XÀBIA HONOURS SANTA BÁRBARA AND SANTA LLÚCIA
This special fiesta marks the onset of the festive season, coming as it does twelve days before Christmas Day.
The arrival of December will see Xàbia once again immerse itself in the festivities honouring Santa Bárbara and Santa Llúcia that will begin this Sunday 3rd December with a fesitval honouring Santa Bárbara and continue on Tuesday 12th and Wednesday 13th December, the feast day of Santa Llúcia.
These special days have been organised by the ‘mayorales’ and ‘mayoralesas’ of Santa Llúcia for 2023: Juan Bas Benlloch, Antonio Bolufer Ribes, Juan Antonio Catalá Soler, Loreto Espasa Buigues, Gaspar Cruañes Bolufer, Luis Pons Buigues, Clara Vallés Sapena, Vicente Bas Benlloch, María Francisca Bolufer Ribes, Pascual Chorro Cabrera, Elvira Escortell Bou, Ximo Gavilá Cervera, and María José Ribes Serrat.
On Sunday 3rd December, there will be a festival dedicated to Santa Bárbara in the Iglesia de San Bartolomé in the heart of the historic centre of Xàbia.
On Tuesday 12th December, there will be the traditional ‘cridá’ – the call to fiesta – which will start at 7.30pm and consist a musical parade through the streets of the historic centre by the ‘mayorales’ and ‘mayoralesas’ as well as other ‘festeros’ during which coca maría and mistela will be handed out to residents in their doorways. The parade will finish in Calle Santa Llúcia where there will be a small offering to the saint in her niche as well as the release of a ‘traca’, the ubiquitous long string of firecrackers.
On Wednesday 13th December, the feast day of Santa Llúcia, there will be the traditional ‘despertà’ – the wake-up parade – at 8.00am and then, at 10.00am, representatives from the local council will join with the ‘festeros’ in the traditional pilgrimage from the heart of the historic centre to the chapel of Santa Llúcia on top of the hill of the same name where a special mass will be celebrated at 11.00am, after which the images of Santa Llúcia and Santa Bárbara will be carried on shoulders around the perimeter of the hill top before the morning concludes with hot chocolate and snacks.
