Xàbia will celebrate symbolic 125th anniversary of the festivities in honor of Mare de Déu de Loreto
The programme features music, shows, sports and the religious aspect in honour of the patron saint of the port zone.
Monday 23rd August 2021 – PRESS RELEASE with Mike Smith
The arrival of September in Xàbia is accompanied by one of its most deeply-rooted fiestas. Between Thursday 2nd September and Wednesday 8th September, the port zone will become the nerve centre for the celebration of a series of symbolic acts in honour of Mare de Deu de Loreto, which will be celebrating its 125th edition.
Although the ongoing health situation means that the usual festivities, such as the famous ‘Bous al Mar’ and the float parades, cannot take place, the Loreto Fiesta Commission did not want to miss the opportunity of marking this important event and, with the collaboration with the Department of Fiesta, has created a special programme for the occasion which, it says, will “serve as a prelude to a future celebration … that will recall this long history in which so many people have shown their dedication, commitment, effort and devotion“.
This special programme has been agreed after analysing the adaption of the main acts to the current required health protocols to ensure the safety of holding cultural and sporting events in Xàbia over the past year and takes the celebrations a step further than the 2020 edition and will includes children’s shows, family shows, sports, music, and, of course, the religious aspect in honour of the patron saint of the port zone. For a few days, the playground next to CEIP Port de Xàbia will become the venue for the 2021 edition, hosting the main public performances having become an optimal venue for holding controlled events with limited capacities.
The programme will start with the traditional Novena from Wednesday 25th August to Thursday 2nd September. During the celebration on Tuesday 31st August, there will be a voluntary collection of food in aid of Cáritas, whilst on Thursday 2nd September, the new cape of the Virgin will be blessed, courtesy of a parishioner, to mark the 125th anniversary of the fiesta held in its honour.
On Friday 3rd September, the Fiesta Commission has encouraged residents and business owners in the port zone to decorate their balconies and shop windows. During the afternoon, the little ones will be the protagonists with the awards ceremony of the 28th edition of the Dionís Henarejos Crespo Children’s Drawing Contest, in which around 1,160 school children have participated, followed by the Musical MUSILOCOS children’s show.
On Saturday 4th September, the 21st Open Table Tennis Tournament will take place at the Municipal Sports Centre whilst the Youth Band of the Centre Artístic Musical de Xàbia will be performing a concert.
On Sunday 5th September, the sports competitions will continue with the 29th edition of the Chess Championship in Calle Manuel Bordes Valles whilst there will be two Raspall (Valenciana pilota) matches in Calle Virgen de Loreto with future local and regional promising players. In the evening, the commission theatre group TOT RIST will be performing a traditional Valencian farce by Paco Parchino entitled “La Barraqueta del Nano” that premiered a century ago.
On Monday 6th September, the religious acts begin with the adapted Flower Offering in honour of the image of Mare de Déu de Loreto which will take place in the old cloister of the church for more than seven hours to allow associations, festive commissions, groups and residents in general to offer their flowers in a safe and controlled manner.
On Tuesday 7th September, which is the day of Santísimo Cristo del Mar, there will be music, a special mass, and in the evening there will be a performance of the musical DANDO LA NOTA on the playground next to CEIP Port de Xàbia.
On Wednesday 8th September, the patron saint’s day, there will be a traditional despertà and music in the port zone before the solemn Eucharist. During the afternoon, since the usual procession of the image cannot be carried out, one of the novelties of this year will be the Veneration of Mare de Déu de Loreto outside the church so that anyone who wishes to visit the image on its big day will be able to do so as safely and as comfortably as possible. Again, it will be a controlled act to avoid the gathering of people.
Prior R and Health Protocols
Most events have a capacity limit. In the case of sporting events, these require prior registration through the clubs that organize the tournaments and, in the case of the shows that will take place on the CEIP Port de Xàbia playground, the fiesta commission offers three different forms of reservation:
- WhatsApp – 679 851 734
- Email – reservafestesloreto@gmail.com (in both cases until the day before each event at 2.00pm)
- In Person – at the Fiesta Commission HQ in Calle Severo Ochoa on Monday 30th August and Tuesday 31st August between 7.00pm and 8.00pm.
In all the three options, the name, surname and contact telephone number must be provided and a maximum of 4 places can be reserved by one person.
The use of a mask is mandatory at all acts and all attendees will have their body temperature measured at the entrance where they will also be required to disinfect hands with hydroalcoholic gel. Social distancing will also need to be observed.
The shows on Saturday 4th, Sunday 5th and Tuesday 7th has an admission price of 3 euros, which represents a collaboration with the Loreto Fiesta Commission for the future full celebration of the 125th anniversary of the fiesta.
