Xàbia bids farewell to April with traditional festivities in honour of Jesús Nazareno
The programme combines religious acts with the most popular ones such as the bull-running, children’s day and the procession of the flower crosses.
Friday 14th April 2023
Mike Smith
Source: Ajuntament de Xàbia
The Brotherhood of Jesús Nazareno, in collaboration with the Department of Fiestas, has published details of the complete programme of festivities in honour of the sentimental patron of xabieros. Eight days of intense activity begin on Wednesday 26th April with four days of bull-running in Placeta del Convent and end with the traditional solemn ascent of the treasured image of Jesús Nazareno to the blue-domed chapel of Calvario on Wednesday 3rd May.
There will be no shortage of classic acts during this special week, such as the Children’s Day on Monday 1st May with brunch and games for the little ones in the Plaza de la Constitución, the giant paella, the procession to visit the May Crosses with the mayorales and town authorities, also on Monday 1st May, the offering of flowers to Jesús Nazareno on Tuesday 2nd May and the theatrical evenings such as the Valencian farce “El Soldat de Palma on Sunday 30th April and the play “La Venganza de Don Mendo” on Tuesday 2nd May. Both these performances will be held in the marquee which will be erected on the Plaza de la Constitución, the same location of the Xàbia Folk Festival on the weekend of May 5th/6th.
The programme also includes collaborations with other fiesta commissions and groups, such as the disco on Friday 28th April and the tardeo / disco on Saturday 29th April, both organised by the Filà Capitana 2023 “Almoriscos” and the Fogueres Commission on the Plaza de la Constitución.
As for the most religious acts of the programme, a triduum – three days of religious observance – will be held in honour of Jesús Nazareno from Sunday 30th April to Tuesday 2nd May and then on Wednesday 3rd May, there will be a formal Eucharist at midday followed by the deafening mascletà on the Plaza de la Constitución.
The celebrations will conclude on the evening of the same day when the treasured image will be lifted onto the shoulders of the Brotherhood and carried up the blue-domed chapel of Calvario, accompanied by xabieros dressed in their finest and carrying candles to light the way. When it is safely returned, a spectacular firework display will bring everything to an end.
