Flamenco Drums in Jerez de la Frontera until January 6
In December, Jerez de la Frontera is the stage for one of the most typical customs on the cultural and festive scene of Andalucian folk expression, the zambombá drum festival. Since the 18th century, on the night before Christmas Eve, friends, neighbours and relatives gather together in the patios and courtyards of their houses and farms. Everyone gathers around the bonfires and they sing Christmas carols and dance spontaneously while wine, anise, punch and Christmas cakes are passed round. The main instrument is the zambomba drum, which gives the festival its name.
The instrument, the zambomba drum, is usually handmade from an earthenware pot covered with skin -- usually goatskin, or muslin. In the centre of the drum, a long cane pierces the skin and this makes a deep sound when played. It is the basic rhythm and beat of the Christmas carols. Other improvised instruments accompany the zambomba drum, such as mortar, tambourine or a bobbled bottle.
The Zambombá drum festival differs from the other flamenco festivals as it is one in which everyone participates. At other flamenco festivals and parties, there is usually a separation between the artistes (singers, guitarists and dancers) and the public. At the zambomba festivals, everyone takes part --singing, dancing or playing one of the instruments. In this way it loses its individual character of flamenco song and becomes more of a flamenco type sing-along.
Hundreds of zambomba festivals take place in Jerez every Christmas, but we can only mention a few, especially those organised at the many flamenco clubs. Every Saturday in December, leading up to Christmas, is when most of the zambonas take place.
Jerez de la Frontera Province: Cádiz Phone: 956 33 11 50 Phone 2: 956 14 98 63 e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Web: www.jerezciudad.com Cost: Free
Fiesta de las Migas – Torrox - 21 Dec
Each year, Torrox holds its traditional Migas Fiesta, which has the National Tourism Interest designation in Andalusia.
The town pays tribute to its most typical dish, offering a plate of "migas" (fried breadcrumbs) and a good glass of wine to everyone who wishes to take part in the celebrations.
The ingredients and seasoning used to prepare "migas" make it an ideal dish for people working on the land. When farm labourers were working on the vineyards and olive groves and lunchtime came, the farmer would ring a bell to let them know that the "migas" were ready to eat.
On the Sunday before Christmas, alongside La Almazara Market, "migas" are prepared and distributed to all the local residents and visitors who come to Torrox. The ringing of the bell is the signal for everyone to come and collect their plate of "migas". A glass of wine and an "arriera" salad (with cod and orange) accompany the meal, which takes place in a wonderful festive atmosphere. Later, the music and dancing continue in Plaza de la Constitución square.
During the previous weeks there are a range of cultural events and activities, such as the local wine competition and the official presentation of the poster announcing the fiesta. There is no shortage of "verdiales" (type of flamenco) groups, as well as the municipal band and other bands invited to take part in the fiesta. Address: Plaza de la Constitución, 1 Postal Code: 29770 Municipality: Torrox Province: Málaga Phone: 952 53 02 25 e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Web: www.torrox.es Cost: Free
Fiesta del Día de Jeva en Antequera – 25 Dec
Every 25th of December in the morning, local people from Antequera (La Higuera, Villanueva de la Concepción, La Joya as well as other places) and the city of Antequera meet at the Hermitage of Jeva, to the south of the Nature park of El Torcal, to worship Our Lady of the Purification.
This festival of National Tourist Interest starts with a peel of bells, then the traditonal "clash" of verdiales folk groups -typical folk singing and dance from the province of Málaga- and then they enter into the Hermitage.
Afterwards, you can try some of the homemade Christmas cakes called mantecados, coffee, anise and local doughnuts, as well as live music, until the image of the Virgin Mary is taken to the threshing floor where there is mass.
To finish off the festival, at around midday, there is a singing contest of "coplillas" in verdiales folk style and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who is then taken back to her Hermitage and the festivities are brought to a close.
Phone: 952 70 81 08 Web: www.antequera.es Cost: Free
Belén viviente de Almayate 27 Dec – 28 Dec
Year after year, whole families, businesses, associations, groups and professionals from a range of different sectors come together to make this living crib a reality. Great care is taken over the tiniest details and more than 150 people take part, dressed in period costumes, along with tens of animals and huge, heavy, decorated scenery set up over an area of more than 2,700 square metres in the open air. It has 24,000 W of illumination and 5,000 W of sound, video projection screens and a range of special effects.
In just over two hours you can relive the days from the Annunciation of the Archangel Gabriel through to the Flight to Egypt of Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus. To give the event further authenticity, some of the village´s typical products are prepared on the spot during the performance - black pudding, meats, chorizo sausage, "migas" (fried breadcrumbs), chestnuts, etc... These delicacies are then savoured by actors and audience alike at the end of the show.
The Living Crib in Almayate is normally staged in December, to coincide with the last weekend of the year. There are two performances, one on Saturday at 6pm, with special nocturnal atmosphere, and the other on Sunday at midday - the matinee. The performances are held in the grounds of Juan Paniagua School.Event location: Colegio Público Juan Panigagua Address: Carretera Almayate-Cájiz, s/n Municipality: Vélez-Málaga Village: Almayate Province: Málaga Web: www.belenviviente-almayate.com Cost: Free
Festival in honour of Saint Hillary of Poitiers in Comares 11 Jan
Comares, a village perched high on a mountain on the western extremes of the province of Málaga in the Axarquía district, is paying homage to its patron saint, Saint Hillary of Poitiers.
