Fiestas de las Cruces de Mayo Almuñécar & La Herradura 2023

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 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.

 

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 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”.


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Heidi in Spain

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Heidi is passionate about travel (50+ countries) and has experienced the world with her family. 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 her travel blog, Wagoners Abroad, at https://wagonersabroad.com

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