Fiesta Jesús Nazareno: the festivities return after a two-year break
The programme includes the rise of the image of Loreto from the port to the historic centre on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the port fiestas.
Wednesday 13th April 2022 – Mike Smith
Source: press release – Ajuntament de Xàbia
The Brotherhood of Jesús Nazareno has unveiled the programme for the 2022 edition of the festivities that honour the town’s treasured image of the Nazarene, celebrations that return finally after the pandemic and will feature the rise of the image of the Virgen del Loreto to the heart of the historic centre..
Councillor Kika Mata (Fiestas) declared that “today is a special day because the fiestas return to Xàbia“, a symbolic celebration for the people of Xàbia since they were the first to be suspended when the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the country
Mayor Jose Chulvi added that this festival, “beyond its religious aspect, unites the devotion of the people of Xàbia to the image of Jesús Nazareno and tradition” and has invited the town’s residents to head out into the street and enjoy the festivities.
The president of the brotherhood, Vicente Tur, wanted to thank Xàbia Council for its support and unveiled the programme that has been prepared for the festivities in honor of Jesús Nazareno, which follows its usual format, starting with the traditional blood donation, which will be held on Wednesday 20th April at the health centre in Xàbia.
One of the highlights of this celebration, which will open the festive calendar, is the carrying of the image of the Virgen del Loreto from the port to the historic centre on the morning of Saturday 23rd April. At the same time, the image of Jesús Nazareno will be carried down from the church of San Bartolomé and both images will meet outside the Asilo Hermanos Cholbi in Avenida del Port before they will both parade in pilgrimage up to the heart of the historic centre.
The event forms part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of the fiestas that honour the Virgen del Loreto which take place in late August and early September – the “port fiesta” – which were due to be celebrated in 2021 but had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The image of the Loreto will remain in the church of San Bartolomé until the afternoon of Sunday 24th April when it will be carried back down to the port in pilgrimage.
Bull-running returns to the streets of Xàbia with the traditional taurino event in the Placeta del Convent from Tuesday 26th April until Friday 29th April, in addition to cultural acts such as the XXI Ars Nova Festival on Friday 29th April in the church of San Bartolomé, and the Valencian farce “Deixa’m la dona Pepet” in the Plaza de la Constitución on Saturday 30th April.
On Sunday 1st May, the most traditional part of the festivities begins, with fun and games for the children, a giant paella for all, and a parade to visit the flower crosses that will have been erected across the historic centre and its surroundings.
On Monday 2nd May, there will be the offering of flowers to the image of Jesús Nazareno in the church of San Bartolomé, and on Tuesday 3rd May, the day of the Subida and a local holiday in Xàbia, there will be a special mass at midday followed by the deafening mascletà before a special mass for the sick and disabled at 7.00pm after which the treasured image will be carried back in solemn procession to its blue-domed chapel of Calvario, and a firework display will mark the end of the festivities.
Programme of Festivities 2022
Wednesday 20th April
17:00 – Blood Donation at the Centre de Salud de Xàbia until 20:30.
NOTE: Anyone, regardless of nationality, who lived in the United Kingdom for at least 12 months between 1980 and 1996 cannot donate blood in Spain due to concerns over the transmission of Creutzfeldt–Jakob Disease (CJD).
Saturday 23rd April
08:30 – Departure of the images of Jesús Nazareno and the Virgen del Loreto from their respective churches to the meeting point outside Asilo Hermanos Cholbi, after which they will both be carried in procession back to the church of San Bartolomé.
Sunday 24th April
18:00 – Solemn Eucharist sung by the “Parish Choir of Customs”. At the end, there will be a pilgrimage accompanying the images through the following streets: Plaza de la iglesia, Celestino Pons, Roques, Ronda Norte, Príncipe de Asturias, Virgen de la Soledad, Jesús Nazareno, Mayor, Primicias, San Buenaventura, Plaza de la Iglesia, Roques, Escola, Av. de Alicante, Juan Carlos I to the Asilo Hermanos Cholbi where they will bid farewell and return to their respective churches.
Monday 25th April
08:00 – Assembly and placement of cages and barriers in the Placeta del Convent and Ronda Colón until 21:00. The Brotherhood requests the collaboration of all the owners with the presence of two people in charge of each cadafal.
Tuesday 26th April
10:00 – Technical inspection of the cages.
