one lasting from Christmas Eve, through Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day to the 6th January. In Almachar, the three kings and Father Christmas parade throughout the streets on floats, scattering sweets to excited children on the evening of the 5th. The procession ends at the Cultural Centre, where all the children of the village receive gifts from the wise men. On the morning of the 6th the streets are filled with children playing with their new toys. There is also a spectacular procession in Malaga. The Three Kings arrive in the Port at about 5pm to be greeted by the Mayor. Generally the procession leaves Malaga Port at 5.30 and slowly winds its way through the streets of the City center heading towards the Town Hall. On the way the Three Kings are busy throwing out gifts, sweets and toys to the thousands of people who have lined the route.
13th Comares – Fiesta Popular – Street Fair with music and dancing
20th Benamargosa – Fiesta in honour of San Sebastian, the village’s patron saint
February/March
Carnival
Carnival is celebrated before the 40 days of Lent each year, centred around Shrove Tuesday. Most towns hold a parade with floats and a Carnival Queen contest, either the weekend before or after, and large towns have festivities lasting all week. People dress up in costume and masks and up to a week of festivities, including street music, dances and competitions. Carnival is very much a fiesta of the people. As elsewhere in the Catholic world, it originated as a reaction against abstentions and prohibitions. Carnival attempts to break social order and liberalise spirits, helped by the wearing of masks and fancy dress. During the Civil War, Franco abolished Carnival and most other fiestas. In Almachar the main revelries take place throughout the night in the Cultural Centre.
Candlemas (Candelaria)
2nd Feb -The Purification of the Virgin. It marks Mary's 40 days of purification after the birth of Jesus is and is celebrated in a number of local towns and villages including Benagalbón , where it takes place on the same day as the festival in honour of its patron saint.
23rd March – Periana – Fiesta in honour of their world-famous olive oil
April
Easter Week (Semana Santa)
Semana Santa is celebrated during the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday. Easter week processions compete with each other for splendour. As the sun goes down, parades leave town churches to wend slowly through the streets carrying statues of Christ on the cross and the Virgin Mary in mourning. Religious brotherhoods (Hermandades) representing guilds of tradesman, - in elaborate robes often with high pointed cowls covering their faces - carry the very heavy statues with a slow rocking gait accompanied by drum beats, incense and candles. The local towns and villages are full of pageantry and music. Malaga and Velez-Malaga are famous for the size and grandeur of their processions. Samana Santa processions in villages such as Almachar and Cutar are quieter affairs but extremely moving as the villagers process silently through the streets by candle light carrying the statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary.
Passion Plays
In some towns and villages passion plays are enacted at this time. The young people of Almachar perform a passion play on Good Friday, Moclinejo also holds a passion play on Good Friday, Riogordo holds a series of these plays throughout the week, which have become world-famous and attract huge crowds.
El Borge – Easter weekend, Fiesta in honour of Archangel Gabriel
The feast of the patron saint of the village, St. Gabriel, is celebrated on Easter Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with a procession to the campo. The celebrations begin after mass, when the church bells ring out. In El Borge it is said that a neighbouring village wanted to carry the image of the patron saint to their church. They were unable to accomplish this because the figure of the saint increased in weight the farther away it got from its original temple, forcing its “kidnappers” to abandon it without achieving their purpose.
El Borge – 25th Fiesta of San Marcos
May
Romerias
The name of these local pilgrimages is derived from the traditional walk to Rome. These days local pilgrimages into the campo are very colourful and lively processions made either on foot, by elaborately decorated carts (often carrying a local saint) and on horseback. On reaching the campo a fiesta is held incorporating feasting, music and horse races.
Almachar’s Romeria co-incides with The Festival of San Isidoro, the patron saint of farmers and is held in the middle of May. This is one of the most exciting of all the festivals in the town. The villagers set up camp by the river and have races and horse displays. Isidoro was an 11th century ploughman famous for his gift of divining water. In Almáchar this Romeria celebration has a strong agricultural character. The people of the town remove San Isidro from the church and take him with them to the campo. Cutar’s Romeria is celebrated at the end of the month.
Other local places celebrating Romerias in May are Benamargosa, Benamoccara, Comares, Nerja, Torre del Mar & Velez-Malaga. One of the best Romerias in the Axarquia is held in Nerja where the procession leaves from the town and winds it way to a hermitage at the Nerja caves for an enormously popular fiesta.
