Celebrations and Traditions
Vera:
Día de la Vieja.The so-called "Old Lady's Day" (which doesn't have anything to do with senior citizens) is perhaps the most interesting and well-known celebration in Vera. According to an agricultural rite, on the first Thursday of Lent (between Ash Wednesday and Easter) the people of Vera celebrate fertility and the products of the earth: when the earth awakes to new life in springtime.
Romería de la Virgen de la Huerta. Celebration on the first Sunday in September: the "Pilgrimage of the Virgin of the Vegetable Garden" is a kind of Spanish Thanksgiving.
Fiestas patronales. Festivals in honour of the saints of Vera: on June 10th the village celebrates the "Virgen de las Angustias"(Virgin of Anguish), on September 25th the day of "San Cleofás"(Saint Cleofa).
Almería:
During the second half of August, the city of Almeria celebrates its city festival "Feria y Fiestas de Almeria". For ten days the whole city devotes itself to pleasure and fun: 200.000 m2 area of fairground overlooking the sea is open day and night. While toreros fight against bulls in the arena the "Feria del mediodía" takes place in the fairgrounds: in the afternoon you can sample regional beverages and food. As we are in Andalucia, we should not miss the flamenco-shows.
Romería de la Virgen del mar. Pilgrimage on the first Sunday in January in honour of the sea saint "Virgen del mar". In the morning the statue of the saint is carried from Santo Domingo church to the Torre García chapel near the beach, in the afternoon/evening it will be returned. According to religious tradition the saint appeared in the place where the chapel was later to be built.
Día del pendón. The "Banner Day", a half-military religious celebration, which takes place on December 26th to commemorate the Christian conquest of Spain at the end of the 15th century. Since then the banner, which was a present from the Kings to the city of Almería, has been stored in the Town Hall. During mass the banner is taken to the cathedral.
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Apart from these regional ceremonies the province of Almeria also celebrates the ceremonies which take place all over Spain, such as, for example: the procession of the Three Magi on January 6th; carnival at the end of January/beginning of February; the "Aguinaldos de Navidad", a kind of Spanish Halloween and the "crosses of May" which are put on the village squares on May 1st. Neither should we forget the Holy Week processions, well known and loved in Spain and especially in Andalucia.
