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 Popular traditions |
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Although Benidorm professes to possess a British aura to it, the town always and forever has Spanish facets intrinsically all its own. Like any other faithful Catholic town in Spain, the city of Benidorm observes and celebrates age-old religious functions famously known as the fiestas. Across the country, fiestas are traditionally observed to honor a particular patron saint of a particular town. In this case, the locals honor the Virgin of Sufragio and Saint James the Apostle in its Las Fiestas Patronales, the main fiesta. Being the most significant fiesta of Benidorm’s many fiestas, the celebration commences every second Sunday of November and lasts for six days. This enormously festive period is preceded by all sorts of mind-blowing teasers such as concerts, fishing events and so forth.
Devout acts such as the staging of the find of the Virgin, the offering of flowers, la fiesta del tapiz (the celebration of the tapestry), and processional floats crucially find their way into this period’s sprightly agenda.
Adorned with a gold and blue ensemble, the statue of the Virgin is carried in all its resplendent glory in procession to the plaza in front of the San Jaime church. Blooms and bouquets of all shapes and sizes engulf the parade, where very creative carriages and costumes are exhibited through the avenues of Benidorm. Flower walls are built just for the occasion.
There are theatrical performances as well, from puppet shows to elaborate plays. Music is a pounding ubiquity - street musicians, big brass bands, rock music and classical concerts. Midnight music concerts in the large auditorium in Aigüera Park are staged alongside the festivities. Activities such as bell ringing and les albaes are also duly observed. The festivities culminate in a reverberating spectacle of a fireworks display.
Taking place in the Old Town a few days later, the Festa de la Carxofa is celebrated, a tribute to the "carxofa" or artichoke.
Another crucial event in Benidorm, in its Christian element, is the Hogueras de San Juan. Here, paper mache and wooden figures are flaunted for a few days. Then on the 24th of June, the figures are set ablaze on the nit del foc (“Night of the Fire”). These figures separately meet conflagration in the La Cala, Central Market and Old Town areas. Hence the blazes are each termed as the bonfire of the Cala, the bonfire of the Mercado and the bonfire of the Campo, respectively. Contests are held and pyrotechnics are staged prior to the 24th.
During the last week of September, the festival of Moros y Cristianos is staged. It commemorates a 15th century event in Spain’s history when the Christians eventually defeated the Muslim Moors and evicted them from the Iberian Peninsula. The revelries last for three days until the third when the 'filaes' parade through town, simulating troops of Moors and Christian soldiers. Dazzling period costume is not sparingly embellished on both ranks. The Christians, strong and resplendent, wear a lustrous armory of helmets and breastplates. Not far behind are the brash-looking, bearded Moors, all adorned to the nines in their feathered headwear and silk robes. Apart from the visually arresting procession, the euphoric accompanying music evokes a haunting, reverent mood among the spectators. Each year a Christian King and a Moor King are also elected.
Same across Valencia, Benidorm observes the festival named Fallas. Originally the festival rips from a common spring rite from primordial times, when carpenters would burn wood to frolic with in the streets. A plantà of fallas, highly decorated, fabulous, oftentimes satirical wooden sculptures, are displayed in different districts. Corresponding to the district they are in, Benidorm’s fallas are namely the Center Falla, the Rincon Falla and Els Tolls Falla. Starting on March 16, Benidorm swells with colorful processional floats, street entertainment and loud fireworks. The fallas ceremoniously end in a fiery bonfire in the ‘crema’, on the 19th. Traditionally, flowers are offered in this celebration. Fire is the fundamental element of choice, in the form of "despertàs" and "mascletaes."
Semana Santa or the Christian Holy Week is a very dignified period for locals in the vicinity. The corresponding ensuing Easter celebrations are resonantly glorious for most.
Fancy dress and parades deluge Benidorm’s streets in celebration of "El Entierro de la Sardina." Curiously, this means ‘The Burial of the Sardine.’ This annually happens on the colourful weekend prior to Ash Wednesday.
From the 12th of March to the 16th, Benidorm submerges into reverence in commemoration of the discovery of the Patron Saint, the ‘Vírgen del Sufragio.’ Very popular in Benidorm, the program in this holiday simulates the events in 1740 when a ship was discovered on Poniente Beach. The locals, fearful the ship might harbor a plague, burned the vessel. Amidst the conflagration, the wooden statue of the Virgin remained unscathed amongst the ashes. In remembrance of this event, the Queen of the festivities and her ladies are presented, after which solemn acts as the offering of flowers are carried out. At early morning prior, the Virgin is most solemnly paraded, to the tune of worshipful serenades and the ringing of bells. Celebrations are adequately characterized by fancy dress up.
Though dates may vary, around May 7th, the delivery of the Carta Pobla to the then rural municipality of Benidorm is commemorated with a reenactment of the events that happened. This usually takes place in the Plaza de la Iglesia de San Jaime.
Fiestas de Imalsa II is known for its harmonious open air dances. They happen annually from September 29 to October 2.
Not only does Benidorm leap alive on New Year’s Eve. Even the passing of the first six months of the year is motivation enough for good old revelry. Every June 14th, the celebration of Medio Año Peñas transpires, a festivity in which organized groups called "peñas" function significantly.
Beginning with "vestida de la Creu", the Festa de la Creu is one of the most enduring festivities ever in Benidorm’s history. The melodious peals of the bells resound all throughout, accompanied by parades and floral offerings. It happens every first of May.
Starting on October 7 and ending on the 9th, Festa del Roser is renowned as a series of popular festivities in the Hermitage of Sanz.
In honor of two of Benidorm’s important saints, the 7th and 8th of July are devoted to festivities in honor of San Fermín and San Cristóbal respectively.
The Festivity of Asturias, organized by The House of Asturias, happens from September 5 to September 9 in Benidorm.
Every September 17, the House of Castilla - La Mancha celebrates the festivity of the Vintage.
A girl from the town recites some verses in veneration of the Virgin in the festivities in honor of the Virgen de Carmen, the patron saint of sailors. It all happens from July 14-17.
Organized by the House of Asturias, the festivity of the Virgin of Covadonga is celebrated on October 7.
With a "rociera" mass in tow, the House of Andalusia proudly celebrates the festivity of the Corpus. Contests and musical performances ensue on this day too, on the 12th of June.
Because the month of August ideally has no traditional festivities to spare, the August program is conveniently held every August in the Parque de l'Aigues.
Whether one chooses to pray or party, Benidorm is sure to accommodate your options. In Benidorm though, people tend to pray - and party harder!
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