Fiestas in Costa Blanca, Spain
Holidays are not just honoured in Spain, they are CELEBRATED
There are dozens upon dozens of festivals celebrated throughout the Costa Blanca each year. Some of the major ones are listed below.
January
On January 17th, Alicante celebrates St Anthony's Feast. The surrounding period sees a traditional fair, with street stalls proffering local foods - look out for turrón de novia (bride's nougat). If you slip into Plaza de Toros, you'll see the animal show.
February
Being in Costa Blanca for Carnival is something everyone should do at least once. The event is marked costume filled parades and fervent celebrations.
March
Benidorm hosts Las Fallas (fire feasts), which are thought to represent the renewal of spring. After three massive floats are placed in different areas of town on the 16th, there are processions, street entertainment and fireworks. Three days later, on the 19th, the floats are majestically burnt.
April
Palm Sunday marks the start of Semana Santa (Holy Week), a week which most of Spain honours. The city of Alicante is hosts the most colourful celebration in the region. Twenty-seven different brotherhoods' participate in processions through the city's streets, each carrying pasos (floats or effigies), some of which are masterpieces by renowned artists such as Avalos, Bussi Lastrucci and Salzillo. You'll have trouble believing the Santa Cena (Holy Supper) float... it's the largest in Spain and requires the sturdy shoulders of 208 porters. Semana Santa ends on Resurrection Sunday.
On the Thursday following Semana Santa, the massive Pilgrimage of the Holy Visage commences at the Ayuntamiento (City Hall) of Alicante. Some 200,000 pilgrims participate, making it the second most important pilgrimage in Spain after Andalucía's Rocío. It all starts around 8am and slowly winds its way 8km to the Monasterio de Santa Faz (Santa Faz Monastery). Along the way pilgrims stop to dine of paraeta, a traditional breakfast of anise rolls and mistela wine.
One of the eastern Spain's most famous festivals takes place each 22nd, 23rd and 24th of April in the mountain city of Alcoy. The Fiesta de Moros y Cristianos commemorates the historic battles between the Christians and Moors in the 13th century. During the festival there are spectacular re-enactments, theatre, parades and colourful costumes. A lot of gunpowder is also expended, thankfully in peaceful means.
May
During the first three days of May, the Santa Cruz quarter of Alicante celebrates the Cruces de Mayo (Crosses of May). The entire quarter is laden with vibrant crosses made from local flowers. Besides rewarding the finest crosses, great dances and children's games take place.
June
The modern Hogueras de San Juan festival is an amalgamation of the ancient pagan celebration of the summer solstice, and the Christian feast of San Juan. While it is celebrated throughout much of eastern Spain, the biggest show takes place in the city of Alicante. The lead up to Día de San Juan (June 24th) is marked by colourful parades, the Flower Offerings to Our Lady of Remedy, a bull fighting festival, endless musical concerts, all night street partying and daily choruses of deafening mascletás (firecrackers). In the midst of the event, artisans representing each of Alicante’s 86 barrios (neighbourhoods) manage to raise their hogueras in the streets. Some of these giant satirical effigies are as much a testament to cardboard and papier-mâché as they are to art. When the clock strikes twelve on the night of San Juan, a grandiose firework display from the Castillo de Santa Bárbara lights the city and signals the lighting of las hogueras. Soon the streets are aglow from the rising flames, and the celebrations truly begin. As the intensity of the fires and partying grows to a feverish pitch, so does the temperature. At this point, the strange ritual of hurling insults at the bomberos (firemen) begins. Once their egos and mothers have been sufficiently dishonoured, water is unleashed over the crowds.
July
On the 16th of July the region worships the Virgen del Carmen, the patron saint of the fishermen. Part of the festivities includes fishing boats donning delightful decorations. The most colourful celebrations take place on the Island of Tabarca, where an image of the virgin is raised on a boat for a grand sailor's procession.
On the 17th of July cacophonous celebrations take place in Orihuela to commemorate the capturing of the city by the Christian Infante Alfonso de Castilla (later Alfonso X 'The Wise').
August
At the end of July and into early August, you must attend the International Habaneras and Polyphony Contest at the Eras de la Sal on the waterfront of Torrevieja. Habaneras are songs brought to Spain via Torrevieja sailors who worked the sailing ships that carried salt to Cuba in the 19th century. It's as fascinating as it is enjoyable.
Each August 14th and 15th the beautiful baroque Basílica de Santa María of Elche hosts the Misteri d'Elx, an annual two-act drama play that dates back to the Middle Ages. The play has the rare accolade of being given world heritage status by UNESCO.
September
In the last week of September, Benidorm celebrates the famous Moors and Christians festival, which commemorates the Moors banishment from the region by Christians. It's a thrilling week of celebrations, feasts and lively entertainment. On the last day, feisty troops of Moors and Christians parade through town; the multi-coloured costumes and atmospheric music making this a fiesta not to miss.
October
On September 8th Orihuela honours the Virgen of Monserrate, its patron saint.
November
From the second Friday of the month to the following Wednesday, is the most important holy fiesta of Benidorm. It celebrates the city's patron saints, El Virgen del Suffrage and Jaime Apostle.
Never miss a Fiesta again. Invest in Spanish properties and see them all.
