blog alhaurin

The latest information is that the postponed carnival will be Monday 1st March.

Update 26/2/2010: the above has been confirmed, the Carnival is now on the holiday for Andalucia Day, Monday 1st March.

The stage has been re-erected in the Plaza Baja today and the Local Police have replaced their No Parking signs on the route, all ready for the event, so as long as rain holds off…

Due to the inclement weather, the carnival was postponed at the last minute. It should now be next Saturday, 27th Feb, but if this changes I will do another post.

Not all the participants can have been informed, as several ‘teams’ turned up and some did their ‘acts’ in the Plaza Baja before leaving.

For me, the most entertaining was a group of ’senior citizen’ ladies, who were dressed in gowns and sashes for ‘Miss Universe’, ‘Miss World’, ‘Miss Andalucia’, ‘Miss Malaga’ and several other Miss’ who decided to do the circuit round town anyway, and ended up on the stage in Plaza Baja doing their performance, to a small but enthusiastic audience. They certainly enjoyed themselves.

Sunday 21st Feb, starting in Plaza Baja at 4.30pm, is the Big Procession of the Carnival and Funeral of the Sardine.

The route is: Plaza Baja, Calle Real, Cruz, Plaza Alta, Piedras, and back to Plaza Baja via San Sebastian.

On returning to Plaza Baja there will be public recognition of the best performances of the procession as well as the traditional burning of the sardine and a tasting of ‘buñuelos y chocolate’ for those present.

The earlier post was written before the official programme was released and is based on the tradition for this annual event.

However, now the programme has been published, you should be aware, if you wish to view the procession on Saturday evening, that the route has been significantly changed due to the roadworks around town, particularly those by the Town Hall. It is now shown as:

Avda. de Mijas, Calvario, Huerto Mateo, Calvario, and Ctra. de Mijas to La Mota.

The Mass will be at 8.30pm and entertainment from 11.00pm. Everything else as in the earlier post.

The full programme is here:

The 2009 Alhaurin Romería is Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September.

At 5.30pm on Saturday the participants will meet at the Church of Santo Cristo de las Agonías. That is the tiny church on the Mijas road, 100 metres from the Tobacconist  junction. The transport will be very varied and well decorated, you may see carts pulled by oxen, donkey, horse or tractor, as well as cars and lorries. Many people will be on horseback and wearing traditional costume. After a blessing at 6.00pm, the ‘Romeros’ will start their journey. From the little church they will travel through town, the route being:  Avda. de Mijas, C/. Convento, Plaza Alta, Cruz, Cilla, Plaza Baja, San Sebastian, Nueva, Camino de Coin and Variante back up to the Avda. de Mijas. They then travel out to La Mota, where there is the official Mass at 8.00pm.

At 10.00pm the festivities start in earnest with entertainment well into the early hours.

On Sunday the romeros will enjoy a huge paella at 2.30pm before making their way back to the Church of Santo Cristo de las Agonías at 5.00pm.

The programme for this event has just been released, and as always I give only a summary. However I can provide a street map of the town here, so that you can follow the route if you choose to.

Friday 7th August, 10.00pm at the Parish Church (Plaza Baja) for those that have ‘come of age’ in the last year.

Monday 10th August 9.15pm, Our Lady of Grace leaves the Parish Church and travels to Calle Fuengirola, where she has her first overnight stay. The route of her journey is: Plaza de Perdon, Iglesia, Avda. Alcalde Antonio Solano, Cristo de las Agonias, Plaza Chica, Gerald Brenan, Avda de la Constitución, Torremolinos, Fuengirola. She is accompanied by the band of Santa Vera Cruz (the ‘Greens’) and carried by residents of Calle Fuengirola.

Many of the streets she passes through en route will have been decorated by the residents with plants, foliage and scenes from life and their balconies hung with decorative textiles.

The residents of C/. Fuengirola will have their own bar(s) set up and will party the night away in the street.

Tuesday 11th August 8.30pm Mass in C/. Fuengirola in Honour of our Patron.
9.15pm She travels to the Casa de la Cultura in C/. San Sebastian.
The route is: C/. Fuengirola, Gerald Brenan, Callejon de Lopez, Rosales, Plaza Baja, San Sebastian. She is accompanied by the band of Nuestre Padre Jesus Nazareno (the ‘Purples’).

Wednesday 12th August 8.30pm Mass in the Casa de la Cultura.
9.15pm Our Patron travels from the Casa de Culture to the Centro de Acogida Infantil Ntra. Sra. de Gracia (‘The Nuns’) near the bottom of C/. Albaicin. The route is: Calle San Sebastian, Altillo, Puerta de la Villa, Real, Cruz, Albaicin. The band is Asociación Musical Manuel Amador.

Thursday 13th August 8.30pm Mass in the Centro de Acogida Infantil.
9.15pm Back to the Parish Church for our Patron the Lady of Grace. The route is short: C/. Albaicin, Cilla, Plaza Baja. The band is from the Santa Vera Cruz.
10.30pm In Plaza Baja: Trophies are presented to the winners of various sporting activities and there are performances by:
-Flamenco Choir of Our Lady of Grace.
-Dance School “Lourdes la Flamenca”.
-Group “Los Pioneros”

Friday 14th August 12.00 noon. Pealing of bells indicates rejoicing for the eve of the Day of our Patron.
9.30pm In the Parish Church, a presentation and offering to Our Mother of Grace of all those ahaurinos and alhaurinas born between last years celebration and this.

Saturday 15th August 08.00am Launching of rockets (BOOM BOOM) signal the rejoicing of the Day of our Patron Saint the Virgin of Grace.
11.30am Solemn Eucharist in Honour and Glory of the Patron Saint and Perpetual Mayoress of Alhaurin el Grande.
8.00pm The three bands which accompanied Our Lady on her travels are visiting the Parish Church.

9.00pm Procession of the image of Our Lady of Grace under a canopy from Plaza Baja, San Sebastian, Piedras, Cruz, Real, San Sebastian and back to Plaza Baja and the Parish Church. The procession will include the Queen of the Ferria and Maids of Honour, Mister Feria and boys and girls in typical costumes of the neighbourhoods visited by Our Lady, together with the various bands.

This is an early warning for the next event in our town, the celebration to honour the Virgin of Grace, the town’s Patron.

On the evenings of 10th, 11th and 12th August, the image of Our Lady of Grace will be carried from one neighbourhood of the town to another, staying overnight at each venue. She starts from the Parish Church on the 10th and is carried back there on the evening of the 13th. Well worth seeing. The actual day of Nuestra Señora de Gracia is the 15th August.

As this post is just dates for diaries I will elaborate more nearer the time.