GUARO - FESTIVALS

EASTER WEEK. Depending on the Christian calendar

Amongst the processions and events that take place during Easter Week in Guaro, it is worth mentioning the Procession of the Brothers, during the night of Maundy Thursday which has its origin in an ancient tradition in which only men or women who have taken a vow may participate.

The big day of Guaro’s Semana Santa (Holy Week) is Good Friday, with the processions of Jesús Nazareno (Jesus of Nazareth), the Crucifixion and the Virgen de los Dolores (Virgin of Sorrows), which perform an encounter in the village square. In the afternoon are the processions of the Santo Entierro (Holy Burial) and the Virgen de los Dolores, with the latter again being borne in the Soledad (Solitude) procession that night, accompanied by women dressed in black. On the morning of Easter Sunday the images of the Corazón de Jesús (Heart of Jesus) and the Virgen Blanca (White Virgin) are carried in a procession.

PILGRIMAGE OF DE SAN ISIDRO. WEEKEND FOLLOWING THE 15TH MAY

On the Saturday morning, after a performance of popular song and dance in his honour, San Isidro is carried on a cart drawn by oxen to the banks of the Río Grande river where, on Sunday, a flamenco mass is held. During both days and the night between, the pilgrims live together in an atmosphere of fun and fraternity, enjoying the singing, conversation and good food, an essential component of this unique pilgrimage.

SUMMER FAIR. FROM THURSDAY TO SUNDAY IN THE LAST WEEK OF AUGUST

The local Fiestas Mayores (Main Fair) takes place in late August and, like the San Isidro pilgrimage, they are closely associated with this area’s agricultural tradition. The last days of August used to be the time for harvesting grain and almonds.

During the days of the fair, the local fairground is filled with colour, lights and “casetas”, the place where locals and visitors can get together to enjoy the singing and dancing of the verdiales, eat the food typically served on these days (fried fish, ham, manzanilla wine…) and also watch the various musical performances.

FESTIVAL OF THE LUNA MORA

The Festival de la Luna Mora (Moorish Moon Festival) during September certainly has a shorter history but it has broad public appeal. On these days, the visitor can savour the richness of Andalusian folklore, a homage to the three cultures that have left their stamp on the municipality: Christianity, Islam and Sefardi. For two weekends (the second and third in September), the village completely changes its appearance and turns into a medieval Arabic bazaar combined with music, theatre and dance, and also samples of Andalusian pastries and green tea. The bazaar bustles with the extremely large crowds that come, among other reasons, to see the more than 20,000 candles that at night light up the whole village and pave the way to the concerts of Medieval and contemporary music.

Objects of all kinds, diversified cuisine and music, especially from Andalusia, enliven these days that in the space of just a few years have assumed an enormous role in the province.

LAS MAYORDOMAS. 7TH AND 8TH DECEMBER

To conclude the calendar of local festivals, the Las Mayordomas (Female Stewards) celebrations are held in honour of the Inmaculada Concepción (Immaculate Conception), patron saint of Guaro. This fiesta dates back to 1854, the year when the church announced the dogma of the Immaculate Conception and since then and until the present day, between two and six girls are elected every year to be responsible for caring for and decorating the image that is venerated in the parish church of San Miguel.