Almachar – Fiesta of Santa Cristo de la Banda Verde (first weekend in May)
The legend of the miracle of Christ of the Green Band is celebrated in Almáchar on the first Sunday in May. The tradition tells of fishermen who were shipwrecked in a storm. As they were about to drown, they saw an image of Christ with a green band round his waist. He gave them a log on which they could float ashore in safety. When they arrived on land they travelled through many towns, barefoot and with tattered clothes, until they arrived at Almácar. There they founded a church in honour of the Christ who had saved their lives. Since then, on the first weekend of May, the almachareños commemorate the event with a procession in which they carry the image of Christ through the streets, accompanied by the roar of fireworks. The festivities finish with the celebration of folk dancing. Another version of the story goes back to 1754, when, according to local legend, the divine intervention of Christ prevented the destruction of the town by a series of earthquakes. Since not a single resident of the town perished and the town’s houses were scarcely damaged this Christ was, by popular acclaim, declared the protector of the pueblo. As well as the religious procession, various musical performances, dance programmes, fireworks displays, sports competitions and traditional street parties are held throughout the weekend
May Crosses May 3. This is a special day in many villages when crosses of flowers are set up, in little altars, all around the town. During the afternoon and evening a procession of musicians and dancers circle the village visiting each of the altars in turn. Villagers compete for the prize for the best decorated cross. The preparations take place secretly in the preceding weeks - in older times it was an excuse for young single people to meet.
Malaga World Dance Festival is held every May. For one Saturday night the port area is turned into a massive dance venue with more than 100,000 people enjoying live international dance music.
June
Cultural week (Semana Cultural) Cultural weeks are held throughout the province in June. These include extensive programmes of activities – flamenco, theatre, exhibitions, workshops sport, feasting etc. Almachar and Cutar both hold cultural weeks.
The festival of San Juan – 23rd June As you would expect from an area which owes so much of its existence to the sea, the Feast of St John in Malaga involves the beaches and the sea. The fiesta takes place the last weekend of June but celebrations are held during the week before, to include the summer solstice, - the shortest night of the year. Popular holiday activities, celebrations and other events are organised all through the week. The festival is associated with fire and magic and has clear pagan origins. It is celebrated on the beaches with huge bonfires, barbeques (particularly moragas - sardine barbeques), fireworks and camping out. For good luck, people paddle or swim in the sea just after midnight on the 23rd. An old ritual, still adhered to, is to wash the face and feet three times in order to be granted three wishes and for a happy year to come. Bathing at this time is also said to be beneficial for skin complaints. Traditionally the Spanish did not visit the beach until this day each year.
The Torre de Benagalbón area holds its festival of San Juan on June 23rd, and the festival in Malaga is reputed to be one of the best in the area
July/August
Feria season
Most of the local summer fairs (Ferias) take place in July and August, and you cannot fail to come across at least one if you visit during this time. Some are linked to local Saint’s days and others are held just for the fun of it. In Malaga province alone there are many dozens of Ferias, most lasting for several days at a time and including fun fairs, music (including flamenco), feasting and all-night parties.
Almáchar Feria – last weekend in August
The fair in honour of Nuestra Señora del Amparo (Our Lady of Protection), patron saint of Almáchar, takes place in late July. It lasts three days and includes a great variety of festive, sporting and cultural events.
Cutar Feria – middle weekend of August
Fiesta de San Roque .The feria in August is one of the most important and popular festive events in Cutar with many people who have left the town coming back to be there during the days and nights of music and dancing in the streets. The feria itself starts on the Friday night with a fireworks display, followed by the election of the Queens and Kings of the Feria (and not just the young and beautiful, Queens and Kings of the children and elderly villagers are also elected). In the afternoon there are ribbon races and processions, and a huge paella is made at lunchtime on the Sunday and the village square is filled with foam. At five in the morning the next day, the event ends with the traditional fireworks.
Malaga Feria The annual Malaga fair in August is a riotous week-long street party with plenty of flamenco and 'fino'(sherry).The fiesta starts off with an impressive firework display in the park .The following day the people take to the streets, the women in flouncy flamenco dresses, to dance, drink and generally make merry. This city fair is concentrated around the centre during the day and at the fairground on the outskirts of the city from around 9 pm until dawn.
Virgen del Carmen The fiesta of the Virgen del Carmen, the protectress of seamen, is held on the 16th July. In the evening, each town and village on the coast parades its statue of the virgin by the sea before placing her on a boat for a night sail. The boat is brightly decorated and accompanied by other fishing and leisure craft, blowing their horns. On her return she is paraded once more along the seafront while firework displays light the skies. Within the Axarquia good places to view and join in are at Nerja, Caleta de Velez (just outside of Torre del Mar) and Rincón de la Victoria. In Rincon the fiesta follows the Rincon Feria, which lasts for five days. It begins with mass in the church, and then the fishermen carry the Virgin on her flower-decked throne to the beach. There a boat is waiting, decorated with flowers, and the Virgin is carried on board. With fireworks going off, the boat sails up the coast, escorted by many others. In recent years the ancient Jábegas Regattas have been held again in La Cala and Rincón. The jábega is a type of Mediterranean boat dating back many centuries that is rowed by a team of seven and a helmsman.
