Fiestas de las Cruces de Mayo Almuñécar & La Herradura 2022

Fiestas in the streets of Almuñécar & La Herradura during the Cruces de Mayo.  With elaborate displays of flowers, crosses, lights, decorations, fiestas, and pop-up bars, in the alleys of the old town in Almuñécar & La Herradura.  Be prepared for a few days and nights with displays, food, drink, and a great atmosphere.

Fiestas in the streets of Almuñécar & La Herradura during the Cruces de Mayo.  With elaborate displays of flowers, crosses, lights, decorations, fiestas, and pop-up bars, in the alleys of old town in Almuñécar & La Herradura.  Be prepared for a few days and nights with displays, food, drink and a great atmosphere. Read more on Almunecarinfo.com

What is Fiestas de las Cruces de Mayo?

Normally, the Fiesta de las Cruces de Mayo means Festival of the May Crosses.  It is a fiesta celebrated throughout Andalucía, but there is also a contest.  The Ayuntamiento chairs a competition with impressive displays of decorated crosses, with prizes awarded.  The prizes range from €700 for the winning Cross, €500 for second, and €300 for the third in each Almuñécar & La Herradura.

Each display will be judged on the natural decoration of the Cross, the floral display, lighting, the environment.  They will also be looking for traditional cuisine served as well as originality.  Usually groups of neighbors, friends, associations, Brotherhoods, and the like enter the contest.  

Fiestas in the streets of Almuñécar & La Herradura during the Cruces de Mayo.  With elaborate displays of flowers, crosses, lights, decorations, fiestas, and pop-up bars, in the alleys of old town in Almuñécar & La Herradura.  Be prepared for a few days and nights with displays, food, drink and a great atmosphere.

Who participates?

At a minimum, each Catholic brotherhood (cofradía) or neighborhood association has a pop-up bar next to its cross.  There may also be local groups or associations participating.  They will serve drinks and traditional tapas to raise funds to finance various local festivals including Holy Week (Semana Santa) and the local Fair (Feria).  Not only will you see their beautiful display of the decorated cross, usually in a room or building, there may also be additional entertainment offered.  Each neighborhood or brotherhood will have very different displays from modern to traditional Spanish.

The department of fiestas usually creates a list of those who have entered the competition and provide a map, so you may visit them all.  They are typically located in the town plazas and are fairly easy to find.

Fiestas in the streets of Almuñécar & La Herradura during the Cruces de Mayo.  With elaborate displays of flowers, crosses, lights, decorations, fiestas, and pop-up bars, in the alleys of old town in Almuñécar & La Herradura.  Be prepared for a few days and nights with displays, food, drink and a great atmosphere.

When is Cruces de Mayo?

Cruces de Mayo is celebrated on or around May 3rd each year and the fiesta is usually the closest weekend to that date.

History of Cruces de Mayo?

Religiously, the festival is rooted in the search by Byzantine Empress Saint Helena for the cross on which Jesus died, but the popular traditions connected to the festival certainly originate from pagan traditions brought to Spain by the Roman Empire.
Read more about the history and traditions.

Fiestas in the streets of Almuñécar & La Herradura during the Cruces de Mayo.  With elaborate displays of flowers, crosses, lights, decorations, fiestas, and pop-up bars, in the alleys of old town in Almuñécar & La Herradura.  Be prepared for a few days and nights with displays, food, drink and a great atmosphere.

 


Cruces de Mayo
Almuñécar  & La Herradura
April 29 – May 2, 2022

Friday, April 29th to Monday, May 2nd

The Festival of the Crosses is an event of popular culture rooted in the most intimate feelings and experiences of the Almuñequeros and Herradureños, which transcends the religious manifestation itself, due to its social, cultural and festive impact, which together make it an event of great interest.

The Almuñécar City Council once again organizes the Cruces de Mayo “Crosses of May Contest”. A total of 21 crosses have been registered in the May Crosses Contests: adults and children. The crosses registered in the contest may be mounted from 18:00 on Friday, April 29, until 22:00 on Monday, May 2.

