fiesta calendar Spanish people love a party
There’s a fiesta going on somewhere almost every day of the year - over 3,000 are celebrated in Andalucia alone. Village fiestas are invariably organised by local people themselves - but visitors are always made very welcome. The following are just a selection of those in easy reach of Almáchar and Cútar.
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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 Almáchar and Cútar. The result 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 Almáchar, 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 every child in the village (including new born babies) receive gifts from the wise men. On the morning of the 6th the streets buzz with the sound of children playing with their new toys. There´s also a spectacular procession in Málaga. 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 centre heading towards the Town Hall while the Three Kings throw gifts, sweets and toys to the thousands of people lining the route.
Other January fiestas include Comares - Fiesta Popular Street Fair with music and dancing. Benamargosa - Fiesta in honour of San Sebastian, the village’s patron saint
Other January fiestas include Comares - Fiesta Popular Street Fair with music and dancing. Benamargosa - Fiesta in honour of San Sebastian, the village’s patron saint
february / march
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. Often the scetches are satirical in nature. During the Civil War, Franco abolished Carnival and most other fiestas. In Almáchar 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.
Semana Santa sometimes also falls in March (see April below for details)
Semana Santa sometimes also falls in March (see April below for details)
april
Easter week (Semana Santa) Semana Santa is celebrated during the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday and processions take places in most towns and villages. As the sun goes down the processions wend their way through the streets. The heavy ´tronos´, with statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary are carried by members of the religious brotherhoods (hermanadades) with a slow rocking gate, accompanied by brass bands, incense and candles. Málaga and Vélez Málaga are famous for the grandeur of their processions, while those in villages such as Almáchar and Cútar are much simpler but extremley moving as the villagers process silently through the streets. On Eater Sunday in Cútar the village square is turned into a "field" of vegetables. Local wine is drunk to toast the summer harvest, often accompanied by singing and dancing.
Easter week (Semana Santa) Semana Santa is celebrated during the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday and processions take places in most towns and villages. As the sun goes down the processions wend their way through the streets. The heavy ´tronos´, with statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary are carried by members of the religious brotherhoods (hermanadades) with a slow rocking gate, accompanied by brass bands, incense and candles. Málaga and Vélez Málaga are famous for the grandeur of their processions, while those in villages such as Almáchar and Cútar are much simpler but extremley moving as the villagers process silently through the streets. On Eater Sunday in Cútar the village square is turned into a "field" of vegetables. Local wine is drunk to toast the summer harvest, often accompanied by singing and dancing.
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Passion Plays In some towns and villages passion plays are enacted at this time. The young people of Almáchar 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 there is an old story that the residents of Almáchar 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.
Benamargosa Countryside Festival celebrating the agricultural produce of the whole of the Axarquia. Canillas de Aceituno Morcilla (Black Pudding) Festival
Benamargosa Countryside Festival celebrating the agricultural produce of the whole of the Axarquia. Canillas de Aceituno Morcilla (Black Pudding) Festival
may
Romerias The name of these local pilgrimages is derived from the traditional walk to Rome. These days local pilgrimages into the campo are colourful and lively processions made either on foot, by elaborately decorated lorries and carts (often carrying a local saint) or on horseback. On reaching the campo a fiesta is held incorporating feasting, music and horse races. Almáchar’s Romeria coincides with The Festival of San Isidoro, the patron saint of farmers and is held in the middle of May. 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. Cútar’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 Málaga. 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.
Romerias The name of these local pilgrimages is derived from the traditional walk to Rome. These days local pilgrimages into the campo are colourful and lively processions made either on foot, by elaborately decorated lorries and carts (often carrying a local saint) or on horseback. On reaching the campo a fiesta is held incorporating feasting, music and horse races. Almáchar’s Romeria coincides with The Festival of San Isidoro, the patron saint of farmers and is held in the middle of May. 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. Cútar’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 Málaga. 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.
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Almáchar – 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. Other fiestas in May include the Sayalonga Nispero (medlar) Fiesta and the Riogordo Snail Festival
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. Other fiestas in May include the Sayalonga Nispero (medlar) Fiesta and the Riogordo Snail Festival
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. Almáchar and Cútar both hold cultural weeks - in Cútar a particularly popular open chess competition is held.
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 Málaga involves spending time on the beach. 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 Málaga is reputed to be one of the best in the area. Alfarnate Cherry Day - end of June
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 Málaga involves spending time on the beach. 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 Málaga is reputed to be one of the best in the area. Alfarnate Cherry Day - end of June
july / august
Feria season Most of the local summer fairs (Ferias) take place in July and August, and you can´t 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 Málaga 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 - Almáchar´s feria is on the last weekend in July is in honour of Nuestra Señora del Amparo (Our Lady of Protection) the patron Saint of the Village. It lasts three days and includes a great variety of festive cultural and sporting Cútar Feria – middle weekend of August
Fiesta de San Roque Cútar .The feria in August is one of the most important and popular festive events in Cútar 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.
