Moragas refer to barbequeing at any place outdoors with firewood. Usually nuts and dried fruits, sardines and other fish is cooked during this festivity of pagan origin. This is probably the most well-known mass festivity of pagan origin in the Province of Almería. Friends and families gather on the beach to light up bonfires and where they grilled fish and meat.
It usually start early in the morning, when people gather firewood to light up fires, buy the food that is going to be cooked, etc. Once everything is set up and ready, the fire is lit up and the celebration begins.
In the evening, when the embers are already cold, many people use the ashes and blacken their faces before continuing with the celebration in the different towns of the area for the rest of the evening until early in the morning.
History
The origin and meaning of this celebration has based on several hypothesis with a long oral tradition and some data found in books or other publications.
- The first theory is that the so-called moragas come from an old tradition carried out by fishermen on the beach celebrating the end of the fishing season. According to that tradition, they would eat fish and drink together for hours around bonfires.
- Another theory holds that this tradition dates from the last decades of the 20th century and it was celebrated because the fishermen went fishing on their boats. As they would rarely fish tuna, it would be a reason to celebrate that they found some, but in any case they would put a white cloth on the mast to let the people on shore know if they had fished what they were looking for. If the amount of fish is large, the whole town would be invited to a feast.
FESTIVITIES OF VIRGEN EL CARMEN AND SANTA ANA
The festivity of Virgen del Carmen and Santa Ana are some of the most popular events in the Province of Almería, there being a great number of people attending, due to the holidays season when it was held, in the summer heat. This festivity was nationally declared to be of tourist interest in Andalusia.
The most popular events during this festivity are the following:
- The procession of Santa Ana both on the sea and on land, where the statue of Santa Ana and Virgen del Carmen is paraded from the harbour of Roquetas de Mar to the harbour of Aguadulce and back.
- The fireworks show after the landing of the saints' statues.
History
This festivity started to be celebrated in the 16th century at the Castle of Roquetas de Mar, since there used to be a chapel inside dedicated to Santa Ana. Some written sources hold that at that time, on Santa Ana's Day, there used to be a sermon, a procession and other festive events.
For example, there are written sources telling about some of the events carried out in the 19th century, such as lavado de cara de la Virgen (the washing of the face of the Virgin's statue) or a rowing regatta. In this century there were already fireworks. However, the most outstanding event was that of the botillo, the earthenware pitcher of wine, there being wine for everyone.
In the 20th century, this festivity was preserved and some other events were added, such as the performances of a music bands, processions with people wearing traditional costumes, etc.
Currently, there are other events such as Fiesta del mediodía, a public tasting of different tapas typical of the area, sport competitions, a funfair, dances and a parade of music bands, among others.
After the procession on the sea and on land of the religious statues there is a firework show after the landing of the paraders, closing the festive events once the statues of Santa Ana and Virgen del Carmen are taken back to their temples.
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Date: week of the 26th of July
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Fiestas de las 200 viviendas take place in late August, coinciding with the beginning of the summer season and the celebration of San Juan Bautista's Day, when the saint is honoured with a procession.
Fiestas de las 200 viviendas are series of events held in the neighbourhood called Las 200 viviendas (200 homes). The patron saint of this neighbourhood is obviously San Juan Bautista and the celebration coincides with the celebration of Noche de San Juan, on the eve of the 24 at night.
The festivals include a great deal of events, standing out the traditional fireworks opening and closing the festivals, sport competitions, music performances, Feria del Mediodía with typical tapas tasting, a procession, and others.
The well-known Noche de San Juan (Midsummer Night) is celebrated to welcome the summer in Spain. Although it is a celebration of pagan origin honouring the sun, this is a very special occasion to gather on the beach and enjoy the night around bonfires.
Traditionally, this is a night of change, since in the antiquity it was believed that this was the night when people could leave behind all their worries arisen during the winter: bad weather and cold, hunger, etc.
Also, it was believed that witches and wizards would come out this night and cast spells on the people, since it was when their powers were supposedly stronger.
EASTER WEEK OF ROQUETAS DE MAR
Easter Week is one of the most important festivities for Roquetas de Mar. In the municipality of Roquetas de Mar there are 2 religious fraternities, named cofradías in Spanish, with a long tradition. These are Cofradía de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores (established in the centre of Roquetas de Mar) and Hermandad de Penitencia del Santísimo Cristo de la Expiración (in the neighbourhood of 200 viviendas).
Festive Programme
- Viernes de Dolores (Friday before Palm Sunday): Hermandad Penitencial del Santísimo Cristo de la Expiración carries out the Stations of the Cross with the statue of Cristo de la Expiración (Christ crucified).
- Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday): there is a procession to Iglesia de la Virgen del Rosario commemorating the entrance of Jesus in Jerusalem.
- Martes Santo (Holy Tuesday): Hermandad del Santísimo Cristo de la Expiración takes out on a procession the statue of Santísimo Cristo de la Expiración, which is a silent procession and the paraders do not talk.
- Miércoles Santo (Holy Wednesday): Cofradía de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores takes out on a procession the statue of Jesús Nazareno (Jesus the Nazarene, commonly known in Roquetas de Mar as the Nazareno.
- Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday): Cofradía de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores takes out on a procession the statue of Christ crucified, commemorating the Divine Mercy of God, and another of Virgen de los Dolores. This is one of the processions with a greater number of devotees in Roquetas de Mar.
- Viernes Santo (Good Friday): Cofradía de Nuestra Señora de los Dolores carries out the procession of two main sculptural representations. The first one is called Santo Entierro del Redentor (Holy Burial of the Redeemer) and we can see the statue of Christ in his tomb, made of glass and wood. Then, there comes the statue of Virgen de los Dolores in a silver throne.
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Date: depending on the calendar
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