This schedule may be extended until 22:00 on May 3, which is the actual holiday and the feast of the Holy Cross, allowing only visits to the Cross, the use of bars being prohibited.

Cruces de Mayo Almuñécar 2022 Read more on Almunecarinfo.com

Judging of the crosses

Entries will be accepted through April 22nd.  A few days after that date, the map and agenda will be published for 2022.

Almuñécar and La Herradura Adult Crosses Contest

The jury will visit the crosses on April 29, starting at 19:00. The awards ceremony will take place on the same day, at the lucky crosses themselves.

Almuñécar and La Herradura Children’s Crosses Contest

This sample of crosses will be held on May 1, and all groups of young people from Almuñécar and La Herradura (with a maximum of 10 members) registered before April 22 in the Department of Festivals of the City Council or in the Civic Center of La Herradura.

The age of the participating members will include up to school age (16 years maximum). Three prize categories are established with a set of books each, for both Almuñécar and La Herradura.

The Jury, which will visit the crosses at 12 noon on May 1, will award a voucher that can be exchanged at the corresponding bookstore.

Cruces de Mayo La Herradura 2019-006

Maps and detailed agenda should be available a few days prior to the start date.  All entries will be submitted by the 22nd, so perhaps by the 28th.

Almuñécar locations (CRUCES DE MAYO ALMUÑÉCAR 2022)

Almuñécar Cruces de Mayo 2022 map. Read more on Almunecarinfo.com

  • CRISTO DE LOS GITANOS
    Plaza de la Palma

  • ORACIÓN DEL HUERTO
    Plaza de la Rosa

  • COFRADÍA SAN JUAN
    Plaza Noreta

  • CRUZ DE LA PIEDAD
    Calle Antigua, 7. Taberna

  • COFRADÍA VIRGEN DE LOS DOLORES
    Calle Pescadería , 6

  • CRUZ VERACRUZ Y SEPULCRO
    Plaza de la Victoria

  • CRUZ LA ALHAMBRA
    Calle Granada

  • CRUZ ARTE -SUR
    Casa de la Cultura (Puerta de Granada,19)

  • CRUZ LA CUEVA
    Calle Eras del Castillo, 42

  • CRUZ LAS INFANTAS
    Plaza de la Victoria, 3

  • CRUZ COFRADÍA RESUCITADO Y TRIUNFO
    Plaza Kelibia

  • CRUZ LA AMISTAD
    Calle Clavelico Alto, 25

  • CRUZ EL CONVENTO
    Plaza Victoria

  • CRUZ NAZARENO
    Calle Vélez, 2

 


La Herradura locations (CRUCES DE MAYO LA HERRADURA 2022)

Cruces de Mayo La Herradura 2022

  • LA CURRA
    Plaza Pepe Gámez (Calle Canalejas)

  • CRUZ DEL SUR
    Calle Eucalipto (lavadero)

  • ASOCIACIÓN DE MUJERES LOS BERENGUELES
    Centro Cívico-Sala Pepe Gámez

  • BALCÓN DE SU CASA
    Calle Alhambra Edif El Camping

  • CRUZ BARRIO ALTO
    Plaza Barrio Alto

  • CRUZ VIRGEN DEL CARMEN
    Hogar del Pensionista Centro Cívico

  • ASOCIACIÓN MUJERES SIGLO XXI
    Plaza Las Morenas Edif Antiguo Hogar del Pensionista (Calle Maravillas Sur)

Almuñécar – La Herradura vuelven a celebrar durante cuatro días las populares fiestas la Cruces de Mayo 2022

 


More information & references

Junta de Andalucía resources – including a list of each town that participates in Cruces de Mayo

This is Andalucía provides detailed information for each province within the Autonomous Community of Andalucía.  Just search for “Cruces de Mayo”.


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Heidi

View posts by Heidi
Heidi is passionate about travel (50+ countries) and loves experiencing the world with husband and their kids. In Aug 2012, they left the “perfect American life”, quit their jobs, sold their belongings and moved to Almuñécar. She likes to share all of her favorites things about the area, as well as practical information too. You may also view their family travel blog, Wagoners Abroad, at https://wagonersabroad.com

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