Travel guide 04: Málaga, Sun and Folklore

Popular partys are a reflection of a people’s character and roots. MÁLAGA, SUN AND FOLKLORE is a comprehensive tour to Costa del Sol’s celebrations and traditions, customs and ancient medicines that are still used or that only remembered by a few, like the avisadoras de Antequera (Antequera’s town criers), women who used to break the news to their neighbours. 

This guide is the result of painstakingly careful research. Its 176 illustrated pages are eminently practical: to make searching through them easier, fiestas have been classified according to the season when they take place. Each celebration is accompanied by a review of its origin and tourist information on the district where it is held.

In spring, for instance, the celebrations that stand out are those of the Holy Week: the fiesta in Málaga City (which has been declared of International Tourist Interest), the staging of the Passion in Riogordo, or Antequera’s “throne processions” on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, at night. “May Crosses” should also be mentioned: during the Holy Week, Málaga’s streets and yards are adorned with crosses made with colourful flowers.

When the summer solstice comes, the same rituals are performed once again to attract good luck on the Night of Saint John. These rituals are reviewed in the guide. Summer also brings Corpus celebrations, which are doubled in Arriate thanks to a papal bull. To the same season belong the fiestas of Moors and Christians at Benalauría, Benadalid and Alfarnate.

Autumn is the season of Ronda’s Goyesque bullfight and of some regional products that have their own fiesta, like grape must, raisins and chestnuts. In winter, villagers celebrate slaughter, verdiales (peasant songs and dances) and Carnival. 

MÁLAGA, SUN AND FOLKLORE includes two calendars with all the fiestas organised by village and by date, and a list of popular medicines