Annual Fiestas in Abanilla
The most important dates in the calendar of Abanilla are 1st and 3rd May
By far the most important fiestas in the calendar of the municipality of Abanilla are those devoted to the Moros y Cristianos festival, a recreation of the Reconquista in Abanilla, and the patron of the town, the Santa Cruz (or Holy Cross).
These take place every year between 20th April and the first week of May, with the two most popular events being the Grand Moros y Cristianos parade on the national holiday of 1st May and the Romería de la Santa Cruz on 3rd May. In the grand parade the number of people playing an active role reaches 1,500, around a quarter of the entire population of Abanilla, while the Romería is among the best attended in southern Spain.
Throughout the fiestas the balconies of homes in the town are adorned with the standards of the various groups of Moors and Christians taking part, and the colourful costumes are an important part of the numerous parades. On the day of the Romería the atmosphere is enlivened by the scent of gunpowder as arquebuses and other antique-style weapons are fired in the streets, and wine and music are also very much in evidence on a day of celebration as the procession makes its way to the little church of Mahoya, where it is said that the Holy Cross first appeared in Abanilla.
International Folklore Festival:
Another important date in the calendar of Abanilla is the first week of August when the International Folklore Festival takes place. The date varies each year although generally co-incides with the first weekend of the month.
Encuentro de Auroros
Fiestas in outlying districts of Abanilla;
Various patron saint’s festivities in the numerous outlying districts, pedanías, of the countryside:
13th May in La Umbría: Fiestas de la Virgen de Fátima.
24th June in La Casa Cabrera: San Juan Bautista.
29th June in El Partidor: Fiestas de San Pedro.
15th July in la Cañada de la Leña: Fiestas de la Virgen del Carmen.
15th August in El Tollé: Fiestas de la Virgen de la Asunción.
29th August in Macisvenda: Fiestas de San Juan Bautista (la Degollación).
1st September in el Cantón, Sagrado Corazón de Jesús.
14th September in Mahoya: Fiestas de la Santa Cruz.
20th September in Barinas: Fiestas de la Virgen del Rosario.
25th September in Salado Alto: Fiestas de la Inmaculada.
The Semana Santa (Easter Week) celebrations in Abanilla include processions on Palm Sunday, Holy Wednesday (in reverential silence), Maundy Thursday, a Via Crucis on Good Friday, and the Procesión del Resucitado and the Virgen Gloriosa on Easter Sunday morning.
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