OJÉN - FIESTAS

Fair and Festivities in honour of San Dionisio Aeropagita (from 9th to 12th October)

The local fair and fiestas in honour of the patron saint, San Dionisio Aeropajita are celebrated right in the village, where young and old alike participate during the day in sack races, “piñatas”, street parades with giant heads, and tapas in the local bars. And at night, the star event is the dancing until dawn in the village square. The saint’s day is the 9th October, the first day of the fair, when San Dionisio, a martyr who was beheaded, is taken out in procession. His statue shows his head resting on one of his hands.

What makes this fair unique is that it is very popular, with a high level of participation, with locals mingling harmoniously with the many visitors. On the 12th October, the last day of the fair, is the procession of the Virgen del Pilar (Virgin of the Pillar).

Easter Week (depending on the Christian calendar)

The date of Easter in calendar varies according to the liturgical year and it is celebrated following the Christian tradition of the representation of the passion and death of Jesus Christ. Tradition, respect and the emotion of the whole village that accompanies the religious statues through the white streets of the village, are the indentifying marks of the Easter Week in Ojén. On Resurrection Sunday, it is the custom to eat “hornazos” a kind of bun with a boiled egg inside, for which this day is popularly known as the “the day of the hornazos".

Pilgrimage (1st May)

A festive celebration that is rather curious, in that no religious image is taken out in procession. The locals and visitors go on foot and on horseback to a natural beauty spot known as Los Llanos de Pula, where the greenery of the pine groves contrasts with the bright colours of the clothes and costumes worn by the people. It is an unavoidable excuse to share dancing, singing, food and drink. Apart from a wide range of delicacies that are common to other neighbouring villages, it is also tradition to eat the typical choricitos (spicy little chorizo sausages) from Ojén.

Tostón (a chestnut roast) (on 1st November and the following Sunday)

As is the custom in several of these mountain villages, on the 1st November, All Saints Day, the locals meet with family and friends to spend the day in the country, where they roast chestnuts that are washed down by aguardiente (literally “firewater”). On the following Sunday, a tostón (chestnut roast) is held, offered by the San Dionisio Cultural Association, which attracts a great many visitors to the village, giving the festival a marked multinational flavor.

“Castillo del Cante” Flamenco Festival (last week in July or first week in August)

An event that has been held since 1975, and is now a tradition with great prestige, in which some of the most important flamenco artists have performed. The stage has been shared by artists of the category of Fosforito, Camarón de la Isla, El Cabrero or La Niña de la Puebla. During this summer evening, the singing, dancing and guitar playing can be accompanied by a variety of delicious tapas washed down by good wine.

Carnival and the Day of Andalusia (28th February)

The fact of the Carnival coinciding with the Day of Andalusia is motive for the villagers of Ojen to participate in extraordinary merrymaking, with open-air dancing under a marquee in the village. The ingenious fancy-dress costumes are the stars of the night of the 28th February, under the spell of carnival-time.