
It goes without saying that the fiesta is the quintessential element of Spanish culture and the Spanish people simply wouldn’t be who they are without it. The concept may seem quite alien to the British, whose experiences may well have been limited to a rain-soaked summer carnival and a travelling fairground in a muddy local park every summer. However there are over 15,000 fiestas every year throughout Spain and it is said that even if you attempted to attend more than one a day, you wouldn’t be able to see them all in a single lifetime. And Jávea is no exception when it comes to the enthusiasm to party and there are celebrations of all shapes and sizes throughout the year.
Fiesta Programme 2021
This programme is subject to change and will be continuously updated throughout the year
JANUARY

- Tu 05 | Los Reyes Magos – The Three Kings
- We 06 | Epifanía del Señor – National Holiday
- Su 17 | San Antonio Abad – The Animal Blessing
- We 20 | San Sebastian – Patron of Xàbia
FEBRUARY

- Sa 13 | Carnaval (Fancy Dress Parades)
MARCH

- Sa 07 | La Baixada – The descent of the image
- Fr 19 | San José – El Día del Padre (Father’s Day) – Regional Holiday
APRIL

- Fr 02 | Viernes Santo (Good Friday) – Regional Holiday
- Su 04 | Domingo de Resurreción (Easter Sunday)
- Lu 05 | Lunes de Pascua (Easter Monday) – Regional Holiday
- Mo 19| Día de San Vicente Ferrer
- Easter in Xàbia
- Festes en honor a Jesús Nazareno
MAY
- Su 02 | Día del Madre (Mother’s Day)
- First Communion
- Xàbia Folk Festival
- San Francisco de Paula – the oldest fiesta in Xàbia
JUNE

- Th 24 | Día de Sant Joan – Local Holiday
- Fogueres de Sant Joan de Xàbia
- Festival Internacional de Xàbia
JULY

- Fr 16 | Virgén del Carmén – the seafarer’s fiesta
- Moros i Cristians de Xàbia
AUGUST

- Su 15 | La Asunción – National Holiday
- Festividad de la Virgen de los Ángeles (La Plana)
- Xàbia Folk Festival
- Festes del Portitxol
- Festes en honor a la Virgen del Loreto (The Port Fiesta)
SEPTEMBER
- Su 12 | Virgen del Popúl – pilgrimage and mass
OCTOBER

- Sa 09 | Día de la Comunitat Valenciana – Regional Holiday
- Tu 12 | Fiesta Nacional de España – National Holiday
- Su 31 | Halloween in Xàbia
NOVEMBER
- Mo 01 | Todos Los Santos (All Saint’s Day) – National Holiday
DECEMBER

- Mo 06 | Día de la Constitución – National Holiday
- We 08 | Inmaculada Concepción – National Holiday
- Mo 13 | Santa Llúcia – The Bringer of Light
- Sa 25 | Día de Navidad – National Holiday
- Christmas in Xàbia
BECOMING A MOOR

Since 2016 I have been involved with the Moors and Christians fiesta each summer in Xàbia and these are my experiences of becoming a Moor …
BECOMING A PRAWN

In 2016 we were asked by the Fogueres Commission to write an article based on our experiences and it appeared – in Castellano – in the official booklet for the 2016 edition of the fiesta. It proved to be a popular read with many people finding out how outsiders saw their grand fiesta. So we’ve decided to re-produce it – with a few edits and additions – to bring it up to date.
“And it is significant that a country as sorrowful as ours should have so many and such joyous fiestas. Their frequency, their brilliance and excitement, the enthusiasm with which we take part, all suggest that without them we would explode.”
OCTAVIO PAZ (1914-1998)
Author