Holidays and Festivals Axarquia March 2024

Semana Blanca:
End of February and first week of March. The kids are free from school. Traditionally the Spaniards paint their houses in white colour in this period. It´s also very common to go on Ski holidays to Sierra Nevada (only about an hour an a half away from our office) to practice there snow sports.

March 1 - 10 Málaga Film Festival

The Malaga Festival was born in 1998 and in each of its editions it has sought to achieve a series of objectives, among them, favoring the dissemination and promotion of Spanish cinematography, becoming a national and international benchmark in the field of events. cinematographic films and contribute to the development of Malaga as an open and cultural city.

This great festival contributes powerfully to the development of cinema in Spanish by presenting its best documentaries, short films, etc., in addition to paying tribute to different personalities from the film industry and organizing numerous cycles, exhibitions and parallel activities. Malaga Festival wants to reach all audiences and in its desire to present and promote a broad panorama of cinematographic culture, it aims to always be attentive to training, creativity and innovation, framed within an activity that stands out for its dynamic character. in continuous evolution and transformation.

El Paso de Riogordo, alway from the Holy Friday to Saturday  starting from March 29th at 5pm to Saturday 30th

El Paso de Riogordo is a true spectacle, recognized throughout Spain. It has been recognized as a festival of national tourist interest. The performances take place on Friday and Holy Saturday. The Passion of Christ is the set of events that preceded and accompanied the death of Jesus of Nazareth.

The show is quite exceptional and has 500 actors on a stage of 8000m² and presents the Passion of Christ through 17 scenes.

The Riogordo Pass is one of the most peculiar and well-known religious sacraments in Spain. Its staging has taken place for 56 years on Holy Fridays and Saturdays. It has been considered by some media outlets as "the best Paso in Europe" or "an unparalleled scenographic representation."

The town is a must-visit place every year during these Holy Week dates to attend one of the greatest live shows of the Passion of Jesus Christ.

 March 24 - 31: Semana Santa (Easter week / Holy Week)

Semana Santa, or Holy Week, is a significant religious and cultural event celebrated across Spain, including the Axarquía region in Andalusia. The exact customs and traditions can vary from town to town, but generally, Semana Santa in Axarquía is characterized by processions, passion plays, and other religious events.

Vélez-Málaga:24 March Domingo Ramos / Palm Sunday is the start of the Semana Santa

Vélez Málaga celebrates Easter every year with incredible fervor. The Holy Week celebrations in Vélez-Málaga are very famous throughout Andalusia, and especially throughout the province of Málaga. Vélez-Málaga is much smaller than its big sister, Málaga. Only 40 km separate them.

However, the fame of Holy Week in Vélez-Málaga, the capital of the Axarquía, is great. It is recognized as the "Fiesta of National Tourist Interest in Spain".

The procession/parade starts on Palm Sunday and the date of the Holy Week celebration is variable (between March and April, depending on the year), as it depends on the lunar calendar and is preceded by Lent. This day commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, representing the processions of this day. Under plaited palms, the image of Jesus is usually carried only by women and his mother María del Rocío in her canonical seat by mostly all men. During the processional route, the fork makers keep calling their virgen ¨Rocio - guapa¨ (meaning beautiful)¨, transmitting their fervor as they walk the streets.

These two processions have their canonical headquarters in the church of San Juan Bautista and can come before the departure of the virgen and admire the lighting of her candelabra which takes place at 5 pm or enjoy its festive return / confinement.

The dates of Easter week in 2024: from March 24 to 31 
There is a great local fervor for these celebrations, which combine religion, culture and local traditions.

Although only the Good Friday 29th of March is the official bank holiday, the most local businesses will be also closing as well on Thusday (Jueves Santo) in the afternoon hours. Children have the holidays at school for the whole week.

Processions: One of the most distinctive aspects of Semana Santa in Spain are the processions, where large, ornate floats (pasos) depicting scenes from the Passion of Christ are carried through the streets. Members of local religious brotherhoods (hermandades) participate in these processions, often wearing traditional costumes and carrying candles or crosses.

Music: In Axarquía, processions are often accompanied by music, including traditional hymns and drum beats. This adds to the solemn and spiritual atmosphere of the events.

Cofradías: These are religious brotherhoods responsible for organizing and participating in the processions and other Semana Santa activities. Each cofradía usually has its own distinctive colors and symbols.

Penitents: Some members of the cofradías, called penitentes, walk barefoot or carry crosses as an act of penance.

Holy Week Services: Churches in the Axarquía region hold special services throughout Holy Week, including Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday (Jueves Santo), Good Friday (Viernes Santo), Holy Saturday (Sábado Santo), and Easter Sunday (Domingo de Resurrección). These services often include reenactments of key events from the Passion of Christ.

Dress Code: People attending the processions and other religious events during Semana Santa women often dress wearing mantillas (traditional Spanish lace veils) and men wearing taditional costumes..

Traditional Foods: As with many Spanish holidays, Semana Santa in Axarquía also has its own traditional foods, which can include torrijas (a type of French toast), potajes (hearty stews), and other regional specialties.

Easter Sunday: After the solemnity of the previous days, Easter Sunday is typically a joyful celebration in Axarquía, with church services, traditional meals, and family gatherings.