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 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.
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.
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)
- CRISTO DE LOS GITANOS
Plaza de la Palma ORACIÓN DEL HUERTO
Plaza de la RosaCOFRADÍA SAN JUAN
Plaza NoretaCRUZ DE LA PIEDAD
Calle Antigua, 7. TabernaCOFRADÍA VIRGEN DE LOS DOLORES
Calle Pescadería , 6CRUZ VERACRUZ Y SEPULCRO
Plaza de la VictoriaCRUZ LA ALHAMBRA
Calle GranadaCRUZ ARTE -SUR
Casa de la Cultura (Puerta de Granada,19)CRUZ LA CUEVA
Calle Eras del Castillo, 42CRUZ LAS INFANTAS
Plaza de la Victoria, 3CRUZ COFRADÍA RESUCITADO Y TRIUNFO
Plaza KelibiaCRUZ LA AMISTAD
Calle Clavelico Alto, 25CRUZ EL CONVENTO
Plaza VictoriaCRUZ NAZARENO
Calle Vélez, 2
La Herradura locations (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 GámezBALCÓN DE SU CASA
Calle Alhambra Edif El CampingCRUZ BARRIO ALTO
Plaza Barrio AltoCRUZ VIRGEN DEL CARMEN
Hogar del Pensionista Centro CívicoASOCIACIÓN 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”.
See More Almuñécar holidays, ferias, fiestas and festivals
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