Festivals,
feasts, processions and fairs are held throughout the year in
Calahonda and the Costa Del Sol. Andalusia has over 800
communities and has over 3,000 fiestas annually. Fiestas in
the Costa Del sol tend to mean party, party, party, and
consequently they centre around food and celebrations, often
into the early hours of the morning!
I
have tried to give a summary below of the main festivals in
the area near to our apartment in Calahonda.
Fiesta
de los Reyes
This
is held on January 6th and celebrates the 3 kings
visiting Jesus. This is the official day when children receive
their Christmas presents. During the day there is a parade
with 3 kings riding on horses or mules, or on elaborate
floats.
Shrove
Tuesday Carnival
This
is mainly celebrated in Cadiz, as a party prior to
restrictions imposed during lent. It is also celebrated in
Mijas Pueblo, where there is lots of fun and a chance to wear
fancy dress!
Easter
Week
This
is a really important festival in Spain, with large statures
of Christ and The Virgin Mary being carried through the
streets. The festival is celebrated from Palm Sunday to Easter
Sunday. Malaga hosts a particularly large celebration, well
worth watching! Hermandades or brotherhoods also take place,
where the men, 
dressed
in traditional robes and cowls covering their faces, carry
large figures to the beat of drums.
The streets are lined with candles, and the children later
collect the wax to make large wax balls out of. It is best to
check out details of the Malaga Semana Santa, to ensure you
don’t miss anything!
The
Marbella Fair.
The
week long Marbella Fair is
centered around San Bernabe Day on June 11th. The
Marbella féria includes all the traditional elements of an Andalusian
fair: food, drink, dancing, entertainment and of course, the
trademark “casetas” that are set up just for the fair. It
starts off on the proceeding Sunday with fireworks on the
beach and is followed by a week of celebrations. By day, most
festivities are centered in Old Marbella town, and at night in
an area near the La Canadas shopping centre.
Festival
of San Juan
This
is celebrated on the 23rd/24th July up
and down the Andalucian coastal towns. It celbrates the
longest day and shortest night. There are huge bonfires on the
beach, followed by drinking and eating. Tradition states that
you wash your hands and feet 3 times directly after midnight,
or alternatively go for a swim, and it will bring you good
luck. In Mijas Pueblo, it is celebrated with a party and a
spectacular firework display at midnight.
Malaga
Fair
The
annual Malaga fair in August is an exuberant week-long street
party with plenty of flamenco and 'fino'(sherry).The fair
commemorates the re-conquest of the city by Isabella and
Ferdinand in 1487 and lasts for ten full festive days. It is
held in the 3rd week of August, and starts with a
fantastic firework display at midnight on the Saturday night,
This is followed by 10 days of celebration centered on the old
town in the day, and the Fiera ground in the evening. There
are also lots of Flamenco shows at the bullring.
Most
towns and villages hold its own annual fair, keep a look out
in the local papers etc for details. for example, the annual
Mijas Fair is celebrated for a week around September 8th.
Marbella
This is a 10-15 minute drive from tha apartment. It is
well known as an upmarket seaside resort, with a lovely
beach
promenade, marina and old town.
Mijas.
Mijas Pueblo is a pretty village with typical Andalucian
white houses covered in jasmine and bougainvilla, small
squares, picturesque streets and panoramic views. Situated
on mountain foothills, it is surrounded by pine trees
and overlooks the Mediterranean.
Port Cabopino
This port is extremely picturesque, and a perfect place
to visit in the day or evening, with its fine beaches,
marina
and restaurants.
Malaga
This is a 25 minute drive away and is full of
wonderful history, with a castle, the Alcazaba, cathedral
and old town.
Ronda
This is one of the oldest cities in spain, and
set in a spectacular position. It dats back to Moorish
times, so is
full of palaces and mosques. It can easily be visited for
a day trip, and one certainly not to be missed!
Granada
This is home to the fabulous
Alhambra palace, set high in the sierra Nevada mountains. It
is approximately 2 hours
drive from our apartment.
