Fiestas in Águilas during January
The festive season continues straight after Christmas with Three Kings and fiestas in Garrobillo
5th January Cabalgata de Reyes Magos
Although Christmas continues to grow in importance in Spain, Epiphany is still almost equally anticipated by young children, as the evening of January 5th is the night on which the Three Kings, Los Reyes Magos, visit their homes bearing gifts.
Early in the evening the Three Kings parade through the streets of the town in the grand parade of the Three Kings, the Cabalgata de Reyes Magos.
6th January: Fiestas in el Garrobillo, and the representation of the Auto de los Reyes Magos.
The outlying district (pedanía) of el Garrobillo hosts a representation of the Auto de los Reyes Magos. This is akin to a nativity play and takes place in the streets of the village.
17th January: Fiestas of San Antón in Tébar
These fiestas are held in the outlying district (pedanía) of Tébar and are in honour of San Antonio Abad, the patron saint and protector of animals on the weekend nearest to the saint’s day, the 17th January.
They include a number of community activities and a ceremony to bless the animals in the municipality, to which locals bring along their pets (and sometimes livestock!) to be blessed.
The fiestas maintain traditional elements such as simple fun games; sackraces, egg and spoon race etc, and the right to carry the image of the saint during the traditional procession following mass, is auctioned off.
At the end of the procession, the Cantos de Pascuas are sung by the Cuadrillas; these are traditional songs performed by these native folk groups right across the Murcia Region and are a part of the rural life of Águilas. Cantos de Pascua are songs traditionally performed around this festive season.
Following this, there's a "baile de pujas", an open air dance with music by the Cuadrillas of Marina de Cope and Cuesta de Gos, in which onlookers will pay a donation to church funds to designate other people who have to join in with the dancing. It’s a totally traditional Murcian custom and many personal scores are settled during these local events!!!! Great fun to watch and an extremely traditional way to spend a fiesta afternoon.
All are welcome to come along and join in.
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