Periana Peach Festival (end of July)
Almáchar Feria - Almáchar´s feria is on the last weekend in July is in honour of Nuestra Señora del Amparo (Our Lady of Protection) the patron Saint of the Village. It lasts three days and includes a great variety of festive cultural and sporting Cútar Feria – middle weekend of August
Fiesta de San Roque Cútar .The feria in August is one of the most important and popular festive events in Cútar 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.
Periana Peach Festival (end of July)
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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 Rincón the fiesta follows the Rincón 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.
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Málaga Feria The annual Málaga 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
9pm until dawn Vélez Málaga Guitar Festival - A prestigious international guitar competition takes place annually in Vélez Málaga in July. Free concerts take place on the patio of the Palacio del Marqués de Beniel in the oldest part of the town- 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. |
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For three days each August, Frigiliana celebrates it's rich cultural history with the Festival of the Three Cultures: of the Moors, the Jews and the Christians and the centuries when these three cultures lived there in harmony under Moorish occupation. Includes food and craft stall representing all three cultures as well as internationally famous musicians from the Sephardic, Arab and Hispano-Christian traditions
Other fiestas in July and August inculde -Iznate Muscatel Grape Day, Alfarnatejo Fiesta of Gaspacho and the Night of Wine in Cómpeta |
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.
Almáchar – Fiesta del Ajoblanco – first Saturday in September
Almáchar’s Ajoblanco Fiesta 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 traditional items and artistic creations are displayed, - the villagers create topical and often satirical scenes along the streets using home-made dolls or mannequins. The Pandas de Verdiales (fandango-like music 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
Cútar Monfi Fiesta Mid-October Cútar is proud of its Moorish hertiage whch it celebrates with with a weekend longfiest in honour of the Monfi (the moors who became outcasts after the Cathoic reconquest). The streets are lined with stalls selling hand-made traditional Morrocan and local produce - plus music, archery, falconry and a Moroccan tea tent
Benamoccara Music Fiesta – mid September - A day of music, dance, singing and art exhibitions.
El Borge – Dia de la Pasa – early September Thousands of visitors flock to the village to party, drink the local wines and eat grapes
Vélez Málaga Feria - end of September
Rincon de la Victoria – Flamenco Festival through much of October Rincon hosts performances of many national and locally famous flamenco artists.
Other fiestas during this time include , Mochlinejo - Vine Growers Fiesta - September, Riincón de la Vicoria´s Anchovy day - early September, Benagalbón and Comares - Verdiales (folk music and dance) Fiestas - September, La Viñuela Raisin Fiesta, Salares Festival of Moorish Heritage and
Arenas Mule Fair - mid October
Almáchar – Fiesta del Ajoblanco – first Saturday in September
Almáchar’s Ajoblanco Fiesta 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 traditional items and artistic creations are displayed, - the villagers create topical and often satirical scenes along the streets using home-made dolls or mannequins. The Pandas de Verdiales (fandango-like music 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
Cútar Monfi Fiesta Mid-October Cútar is proud of its Moorish hertiage whch it celebrates with with a weekend longfiest in honour of the Monfi (the moors who became outcasts after the Cathoic reconquest). The streets are lined with stalls selling hand-made traditional Morrocan and local produce - plus music, archery, falconry and a Moroccan tea tent
Benamoccara Music Fiesta – mid September - A day of music, dance, singing and art exhibitions.
El Borge – Dia de la Pasa – early September Thousands of visitors flock to the village to party, drink the local wines and eat grapes
Vélez Málaga Feria - end of September
Rincon de la Victoria – Flamenco Festival through much of October Rincon hosts performances of many national and locally famous flamenco artists.
Other fiestas during this time include , Mochlinejo - Vine Growers Fiesta - September, Riincón de la Vicoria´s Anchovy day - early September, Benagalbón and Comares - Verdiales (folk music and dance) Fiestas - September, La Viñuela Raisin Fiesta, Salares Festival of Moorish Heritage and
Arenas Mule Fair - mid October
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november / december
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 night before the Day of the Dead is marked by Chestnut Fiestas in Maro and Alcaucín
The feast of San Martin is held in mountain villages and towns on the 11th November with fiestas called matanzas. It was traditionally a time for slaughtering pigs in preparation for winter drying of hams, sausages and black pudding. Totalán holds its Fiesta of Chanfiana (a local dish based on breadcrumbs, chorizo and potatoes) at the end of November
Navidad (Christmas) commences with 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
Almáchar - 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 Málaga. 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 Málaga area, but sounding similar to Celtic/Gypsy music. Cútar´s own Verdiales group has recently been awarded offical status as a ´Panda´ and competed in the competition for the first time in 2009
The feast of San Martin is held in mountain villages and towns on the 11th November with fiestas called matanzas. It was traditionally a time for slaughtering pigs in preparation for winter drying of hams, sausages and black pudding. Totalán holds its Fiesta of Chanfiana (a local dish based on breadcrumbs, chorizo and potatoes) at the end of November
Navidad (Christmas) commences with 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
Almáchar - 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 Málaga. 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 Málaga area, but sounding similar to Celtic/Gypsy music. Cútar´s own Verdiales group has recently been awarded offical status as a ´Panda´ and competed in the competition for the first time in 2009
