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Javea offers a wide range of celebrations rooted in the maritime and Mediterranean traditions of its people, the chief participants in whatever festivals take place throughout the year. Religious and pagan festivals weave through the festive calendar with one common denominator: the participation of the residents. Javea misses no opportunity to display the open and extrovert character of its inhabitants.
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Fiesta of Jesus Nazareno
The largest religious festival is celebrated in honour of Jesus Nazareno at the end of April. The Calvario Hermitage (The Blue domed church on the road to Denia.) home to one of the main scenes of the celebration. From there, the statue of Jesus of Nazareth is taken down the hill in a solemn and slow procession to the ancient church of San Bartolome, one of the most beautiful places of worship, situated in the centre of the old town. This takes place on the Third Sunday of Lent. On the 3rd of May, the statue is taken back to the Calvario Hermitage.
Included within the framework of its larger festivities appear the famous los Toros, a remarkable celebration based on young people teasing then running from young bulls. In addition, fireworks light up the sky. Coinciding with these celebrations is the Cruces de Mayo competition, in which the streets of the old town of Javea compete to produce spectacularly colourful crosses made from tree leaves and different flowers. They are viewable for two days before being judged by the mayor and a panel of judges. The winners receive an inscribed plaque in Tosca stone which is proudly displayed on the street corners.
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San Juan Fiestas
Summer is announced by the Fiestas de San Juan, (in the old town) a major religious festivity deeply rooted in Mediterranean traditions which, in Javea, still retains its magic and ancestral significance. Fire takes on great importance in the middle of June, as in other towns along the Costa Blanca. Paper-mache monuments, sometimes alluding to current affairs, frequently mocking local political figures, decorate the streets of Javea, reminiscent of the ancient tradition of burning old junk on the 23rd of June in the magical belief of purifying the body and soul before the summer solstice.
The Fallas de San Juan, which light the streets of the town, are small bonfires over which young people leap, one by one, wearing garlands and flowers which are burned when the last fire has been jumped. Finally on the 24th of June, the feast of San Juan, all the monuments are burnt putting an end to the festivities.
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Other Fiestas
The Fiesta of Nuestra Senora del Carmen, (the fiesta of sailors and fishermen) takes place on the 16th of July when the fishermen and others take several of the larger fishing boats as well as a fleet of smaller pleasure craft into the bay for the blessing of the sea.
The town of Javea has also adopted a very popular celebration in the Alicante area, that of the 'Moors and Christians', which is celebrated mid July in the port. The highlight is the most spectacular 'March of the of the Moors and Christians'.
The fiesta cycle ends its main celebrations in the first week of September, with the festivity in honour of the Madre de Dios de Loreto, which takes place in the Church of Aduanas del Mar, a most singular church situated near to the Port. During these fiestas 'Los Toros' (The Bulls) appear once more on the harbour side. These fiestas are spread around the whole port area and provide an opportunity for all to participate. It is to mark the end of this fiesta that the most remarkable of firework displays (Castell de Fuegos) is presented on the end of the harbour wall.
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javeacivicsociety.net
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