The Festivities of the Altiplano de Granada

Underneath an overview of the most important and popular festivities in the region of the Altiplano. They are ordered by popularity. If you would like to see all the festivities of the Altiplano in 2018, please take a look at the Festivity Year Calendar Altiplano 2018.

Time: every year from the 6th to the 15th of September

The celebration of the festival is massive, dirty and dynamic. It is also called one of the dirtiest festivals in the world. Every year the people of Baza and Guadix paint themselves black in honour of  the Virgin de la Piedad. They defend the statue for the Cascamorra (resident) of Guadix who is trying to steal it. This is a tradition that is taking place over 500 years. This festival has been declared as National Tourist Interest.

Time: Eastern week

Although Eastern is celebrated in every town in Spain, the most impressive one is taking place in Cuevas del Campo. This is drama of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus, turning the village for a few days in ancient Jerusalem, capturing the admiration of thousands of people living and expectant representation and becoming stunned his neighbors in actors, which has obtained the recognition as a Festival of National Tourist Interest in Andalusia. Additional it has receiving awards from the  the Generalitat de Catalunya Prize 2001 Theatre World Award 2004 International among others. The people completely transformed dawns on Palm Sunday, more than 600 actors similar to the time of Emperor Tiberius lining the streets and recreate "lost trades" of the era costumes and culinary activities, so that the people whole becomes a big stage.

Time: 16th to the 20th of January

Festival with parade of soldiers joined by Moorish and Christian dancers in honor of San Antón (first two days) and San Sebastián (last two days).  The dance is accompanied by guitars, lutes, mandolins, tambourines, cymbals and triangles. This are the days when the population, despite the cold, are going on the street.

Time: 16th  of January

Huéscar is also partying on January 16th, by making typical camp fires. This ancient tradition has been held annually and is a great opportunity to meet with family and friends around a fire, eating pork face and drinking country wine. During this festival the people write their wish on a small paper without showing it to eachother and throw it into the fire so the wish will come out. During this fest there is a lot of firework.

Time: every last Sunday of April

In celebration of the 780 years in which Christians, Muslims and Jews lived together in the south of the Iberian peninsula, has left this herritage of cultural and social importance.

The festival is held annually in honor of the Virgen de la Cabeza with colorful parades and costumes of that era. 

Time: every 20th of January

The festival has its origins in the seventeenth century, when the residents of the village suffered a plague epidemic. An image of the saint protected although the inhabitants of the house for being infected or was improving the recovery.  The neighbors went "stealing" the saint's image in order not to be efted by the plague. 

Hence the "holy theft", a tradition that is celebrated every January 20th, at five o'clock, the hour at which the bells of the Church of St. Mary and St. Peter turned and break the silence of a square filled of people waiting for the doors of the temple and the "older brothers" open it take out the cross, in which the saint, fought for it, resulting in a violent struggle between the young men who want to "steal" San Sebastián and become represented in "new brothers" of the year.

Time: Good Friday until Eastern Monday

During  the Pilgrimage Festivals Huescar celebrates its traditional processions. In this week a lot of activities are organized. The festival is closed with the traditional picknick at the "carretera de la Santas", a natural picknick area along the river. At this place they hand over the patrons Alodía and Nunilón to Puebla de don Fadrique, so the festival can start in this village. At the picknick area a big "paella is made which is free to eat for every body.

Time: Eastern

Easter in Baza is the largest cultural event in the spring, it is a reflection of religiosity and reflection of the bastetanos. Palm Sunday begins with the entrance of the Christ. Every day at sunset, there is a procession which the people have prepared during the year. One confraternity (Silencio) dates back from 1736 and works of Sánchez and José de Mora Mesa, are shown.

Time: first weekend of August

During the first weekend of August Galera celebrates traditional Festivities in honor to the "Cristo de la Expiración". Her neighbours and visitors can enjoy both the tradition of his processions, sporting and cultural activities. At night there is a festival in town.

Time: 3rd of May

On the Day of the Cross, also known as "dia de la Cruz de Mayo", the village of Galera is colorful. The different neighborhoods of the villages and cities prepare altars with ornate floral crosses, mantillas and other allegorical objects. In a small procession they will visit each of these crosses, stopping at every cross in order to sing, read and play music according to the religious tradition of that village.