Velez Malaga Guitar Festival - A prestigious international guitar competition takes place annually in Velez Malaga in July. Free concerts take place on the patio of the Palacio del Marqués de Beniel in the oldest part of the town, known as Arrabal de San Sebastián - a picturesque area of narrow streets. The event was founded and is still guided by Javier García Moreno, director of the Conservatory of Music in Torre del Mar, who is himself a guitar player of international note. It combines some of the best classical guitarists in the world playing and teaching, along with a prestigious competition to find new talent.
The competition will is held in two phases, with an elimination evening on the Wednesday the final the following night. The panel of judges award the winner 3,000 euros, a concert guitar made by Arturo Sanzano of Madrid worth 4,000 euros, and an invitation to give a recital at the following years’ Festival.
September/October
Harvest, Cultural and Folklore fiestas
Muscatel grapes, the main produce of the area, are harvested in late August and September, and the event is often accompanied by fiestas and street markets in the local towns and villages celebrating regional produce. It is also the time when the area’s cultural origins are celebrated with specific fiestas honouring (for example) its Moorish and gypsy heritage.
Almachar – Fiesta del Ajoblanco – first weekend in September
Almáchar’s most famous celebration is the Ajoblanco Fiesta (first Saturday in September), which has been designated as of National Tourist Interest in Andalusia. Thousands of visitors flock to the town and are treated to free samples of this genuine Almachareño dish as well as local wine and 'pasas' (muscatel raisins). In parallel with the gastronomic events of the day, the whole town becomes a colourful showcase where items of historic and artistic value are displayed, and the villagers create topical scenes along the streets using home-made dolls or mannequins. The “pandas de verdiales” (fandango-like musical groups) perform in the streets and a stage is set up in the Church Square, where flamenco dancing and singing takes place throughout the day and night
Cutar – Monfi Fiesta – Middle of October Cutar is very proud of its Moorish heritage which it celebrates with a weekend long Fiesta in honour of the Monfi ( the ’outcasts’). The streets are lined with stalls selling traditional Moroccan and local produce. There is a Moroccan tea tent, archery, falconry, street performers and musicians.
Benamoccara - Music Fiesta – mid September - A day of music, dance, singing and art exhibitions.
El Borge – Dia de la Pasa – early September Thousand of visitors flock to the village to party, drink the local wines and eat grapes
Velez Malaga - Cattle Fair - end of September
Rincon de la Victoria – Flamenco festival – throughout much of October Rincon hosts performances of many national and locally famous flamenco artists.
Luna Mora Festival, Guaro - The Festival de la Luna Mora (Moorish Moon Festival) is a homage to the region’s Arabic, Andalucian and Sephardic Jewish heritage with music, dance and theatre in the streets This festival is famous in the whole region and it offers several cultural activities based on the traditions of the three cultures that once formed Andalusia.. For two weekends (the second and third in September), the village completely changes its appearance and turns into a medieval bazaar bustling with the extremely large crowds that come, among other reasons, to see the more than 20,000 candles that at night light up the whole village.
November
All Saints Day (Day of the Dead) is celebrated in all villages on the 1st November with fiestas called Tosantos. Processions are held and cemeteries are packed with families paying homage to their dead.
The feast of San Martin is held in mountain villages and towns on the 11th November with fiestas called matanzas. It is a time for slaughtering pigs in preparation for winter drying of hams, sausages and black pudding.
December
Las Navidades (Christmas) commences with La Nochebuena (Christmas Eve). It is celebrated as a family feast and midnight mass. After leaving church, children let off bangers and people sing carols in rowdy tours around the streets. Crude percussion instruments (zambombas), unique to Christmas, are played. These instruments are made from flower pots with goat skin stretched over the top and a hole punched through. A wetted stick is rubbed up and down through the hole making a sound reminiscent of a tuba. Traditionally children waited until Los Reyes for their presents but, as customs change, they now hope for presents on both occasions
Almachar - Noche Vieja (New Year’s Eve) celebration on the Plaza de España on the 31st December is celebrated with a feast, either out in a restaurant or at home. At midnight twelve grapes (las uvas de la Suerte) are eaten, one by one, for each chime – if you can manage this you’re in for a lucky year. The grapes are washed down by free Cava , the Spanish equivalent of Champagne, and celebrations continue until daylight.
The Fiesta Mayor de Verdiales is held every 28th December in Malaga. Thousands gather at Puerto de la Torre at the north-west of the city to dance and listen to a grand gathering of verdiales groups. This is an exhilarating type of folk music and dance, unique to the Malaga area, but sounding similar to Celtic/Gypsy music.
