Holidays in Javea

The local Town Council (Ayuntamiento) spends a fortune every year on making sure that the fiestas and especially the fireworks are FANTASTIC. They even have Councillor whose job it is to run the budget for the fiestas, they certainly know how to have fun here in Javea. The kids events are Great Fun and the fiestas are SPECTACULAR!

This region is in the Guiness Book of Records for having the most fiestas in the world, there are 51 all told, which is nearly one a week. No wonder so many people want to live here!!

Their success is legendary, come and find out for yourself, here is the programme….(all dates are subject to change, due to weather conditions etc).

JANUARY
5th Procession of “Los Reyes Magos” (the Three Kings). This is the Spanish Christmas celebration. The 3 Kings are the ones who bring the presents to the children on the 12th night, and this Fiesta is all about the kids! They even give presents away to children who wait in line in the main Plaza (square) of the Port.

17th Fiesta of “San Antonio Abad”.

18th San Antonio Abad fiesta, blessing of the Animals. Sacred bread is handed out at the Plaza de la Constitucion.

16th - 25th Amusement fair “San Antonio Abad” in Portal del Clot parking, old town.

20th Fiesta of “San Sebastian”, patron of the town. Mass will be celebrated in his honour in the church of San Bartolome, old town.

FEBRUARY
21st Carnivals, fancy-dress street procession, prizes for the best-dressed participants, and later, dancing in the street with a live group and mobile disco.

28th Funeral of the Sardine.

MARCH
14th In the afternoon/evening, a procession with the image of Jesus of Nazareth, will lead down from the Ermita del Calvario to the church of San Bartolome in the old town.

APRIL
9th - 12th Artisan Craft Fair in the streets of the old town.

26th - 3rd Fiestas of Jesus of Nazareth. A very important celebration in which you can see, and often join in, a range of both religious and social events which include dancing in the streets and bull-running.

MAY
3rd Fiesta of “Santa Cruz”. Crosses made of natural flowers are placed in various streets by the villagers and a competition is carried out for the most original and beautiful. To mark the end of the fiestas, the image of Jesus of Nazareth leads a procession from the church of San Bartolome back to the Ermita del Calvario.

JUNE
12th Proclamation of the Carnival Queen at the Plaza de la Constitucion.

15th - 17th IX International Festival of Javea – There are many different nationalities of people living in Javea, and this is their celebration. Food, Drink, Music, dancing, singing, acting by both local and international artists, are but a few of the attractions of this week of events. The location may vary, as the Fiesta is growing every year, but it is well worth a visit, if just to try out a food you have never heard of before!!

14th - 24th Fiestas of “Sant Joan”, the principal fiestas of Javea. Processions with floats, dancing in the streets, firework displays, bull-running to include the ‘toro embolado’ - the bull with flaming horns, flower offering procession and live music.

JULY
16th Fiesta of “Nuestra Sra. del Carmen” - the fiesta of the sailors. In the morning, the fishing boats from the town carry the image of the Virgin out to sea and pay homage to her by scattering flowers on the water.

14th - 18th Fiestas of the Moors and Christians. Impressive processions and enactments of battles dressed in traditional costumes. This is probably the largest and most colourful and best attended Fiestas of them all! Its my personal favourite and there are many websites dedicated to the men and women who take part every year. Each “Penya” or club in Javea takes one part of the processions and celebrations, and the costumes are amazing!! There are virtually 4 days of non-stop eating drinking and merriment! Well worth seeing , although its incredibly noisy and busy!!

31st - 2nd Fiesta of the “Virgen de los Angeles”. Dancing in the streets to live bands, Mass and sharing out of the wine of honour.

SEPTEMBER
31st - 8th Fiesta of the “Virgen de Loreto”, patron of the Duanes de la Mar - Port of Javea. Celebrations include bull-running on the jetty, processions with floats, firework displays and live music.

OCTOBER
9th Regional holiday - Valencian community.

DECEMBER
13th Fiesta of “Santa Lucia”. In the morning a procession will walk up to the Ermita, followed by a celebratory Mass with chocolate and ‘churros’ (sweet pastries) handed out.

Why not take a look at the local council website http://www.xabia.org/ There are many interesting facts on it, as well as local photos and information on local beauty spots and nature reserves.