Fiestas Javea / Xàbia:

The carnival or “Enfarina” proceeds the main summer festival of Sant Joan. The Fogueres are a special time for the local people when they celebrate their culture and ancient traditions.

Fire takes centre stage in June, as in many other towns along the Costa Blanca. Huge papier-mache statues, often parody contentious and political issues. These are errected in the town square. Dating back to the traditions of burning rubbish to purify the body and soul before the summer solstice, the statues are set alight on the 23rd June. Fireman hose the buildings and palm trees in the narrow streets prior to and during the burning and then afterwards turn the hoses on the excitable crowd. This is nearly always preceded by a huge firework display and followed by dancing into the night with music by local musicians.

The “Focs de Sant Joan”, light up the streets of the town in a late night pagan celebration of fire. Small bonfires are lit over which young people leap, wearing garlands of flowers that are burned when the last fire has been jumped. Finally on the 24th of June all the statues are burned putting an end to the festivities.

The largest religious festivals are celebrated in honour of the Nazarene at the end of April. The Calvari Hermitage becomes one of the main scenes for the celebration. From there, the statue of Jesus of Nazareth is taken in procession to the San Bartolomé Church, one of the most beautiful churches in the area. This takes place on the Third Sunday of Lent and is a solumn and moving occasion. On the 3rd of May, the statue is taken back to the Calvari Hermitage.

Within the festivities the locals celebrate “ els bous”, or the running of the young bulls, a cruel local tradition, but one which remains popular none the less. In addition there are fireworks which coincide with the “Creus de maig” competition, in which the town's people compete in the making of bright and colourful crosses.

Both religion and pagan traditions are celebrated when Mediterranean history is re-enacted in the Xàbia Moors and Christians fiesta, which takes place in the port. The festival lasts all week and features the sea battle and re-enactment of the landing of the Moors followed by the later banishment by the victorious Christians. This is a time of spectacular and noisy street parades and not to be missed. The festive cycle ends n the first week of September, with a fiesta in honour of the Mare de Déu de Loreto, which takes place in the Parish Church of Aduanas del Mar. A remarkable church situated near the Port. This is followed by more bull running in the Port. The Mare de Déu del Carme, on the 16th of July; the Mare de Déu dels Angels at the beginning of August and Santa Llúcia on the 13th of December are other religious celebrations which make up the traditional festive calendar of Jávea / Xàbia.

With special thanks to the official website operated by the Ajuntament de Xabia

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