A NEIGHBOURHOOD A PARTY
The celebration calendar of La Vila Joiosa (the Happy Town) ends with festivals in each neighbourhood, that cannot be missed by anybody either residents or visitors, specially due to their tradition or roots in the municipality or because of the date and place of celebration. The neighbourhood festivals, like the Moors and Christians Festivities in honour of Santa Marta or San Miguel, are open festivals, with music in the street, activities for the little ones, gastronomic competitions... In the end, a celebration not to miss.
The neighborhood parties, like the Patron Saint Festivities of Moros i Cristians in Honor of Santa Marta or those of San Miguel, are open parties, with music in the street, activities for the little ones, gastronomic competitions ... In short, a calendar festive and festive that you should keep in your agenda.
This is the first festival of the year and is celebrated on the closest weekend to the 17th of January, the feast of San Antonio Abad. This saint is the patron protector of animals, popularly known as Sant Antoni del Porquet.
There are some events taking place on the Saturday, such as a canine competition, the blessing of pets, and the “chocolatada con buñuelos de calabaza” (literally chocolate with pumpkin fritters). On the Sunday, the great day, besides the procession and traditional dances, both young and elderly enjoy the traditional parade of floats and "burrets" (donkeys). The participants are dressed in the "brussó llaurador" (the traditional farmer blouse), and they throw the "Rotllets de San Antoni." (a typical pastry)
It is held on the closest weekend to the 15th of May. The pilgrimage with the image of the saint carried on a traditional cart is the central event. It goes from the square of the Ermita de San Antonio to the nearby neighbourhood of San Isidro. Some participants wear traditional costumes and all the "romeros" (pilgrims) carry a cane for the journey.
At the end there is a popular lunch.
The festivity of San Pancracio, patron saint of job seekers, is held on May 12th. There has always been a niche with the image of this young saint in Maria Amada street, in the old quarter of the city, which is why festivals were held in his honour.
Nowadays, the mass and procession are still held on the closest Sunday to the festivity. And the neighbours sometimes have dinner together just to keep alive the communal life involving the celebration of these festivities.
On the 15th of August, the Paraíso neighbourhood dresses up to celebrate this deeply-rooted festivity. An hermitage in the centre of the neighbourhood commemorates the devotion to the Virgin throughout the year.
A small chapel in this traditional neighbourhood of the municipality reminds us that when August arrives, on the closest weekend to the 24th, its streets are filled with colourful decorations made by the locals themselves.
The open-air dances, the paella competition, the games and activities for children, and the procession of St. Bartholomew through the streets of the neighbourhood are regular events of this celebration.
This traditional festival is held around the 28th of August, on St. Augustin’s day, and it fills the old town area closest to the beach with music and fun.
Decorated streets await the descent of the saint to start the festival. In Calle la Bomba is possible to enjoy the street parties, dances, communal dinners, competitions like "el bassi" (a traditional game in the fountain of Paseo San Pedro, where coins are thrown in dyed water and children have to find them) and the communal tasting of typical dishes such as "Cruet de Peix" (a fish stew) or "olleta de Blat" which attracts locals and visitors.
San Ramón Nonato is celebrated on the 31st of August. These festivities are a time for the residents of this humble neighbourhood to share a few days of conviviality and brotherhood.
Activities for the little ones, gastronomic competitions. Musical evenings and the procession of the saint are never missing from the programme of events for these fiestas that bring the month of August to an end.
Fancy a snack? On February 3rd, "Rotllo de Sant Blai", an authentic snack, for a different, special and traditional afternoon.
Fortunately, there are traditions that are maintained over the years and are passed down from generation to generation. This is the case of Sant Blai. On 3 February, the feast day of this bishop and martyr is celebrated. He is popularly invoked to cure throat infections or pathologies.
The image of Saint Blai that is venerated in La Vial Joiosa is in a small chapel, privately owned, located in the Paradís area. It is a tradition to visit the saint on this day to ask him to take care of our throat and to repeat the popular prayers that say "Sant Blai Gloriós cura'm la tos" (Saint Blai Gloriós cures my cough) or "Sant Blai Gloriós deixa'm al xiquet i emporta't la tos" (Saint Blai Gloriós deixa'm al xiquet i emporta't la tos).