According to the tradition, the religious services start the festival; first there is a mass in the church of la Encarnación and it is followed by a procession of the image of Saint Hillary through the village streets. When everyone starts to feel hungry it is time to enjoy the large paella, there is enough for everyone. There is no shortage of music either and the celebration is accompanied by verdiales folk groups, who keep on playing until the image of the Saint is returned to the church. Phone: 952 50 92 33 Web: www.comares.es Cost: Free
Fiesta de la Danza de los Locos en Fuente Carreteros "the Dance of the Mad" - 28 Dec
On the 28th of December, the women from this village in the province of Córdoba play the main role in a crazy dance that commemorates the day King Herod ordered all the baby boys from Nazareth to be killed.
One of the most popular as well as singular traditions of this village is the "Dance of the mad", a picturesque kind of dance with a religious-folk character, that takes place on the 28th of December, the feast day of the Innocent Saints.
Numerous researchers have tried to date the origins of the dance, but they are only hypotheses: some think that the dance was brought by the first settlers from Central Europe in the eighteenth century, precisely in 1767, as the costumes and choreography might not be from a Mediterranean people.
On the contrary, others think the dance is autochthonous, because at the time of the Foundation of the New Towns in Andalucía and the Sierra Morena (1767) it was danced in this area. This is proved by the significant fact that 35 years ago, other dance groups from the province participated in a competition of folk dances and some characteristics were similar.
According to the oldest local people, the dance represents the massacre organised by King Herod (he ordered the baby boys to be killed and these were persecuted by the soldiers and the King’s men). This is why on the 28th December the dance takes place because it is the feast of the Innocent Saints. Some other investigators think that the celebration is similar to the feast of Saint Nicolas in Central Europe, where the Saint visits different places accompanied by "The Mad of Fuente Carreteros" in a similar way.
The "crazy dance" is danced by 6 mad dancers and a little mad dancer. These are dancers who play castanets while they dance at the same time, and their dance consists of passing each other and crossing in complete and half dances.
Event location: Fuente Carreteros Postal Code: 14110 Municipality: Fuente Palmera Province: Cordoba, Phone: 957 71 40 04 Web: www.fuentecarreteros.es Cost: Free
Fiesta de la Toma de Granada - 2 Jan
The Festival of the Capture of Granada commemorates the day the city was handed over to the Christian troops, led by the Christian Monarchs, by the last Moorish King Bobadil in 1492.
The festivities are made up of different rituals. They start in the Royal Chapel in Granada with a religious service, after which there is a procession through some of the most important streets of the city with a replica of the banner that king Ferdinand gave the city. Then, from the main balcony of the Town Hall, the banner is waved for all present to witness.
Phone: 958 24 71 46 Web: www.turgranada.es Cost: Free
Bonfire festival in Torvizcón - Alpujarras - Granada - 16 Jan
On the 16th of January this village lights its streets with bonfires. Situated in the Alpujarra of the province of Granada, it celebrates a bonfire festival in honour of Saint Antón.
Bonfires are lit and the local people provide homemade pork products from the recent slaughter of local livestock and they make buñuelos (a type of doughnut). There is a dance at night and the festivities continue through the night and into the next day. Win a pig in the raffle. Event locationtact Information
Phone: 958 76 40 01 e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Web: www.turgranada.es Cost: free
Rute’s chocolate nativity scene 4 Nov – 5 Jan
This time the chocolate nativity is exceptional for its size –52 square metres made of 1400 kg of white and dark chocolate. What’s more, this year there is a new room where visitors can see the most spectacular constructions from previous editions.Open from Monday to Sunday, 10:30 am to 2 pm and 4-8:30 pm, except holidays. Event location: Galleros artesanos Address: Carretera Lucena-Rute, km.18.350 Rute Cordoba Phone: 957538072 e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Web: www.gallerosartesanos.com
12 Dec - Harvest Festival in Casarabonela.
The traditiona dates back centuries when millers burned esparto grass baskets soaked in oil as thanks to the Divine Shepherdess for the crops. The procession starts in Plaza de Ermita and winds through candlelit streets
Performance by The Blind Boys of Alabama in Málaga – 15 Dec
Considered all over the world as the emblematic group of Afro-American music and the best gospel singers, since 1939 the Blind Boys of Alabama have known how to extract the spiritual side of popular music, how to make spiritual music popular and then sing it to the whole world.
Predeccesors of Elvis, Little Richard and Al Green, they have recorded excellent interpretations of artists like Tom Waits, Prince, Eric Clapton, Fatboy Slim or Macy Gray and they have shared the stage with Peter Gabriel, Ben Harper, Solomon Burke and Lou Reed. The Blind Boys of Alabama not only do not show signs of tiring they have also known how to adapt to the 21st century and still attract the public because of their perseverance and contagious enthusiam.
Ticket sales:http://www.generaltickets.com/unicaja/
Event location: Teatro Cervantes Address: Calle Ramos Marín, s/n Postal Code: 29012 Municipality: Málaga Province: Málaga
Phone: 902 36 02 95 Phone 2: 952 22 41 00 Web: www.teatrocervantes.com
Cost: From 20€ to 30€.
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