Turisme d’Elx :: Fiestas

Valencià

Castellano

Fiestas

Elche’s calendar is full of fiestas with religious origins, such as Palm Sunday which has been declared of International Tourist Interest. Thousands of Elx’s citizens parade through the streets bearing their blanched palm leaves in what is a beautiful prelude to Holy Week. During Holy Week, the city is given over to religious processions full of religious fervour and the week ends with the joyous Hallelujahs of Easter Sunday.

Festive activities reach their zenith in August with the celebrations in honour of the Virgin of the Assumption. Celebrations begin with the processions of Moors and Christians commemorating the Christian conquest of the city in 1265 by King Jaume I. For days the streets are a constant spectacle of lights, colours, pomp, fireworks, and music.

One of the most spectacular moments occurs on August 13th, during the Nit de l’Albà, a magical night when the skies of Elche are illuminated by fireworks in honour of the city’s Patroness.
The axis around which these fiestas revolve is the Elx Mystery Play, a lyrical medieval drama depicting the death and Assumption of the Mother of God. The piece is in two acts: “la Vespra” performed on the 14th and “la Festa”, performed on the 15th.

After the performance on the 14th, concluding with the Dormition of the Virgin, the traditional Noche de la Roà, or vigil of the Virgin’s body, takes place. Many of Elche’s citizens take part in the ceremony, processing through the streets of the old Vila Murada, or walled city, bearing lit candles. The night also has its pagan side since many other people also stay up all night, partying until dawn.

On the morning of the 15th, the day of the Assumption of the Virgin, the procession of the “Mare de Déu”, or Mother of God takes place. Actors from the Mystery Play also participate in this procession as the image of the Virgin is borne through the streets of the city’s historical quarter.

The fiesta is officially brought to a close with a spectacular firework display at midnight, August 15th.

A singular tradition is the Arrival of the Virgin. This takes place on December 28th and commemorates the legendary discovery of the chest containing the image of the Virgin and the Consueta, or libretto of the Mystery Play, on Tamarit beach by coastguard Francesc Cantó. The re-enactment of Cantó’s swift horse ride through the streets of Elx is the festival’s high point.