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Festivals - January guide
Andalucia is filled with fascinating cultural events throughout the year. Whilst many of these festivals take place on the date indicated each year, others move slightly in relation to the day of the week or the religious calendar or occasionally weather.
In order to confirm, the villages town hall website (www.villagename.es) or Facebook page may publish the date or a poster in the few week preceding the festival.
TORO DE AGUADIENTE
Traditionally 1 January,
Puerto Serrano, Cadíz
This festival consists of the realease of a bull Calle de la Feria and the young people of the village and a few visitors demonstrate their skill and courage against the running bull.
ROSARIO DE SAN AQUILINO
4 January,
Galera, Granada
Street festival with live music. Local people walk through the town's streets in groups, singing along to guitars, mandolins, cymbals, and tambourines. It commemorates the day more than 150 years ago when a chunk of rock fell down from the nearby mountain Cerro de la Virgen de la Cabeza, without hurting anyone, miraculously.
LOS REYES MAGOS
5 January,
Cities, towns and villages all over Andalucía
Whatever size the place where you live, whether a tiny, isolated village in the countryside, a spectacular mountain pueblo, or a suburban town, chances are there will be some kind of Reyes procession. The three Magi will travel around the town on floats on the evening of the 5th decorated according to a chosen theme. The Kings are accompanied by matching helpers who throw sweets and presents into the crowd (traditionally, kids who've been naughty get coal). Tips: Take along a bag to catch the sweets in, as well as a brolly, warm hat, scarf and gloves, as you may stand around waiting. Some families even bring small stepladders or platforms, especially in bigger towns and cities with larger crowds, so the kids can get a better view of the kings riding on their thrones in their royal vehicles.
BELEN DE CHOCOLATE RUTE
5 January,
Rute, Cordoba
This belen (nativity scene) in the Cordoban town of Rute took four months to put together. It measures 52m2 is made from 1400kg of white and dark chocolate. The town is famous for its seasonal marzipan and turron (nougat).
ROMERIA A LA ALDEA DEL ROCIO
6 January,
La Palma del Condado, Huelva
The local hermandad from this wine-producing village takes its virgin to the famous town of El Rocio, in a mini version of the massive pilgrimage in May.
LA NOCHE DE LOS CAPACHOS
9 January,
Alfacar, Granada
This fiesta has its origins in the baking industry - baskets used to transport bread by mule to Granada capital were burned (just the broken ones, of course!). Now, the towns people burn unwanted household objects. Takes place on second Sunday in January
FIESTA DE SAN HILARIO DE POITERS
13 January,
Comares, Málaga
Local festival in Comares, program from 9am including prosesion with the municipal band, mass, procession, wine tasting, finishing at lunch time paella popular, music and dancing by Pandas de Verdiales and band, donkey taxi for children.
LAS LUMBRES DE SAN ANTON
16 January,
Jaen City, Jaen
This fire festival takes place in the provincial capital, with 30 fires being lit in different areas of the city. Dancing and singing (melenchones, satirical songs) around the bonfires gives it a pagan ritual feel. Pumpkin, sausage and wine are on the menu.
LAS LUMINARIAS DE SAN ANTON
16 January,
Alonso, Huelva
The town of Alosno hosts this celebration of bonfires, in honour of San Antonio Abad, protector of animals.
LUMBRES DE SAN ANTON
16 January,
Chirivel, Almeria
This festival is celebrated in the town of Chirivel, near Velez-Rubio.
FIESTA DE SAN ANTONIO ABAD
16-18 January,
Arquillos, Jaen
This festival commemorates the town's recovery from a cholera epidemic in 1885. The mayor gives thanks to San Antonio, then the pelotero dances and runs after people, gently lashing them with a whip with an old espadrille tied to its end. Dressed like a clown, he represents the devil, and the temptations which St Antony suffered in the desert. The pelotero tries to tempt the townspeople with pericones, special roscos.
HOGUERAS DE SAN ANTON
16 January,
Ubeda, Jaen
Bonfires of olive wood, in seven distinct barrios of the town. Accompanying sustenance includes ochios de morcilla, traditional local bread rolls filled with pork, and churros con chocolate, the classic late-night/early-morning, alcohol-absorbing, hangover-easing, carb-rich snack.
LAS LEGUMBRES DE SAN ANTON
16 January,
Jodar, Jaen
Held in the evening of January 16, where people dance around bonfires, eating the typical local sausages and "las flores de maíz" (flowers of corn).
FIESTAS DE SAN ANTON Y SAN SEBASTIAN
16 & 20 January,
Orce, Granada
Dancing, processions, music (Vitores, special songs for San Sebastian); soldiers, cascaborras (15th-century anti-Moor patrol), and Moors.
FIESTAS DE SAN ANTON
17 January,
Nerja, Málaga
Alhaurin El Grande, Málaga
Salares, Málaga
This fiesta dates from the 17th century. Animal owners light the bonfires on the evening of 16 January, in honour of San Anton, with a procession and fireworks the following evening, after the morning mass.
