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.
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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.
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.
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.
Cruces de Mayo
Almuñécar & La Herradura
April 28 – May 1 & May 3, 2023
Friday, April 28th to Monday, May 1st and on May 3 (without the bar)
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 28, until 22:00 on Monday, May 1 and again on May 3, but without the bars.
May 3 is the actual holiday and the feast of the Holy Cross, allowing only visits to the Cross, the use of bars being prohibited.
Opening hours of the bars:
- Friday, April 28 18:00 – 02:00
- Saturday, April 29 12:00 – 02:00
- Sunday, April 30 12:00 – 02:00
- Monday, May 1 12:00 – 22:00
Judging of the crosses
Entries will be accepted through April 14.
Almuñécar and La Herradura Adult Crosses Contest
The jury will visit the crosses on April 28, starting at 19:00. The awards ceremony will take place on the same day, at the lucky crosses themselves.
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 2023)
1. CRUZ LAS INFANTAS
Plaza de la Victoria, 3
2. CRUZ EL CONVENTO
Plaza Victoria, 20
3. CRUZ CRISTO DE LOS GITANOS
Plaza de la Palma,
4. CRUZ SANTO ENTIERRO DE CRISTO b
Plaza de la Victoria, 1 y 8
5. CRUZ ORACIÓN EN EL HUERTO
Plaza Marruecos
6. CRUZ VIRGEN DEL CARMEN
Paseo de San Cristóbal
7. CRUZ LA CUEVA
Calle Eras del Castillo (encima del Museo Cueva de Siete Palacios)
8. CRUZ COFRADÍA DE SAN JUAN
Plaza Noreta
9. CRUZ RESURRECCIÓN Y TRIUNFO
Plaza Kelibia, local antiguo cortijillo
10. CRUZ NAZARENO
Calle Vélez, 1
11. CRUZ LA PIEDAD
Calle Antigua, 7
12. CRUZ LA ESPERANZA
Calle Lonja (junto a antiguo mercado)
13. CRUZ COFRADÍA VIRGEN DE LOS DOLORES
Plaza de la Victoria, 6
Itinerario Cruces de Mayo Almuñécar 2023
La Herradura locations (CRUCES DE MAYO LA HERRADURA 2023)
1. CRUZ EL LAVADERO.
Calle Eucalipto
2. CRUZ ESTAMOS AQUÍ
Asociación de Mujeres Cultural y Deportiva La Herradura Siglo XXI
Plaza las Morenas. Antigua Hogar del Pensionista
3. CRUZ LOS BERENGUELES
Asociación de Mujeres Los Berengueles
Bajos del Centro Jate
4. CRUZ ASOCIACIÓN DE VECINOS BARRIO ALTO
Plaza Barrio Alto
5. CRUZ VIRGEN DEL CARMEN Asociación Herradureños mayores “Virgen del Carmen”
Centro Cívico
6. CRUZ BALCÓN DE MATI
Calle Eucalipto- Calle Alhambra
7. CRUZ CALLE DE LA MAR – Asociación de amigos de la Herradura
Calle Príncipe
Itinerario Cruces de Mayo La Herradura 2023
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”.
See More Almuñécar holidays, ferias, fiestas and festivals
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