May Crosses Festival 2011 in Granada
On the 3rd
of May, Granada will be holding its famous
Fiesta de las Cruces
or May Crosses Festival 2011. It comprises one of the cities major celebrations
and all the streets and squares in the city are decorated with flowers and
crosses in line with catholic tradition, in honour of the event.
This
tradition dates back to 1625 when a Cross made of alabaster was erected in the
district of San Lázaro and everyone started to celebrate with music and dancing
under it. It is a religious festival which has gradually extended to the entire
city. Thus, an altar decorated with crosses and embroidered shawls is set up on
each square, in addition to pieces of pottery, copper pots and open scissors driven
into apples and pears. The pear is particularly important as it involves a play
on words that is symbolic to the festival.
A further
tradition is that of the “chavito”, comprising an old Spanish coin. Children
would wander around the city begging for these coins for the Holy Cross. To get
them they would have to build their own crosses, identical to those made by the
adults and then ask for the money.
All the
different areas in the city strive to erect the nicest cross so they can win
the prize for the best one, which is quite a big deal given that it is quite a
long-standing tradition celebrated by the most devout Catholics in Granada.
A few years
back the Granada May Crosses Festival was really well known by Catholics as
well as young Spaniards looking forward to days full of crosses, and modern and
popular music played in the squares located around the city. They consisted of
celebrations full of tradition whereby young people could dance the Sevillana
(typical Sevillian dance) and flamenco, as well as enjoy popular music played
under the crosses erected in each square, whilst they drank a Pilicrim wine or
had beer with some tapas. However, so as to organise the festival a little bit
more, over the last few years the celebrations for younger festival-goers have
been transferred to the “Botellódromo”, located in the outskirts of the city,
offering a more party atmosphere for those who want it, whilst those who wish
to celebrate in a quieter and more traditional manner with genuine crosses and
traditional Andalusian music may do so in peace in the centre.
There are
some bars and pub that make their own crosses, and which offer crosses in
addition to all kinds of drinks and tapas together with contemporary music to
passers-by. Therefore, the Crosses Festival in Granada continues to be a very attractive
event for young people and more traditional festival-goers alike.
It is
definitely worth a visit to this Andalusian city, not only to enjoy the Crosses
Festival celebrations taking place on the 3rd of May, but also to
wander through the streets decorated with the most authentic and traditional
symbols to the city.
Claudia - Marketing Team