HOGUERAS DE SAN ANTON
17 January,
Armilla, Granada
Fire festival, with prizes for biggest and most long-lasting bonfires.
FIESTA DE SAN ANTON
17 January,
Monachil, Granada
This Sierra Nevada town celebrates San Anton with a huge cook-out: endless pots of stew with ingredients such as rice, beans, chickpeas, spinach and every conceivable part of a pig, including ears, trotters and even bones. Waste not, want not. The dish is said to help protect the villagers from the January weather.
FIESTA DE SAN ANTON ABAD
17 January,
Cuevas del Becarro, Málaga
Cuevas Bajas, Málaga
Sedella, Málaga
San Antoinio abad is the patron saint of the towns.
Moors and Christians Festival SAN ANTON & SAN SEBASTIAN
17-19 January,
Lucar, Almeria
The Moors and Christians festival is popular in the eastern Andalucia in the provinces of Granada and Almeria. Full town listing on our Moors and Christians Festival page.
ROMERIA DE SAN VICENTE
19 January,
Villarrasa, Huelva
Known locally as El Dia del Toston, the townspeople go to the Finca Dehesa Espina, and feast on bread, olive oil, sardines and locally-produced Condado mosto.
FIESTA DE SAN SEBASTIAN Y SAN ILDEFONSO
20-23 January,
Olula del Rio, Almeria
This fire festival is also known popularly as Fiestas de las Carretillas y Los Roscos. Wood is collected by each area on 19 and 22 January, and at 10pm on the preceding night, bonfires are lit and wheelbarrows pushed along. Roscos are thrown from windows and caught by those in the street, who tuck them under their belts.
On the 20th, the day of San Sebastian itself, there is a procession of both the saints through the streets starting from the old church. At a certain fork in the road San Ildefonso gives way to San Sebastian. Villagers throw specially made roscos (biscuits) and donuts from balconies. The followers cathch and atach the donuts to their belts. Eventually the procession reaches Holy Assumption Church where a Mass is held.
On San Ildefonso Day (23rd) the ritual is repeated. This time at the fork in the road San Sebastian gives way to San Ildefonso.
FIESTA DE SAN ANTON
20 January,
Jerez de la Frontera, Cadíz
One for animal lovers: pets are blessed by St Anton. Lots of fun activities for animals, children and adults. In the city’s El Parque Gonazlez Hontoria.
Animal lovers and children note that La Fiesta de San Anton in Jerez has been postponed for a week to Sunday 27th January due to high chance of rain tomorrow. Pets are blessed by St Anton in Jerez in El Parque Gonazlez Hontoria.
Activities begin at 10,30 with music from the municipal band and the judges begin to inspect the corrals housing the pets registered in the competition. At 12.30 the parade begins and continues with the traditional benediction of the animals. There are different categories for Dogs, Cats, Ferrets and Cattle, sheep, goats, fowl and horses, mules, donkeys.
Event is free and open to the public but animals taking part must be pre registered at the town hall ‘Delegación de Turismo, Cultura y Fiestas’ in calle Curtidores. There is also a small fairground for children with food and drink stalls etc.
EL ROBO DEL SANTO
20 January,
Granada
Every year in the town of Caniles, on the Dia de San Sebastian, all the townsfolk fight to touch a statue of the saint, who is credited with saving some inhabitants of one barrio (near the chapel of San Sebastian) during a cholera epidemic. The tradition dates back to the 19th century.
VERBENA DE SAN SEBASTIAN
20 January,
Hinojosa del Duque, Cordoba
Fire festival.
FIESTAS PATRONALES DE SAN SEBASTIAN
20 January,
Alfacar, Granada
Started in the 19th century by Cuban War veterans, who wanted to thank San Sebastian for bringing them home safely.
FESTIVIDAD DE SAN SEBASTIAN
20 January,
San Bartolome de la Torre, Huelva
Processión of saint is accompanied by Danza de la Espadas (Dance of the Swords), followed by la subasta de los ramos (auction of branches).
FIESTA DE SAN SEBASTIAN
20 January,
Algarrobo, Málaga
Towns people enjoy a feast with morcilla, chorizo, beer, sangría and local wine, as well as local traditional dances and flamenco, at the verbena (open-air night-time party, with music and dancing, which takes place during a fiesta). Local dances are performed by two groups "Salinas" and "The Awakening".
On the Saturday before the villages patron saint's day, the image is moved from the chapel in the upper part of town, to the church of Santa Ana. On the 20th January the main festival takes place. After the festival, at night, the patron saint is carefully returned back to the hermitage.
