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Festivals

Festivals in Úbeda

Popular festivals in Úbeda are la Fiesta del Corpus Cristi or las Cruces de Mayo

Semana Santa in Luque

In 1993, a young woman from the village of Luque in Cordoba had the idea of creating an hermandad (church brotherhood which goes out in a procession in Holy Week) specifically for women. The woman confided her idea to a group of friends, and one year later in 1994, the project of the first female brotherhood was founded - Nuestra Señora del Mayor Dolor. Spanish does not have a female equivalent of the word brotherhood, for women (sisterhood might be hermanadad).

Cabra's Gypsy Pilgrimage

The “Romería Nacional de los Gitanos”, or National Gypsy Pilgrimage” traditionally takes place the third Sunday in June and attracts not only gypsies, but also “gachos” (non-gypsies). In fact, this event which was founded in 1969 by Jose Córdoba Reyes, draws participants from across Andalucia.

Virgen del Carmen in Velez-Malaga

Several villages though-out the municipality of Vélez-Málaga celebrate the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of fishermen day. On July 16th you will find processions over both land and out into the sea in Torre del Mar (in the Las Melosas neighbourhood), Caleta de Vélez, Benajarafe and Almayate.

Virgen del Carmen

Religious icons are hugely popular in Andalucia; they are normally handcrafted from wood and porcelain and spend 99.9 per cent of the year in glass-covered alcoves at the local church. Most are dusted down and placed on flower-decked thrones at Easter-time when they are lovingly and solemnly borne through the streets. The Virgen del Carmen, however, has her own special day.

The Verdiales Music Festival

December 28th, right smack in the middle of the Spanish Christmas season, we have the annual Verdiales competitions taking place right outside Málaga City. The festival will bring together competing “pandas” as they are known. These are groups that practice one of three different forms of Verdiales singing accompanied by their traditional folk dance and unforgettable costumes.

New Year's Eve

Possibly you thought the Christmas season was over on New Year’s Eve, but in Spain this is just the mid-point of all the celebrating. In this country, the tradition is to have a rather late dinner with your family – just one more rich, elaborate dinner, of course, complete with all the pastries, dried fruits and nuts and mountains of turrón that finish every meal at this time of year.

Winter Festivals

On 11th November, is the occasion for the slaughtering of pigs, in preparation for the winter-time drying of hams and sausages, at a fiesta called la matanza - literally, the killing - in all the towns and villages of the mountain areas of Andalucia.

Three Kings

There is quite a debate across Spain regarding whether Santa Claus is displacing the traditional Three Kings at Christmastime in Spain. The truth is that Santa Claus is becoming more and more common, but even families that sign up with “Papa Noel” usually keep their accounts open with the Kings.

Festivals in Carratraca

Festivals - Carratraca

Here are some of the most popular festivals in Carratraca.

Cabalgata Reyes Magos
The traditional Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Parade) is celebrated on 5th January.  The procession of decorated floats sets off from the Plaza de la Cultura and winds its way through the village’s main streets.

Festivals in Pegalajar

Carnavales
Carnival is celebrated in February.

Semana Santa
Holy Week processions, dates can vary.

Fiesta de la Virgen de la Encarnación
Fiesta de la Virgen de la Encarnación is celebrated the last Sunday of March.

Festivals in Jodar

Popular festivals in Jódar: Cabalgata Reyes Magos
The Three Kings procession is celebrated on the evening of 5th January.

Lumbres de San Antón
Lumbres de San Antón are celebrated the 17th January.