18:45 – Entrance of the bulls and heifers. (La Paloma)
19:00 – Release of heifers and a bull. (Els Coves)
21:15 – Entrance of bulls and heifers. (Crespo)
Wednesday 27th April
18:45 – Entrance of the bulls and heifers. (Crespo)
19:00 – Release of heifers and a bull. (La Paloma)
21:15 – Entrance of bulls and heifers. (Els Coves)
Thursday 28th April
18:45 – Entrance of the bulls and heifers. (La Paloma)
19:00 – Release of heifers and a bull. (Machancoses)
21:15 – Entrance of bulls and heifers. (Crespo)
Friday 29th April
17:30 – Entrance and release of the carretones for the children.
18:45 – Entrance of the bulls and heifers. (La Paloma)
19:00 – Release of heifers and a bull. (Germans Calí)
20:00 – Disco in Plaza de la Constitución until 03:00.
20:30 – XXI Ars Nova Festival in the church of San Bartolomé.
21:15 – Entrance of bulls and heifers. (Els Coves)
22:45 – Entrance of bulls and heifers. (La Hermandad)
23:00 – Release of heifers and a bull. (Crespo)
01:00 – Entrance of heifers. (Els Coves)
At the end of the bull-running, the cages and barriers should be dismantled and removed by 12:00 Saturday 30th April.
Saturday 30th April
15:00 – Cycle Race Memorial Jose Catalá Marí.
18:00 – TARDEO and disco in Plaza de la Constitución until 02:00.
19:30 – Triduum to Jesús Nazareno sung by the parish choir.
21:30 – Sainete (Valencian farce) “Deixam la dona Pepet” performed by “Grup de Teatre Tot Rist” of the Comisión Mare de Deu del Loreto in Plaza de la Constitución.
Sunday 1st May – Children’s Day
08:30 – The traditional wake-up call with dulzaina and drums through the streets of the old town. Afterwards, there will be bocadillos courtesy of Mas i Mas in the Plaza de la Constitución, followed by children’s fun and games including cart rides courtesy of Penya El Tirasset. There will also be a raffle of various wooden sculptures created by local artist Miguel Àngel “in situ” in the main square.
09:30 – The traditional wake-up call through the streets of the port with Colla del Grup de Danses Portitxol.
11:30 – Professional Valencian Pilota “Escala i Corda” in the Trinquet de Xàbia.
13:30 – Giant Paella in Parque Montaner.
19:00 – Triduum to Jesús Nazareno.
20:00 – Parade with dulzaina and drums to visit the flower crosses and decorations with the Brotherhood and the local councillors.
Monday 2nd May
11:00 – Visit to the seniors at the Centro del Día with a special gift for each of them.
11:30 – Visit to the seniors at the Asilo Hermanos Cholbi with a special gift for each of them.
12:00 – General ringing of the church bells.
19:00 – Triduum to Jesús Nazareno.
20:15 – Flower Offering to Jesús Nazareno. Everyone is invited to participate, children, fiestas commissions, peñas, associations, groups, and residents in general. The parade will depart from Plaza Marina Alta (Correos) and the flower offering will be inside the church of San Bartolomé.
Tuesday 3rd May – “Subida a Jesús Nazareno” (Local Bank Holiday)
07:30 – General ringing of the church bells.
08:00 – The traditional wake-up call with the band of CAM Xàbia.
12:00 – Solemn mass sung by Ars Nova in the church of San Bartolomé. Presentation of the diplomas to the mayorales of 2022. Followed by the deafening mascletà in Plaza de la Constitución. Note: the time for the latter is dependent on how long the mass and presentation lasts as well as how long it takes for the Brotherhood and Mayorales to travel from the church to the square.
19:00 – Solemn mass for the sick and disabled in the church of San Bartolomé. Followed by the solemn procession of the treasured image of Jesús Nazareno on the shoulders of the Brotherhood through the streets of the historic centre and then up to the blue-domed chapel of Calvario. To conclude the fiestas, a firework display. Note: the time for the fireworks is dependent on the progress of the “subida” as well as how long it takes for the Brotherhood, mayorales, etc. to travel down from the chapel to the square.
Wednesday 4th May
19:00 – Special mass to which are invited all the faithful to the church of San Bartolomé.
Saturday 14th May
20:00 – Mass in the chapel of Calvario followed by an official farewell of the Mayorales 2022 and the award of the medals to those of 2023.