FIESTA DE SAN SEBASTIAN
20 January,
Alcaucin, Málaga
Alhaurin de la Torre, Málaga
Almogia, Málaga
Benamargosa, Málaga
Benarraba, Málaga
Casabermeja, Málaga
Frigiliana, Málaga
Towns people enjoy a feast with morcilla, chorizo, beer, sangría and local wine, as well as local traditional dances and flamenco, at the verbena (open-air night-time party, with music and dancing, which takes place during a fiesta).
ROMERIA DE SAN SEBASTIAN
20 January,
Conil de la Frontera, Cadíz
After a mass celebrated at the Iglesia de Ntro Padre Jesús Nazareno, about 9am the procession of the Patron of the town San Sebastián is carried on a traditional animal cart accompanied by rociero pilgrims, horse men and women, carts, tractors, agricultural machinery that are also taking part in the best traditional dressed vehicle competition. Route from Iglesia Ntro. Padre Jesús Nazareno, Paseo Marítimo, Avda. del Río, Virgen de la Luz, Pascual Junquera, San Sebastián, El Punto, Rosa de los Vientos and rural paths through the forest to the hermitage of Santo Patrono a la Parroquia de Fátima at El Colorado (a district to the north on the N340 or CA2145 coast road) arriving about 3pm. Later returning. Conil page
VERBENA DE SAN SEBASTIAN Y SAN BLAS
20 January, 3 February
Hinojosa del Duque, Cordoba
These two saints are celebrated in the town of Hinojosa del Duque, with fires being lit and pork products from last year’s matanzas being enjoyed. Conmemoration of San Sebastián at the hermatige.
Moors and Christians Festival & SAN SEBASTIAN
20 January,
Lucar, Almeria
The Moors and Christians festival is popular in the eastern Andalucia in the provinces of Granada and Almeria. Full town listing on our Moors and Christians Festivalpage.
SAN SEBASTIAN
20 January,
Aljaraque, Huelva
Festival taking place at the weekend nearest San Sebastian. Villagers head to the countryside to bless the animals near the figure of the saint. there is dancing to music from the municipal band and fireworks. Traditional palmitos are eaten with local wine. This winter festival declined inthe forties. In 2001, a group of young people decided to form the "brotherhood of San Sebastian" to revive the festival.
CONMEMORACION PLUS ULTRA
22 January,
Palos de la Frontera, Huelva
This fiesta is to commemorate the first seaplane crossing of the Atlantic. The Plus Ultra left Palos’s port in 1922, and travelled via Brazil, as far as Uruguay and Argentina, a journey of 10,270km, in 59 hours, 39 minutes. It was donated to the Argentine Navy, who in return gave Palos a statue of Icarus.
Moors and Christians Festival & SAN SEBASTIAN
20-21 January,
Lubrin, Almeria
The Moors and Christians festival is popular in the eastern Andalucia in the provinces of Granada and Almeria. Full town listing on our Moors and Christians Festival page.
Moors and Christians Festival & SAN SEBASTIAN
20-22 January,
Gergal, Almeria
The Moors and Christians festival is popular in the eastern Andalucia in the provinces of Granada and Almeria. Full town listing on our Moors and Christians Festivalpage. Takes place Fri to Sunday the closest weekend to the 25th.
FERIA DEL BARRIO
23 January,
Competa, Málaga
This fiesta celebrates San Sebastian in Competa, but is named after the location of the statue’s hermita, El Barrio. It takes place on the closest Sunday to 20 January.
FIESTAS PATRONALES DE SAN SEBASTIAN
23 January,
El Almendro, Huelva
Games, sporting events and cultural activities, as well as the coronation of the Fiesta Queen on the Friday night. On Sunday, when San Sebastian taken out of church after mass, procession features local dance, Los Cirochos – see pictures and music here. akes place during week following 20 January.
SAN ANTONIO DE ABAD
28-30 January,
Trigueros, Huelva
The inhabitants of Trigueros parade their patron saint around the streets for 30 hours, while others throw food from balconies, called the tiradas del santo. The build-up to this festivals sees candelas or bonfires in the streets for the previous weeks of January.
FOOD FESTIVALS: LA PESTIÑADA, LA OSTIONADA, LA ERIZADA
29-30 January,
Cadíz City, Cadíz
These free food extravaganzas around the city mark the official start of the Cadiz Carnaval season (you’ll have to wait till mid-February for the event itself). First off is the Pestiñada, where pestiños, typical Andalucian Christmas pastries, are enjoyed together with typical local songs from previous years’ carnavales and anis (in Plaza de San Francisco). Then, the following day, is the Erizada - erizos are sea urchins (in calle La Palma), and the Ostionada,– the ostion is a local type of ostra, or oyster (in Plaza San Antonio).
ROMERIA DE SAN ANTON
30 January,
Belalcazar, Cordoba
Local people take their animals to the local hermitage to be blessed. Tradition states that they walk three times round the building so their stomachs won’t hurt for the rest of the year. Always takes place on last Sunday of January.
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