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Travel Articles - Corpus Christi in Granada -
The city of Granada is steeped in history and tradition, notably the legacies of the Moorish occupation in the 7th Century and the Catholic Reconquista of 1492. Architecturally these are most notably symbolised by the Alhambra fortress palace and Granada Cathedral respectively.
These traditionally opposing cultures are still both represented on the streets, where now monks and nuns can be seen passing through the North African style bazaars of the Albaicin district. This is joined by a third, more mysterious and contentious heritage of the gypsies, which forms an important part of the local colour and who can always be found selling ‘lucky’ sprigs of rosemary in the area.
The municipal flag, incidentally is the red and green of the pomegranate, or granate, after which the city is named. Fiestas on the local calendar are dominated by the Christian calendar and the biggest of these is Corpus Christi, celebrated last week. Radio Granada describes it as “something more than a week of fiesta. It is a moment to enjoy in the company of our neighbours; to find ourselves, our friends and companions in the best environment.”
‘Leader’ reporter Alex Watkins travelled to the city to soak up the atmosphere as culture was being celebrated everywhere with festivals of poetry, cinema, music and dance from around the world. Ever present local traditions include bullfights and the Andalusian speciality of gypsy Flamenco music and dancing. The city centre is transformed with decorations and large canopies shade the main streets from the hot June sun, creating an air of intimacy on the streets.
This year the traditionally themed grand entrance to the Ferial de Almanjáyar fiesta area supported the bid for the Alhambra to be named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. A massive reconstruction of one side of the Patio of the Lions, it was 30m long, 18m high, weighed 30 tonnes and was covered in 800,000 light bulbs which blazed through the night as revellers gathered to eat, dance and enjoy the 5 nights of long celebrations.
A million more (low energy consumption) light bulbs illuminated the many stalls sponsored by every imaginable local association including political parties, charitable societies, businesses and Granada Football Club. Adjacent lay a sprawling, dazzling fairground. In these everyone is encouraged to tuck in to extensive menus, sup wine and to dance skilfully and passionately (or sometimes just enthusiastically and clumsily) to Flamenco rhythms.
Of course, no fiesta is complete without its processions and the Gran Procesión del Corpus is a fixture in every significant Spanish city and town. These are complemented by a series of smaller Corpus Chicos during the week which take place around the city including in the Alhambra itself. It is a grand, orderly, religious example of extensive council, church and citizen cooperation. “The splendour of the entourage, the participation of the authorities, the transformation of the streets are intended to ‘deify’ the setting in a transcendence with an air of triumph which anyone can pick up on,” the official program notes with typical Spanish grandiose.
It is a compulsory part of the tradition to soak up some of the fiesta refreshments with churros, the deep fried, sweet doughy treat to be dipped in thick, hot chocolate. Heading home in the small hours as families pile on to the many night buses around the city, crowds are still pouring into the Ferial for whom the night is just beginning
Article provided by kind permission of The Leader Newspaper
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The city of Granada is steeped in history and tradition, notably the legacies of the Moorish occupation in the 7th Century and the Catholic Reconquista of 1492. Architecturally these are most notably symbolised by the Alhambra fortress palace and Granada Cathedral respectively.
These traditionally opposing cultures are still both represented on the streets, where now monks and nuns can be seen passing through the North African style bazaars of the Albaicin district. This is joined by a third, more mysterious and contentious heritage of the gypsies, which forms an important part of the local colour and who can always be found selling ‘lucky’ sprigs of rosemary in the area.
The municipal flag, incidentally is the red and green of the pomegranate, or granate, after which the city is named. Fiestas on the local calendar are dominated by the Christian calendar and the biggest of these is Corpus Christi, celebrated last week. Radio Granada describes it as “something more than a week of fiesta. It is a moment to enjoy in the company of our neighbours; to find ourselves, our friends and companions in the best environment.”
‘Leader’ reporter Alex Watkins travelled to the city to soak up the atmosphere as culture was being celebrated everywhere with festivals of poetry, cinema, music and dance from around the world. Ever present local traditions include bullfights and the Andalusian speciality of gypsy Flamenco music and dancing. The city centre is transformed with decorations and large canopies shade the main streets from the hot June sun, creating an air of intimacy on the streets.
This year the traditionally themed grand entrance to the Ferial de Almanjáyar fiesta area supported the bid for the Alhambra to be named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. A massive reconstruction of one side of the Patio of the Lions, it was 30m long, 18m high, weighed 30 tonnes and was covered in 800,000 light bulbs which blazed through the night as revellers gathered to eat, dance and enjoy the 5 nights of long celebrations.
A million more (low energy consumption) light bulbs illuminated the many stalls sponsored by every imaginable local association including political parties, charitable societies, businesses and Granada Football Club. Adjacent lay a sprawling, dazzling fairground. In these everyone is encouraged to tuck in to extensive menus, sup wine and to dance skilfully and passionately (or sometimes just enthusiastically and clumsily) to Flamenco rhythms.
Of course, no fiesta is complete without its processions and the Gran Procesión del Corpus is a fixture in every significant Spanish city and town. These are complemented by a series of smaller Corpus Chicos during the week which take place around the city including in the Alhambra itself. It is a grand, orderly, religious example of extensive council, church and citizen cooperation. “The splendour of the entourage, the participation of the authorities, the transformation of the streets are intended to ‘deify’ the setting in a transcendence with an air of triumph which anyone can pick up on,” the official program notes with typical Spanish grandiose.
It is a compulsory part of the tradition to soak up some of the fiesta refreshments with churros, the deep fried, sweet doughy treat to be dipped in thick, hot chocolate. Heading home in the small hours as families pile on to the many night buses around the city, crowds are still pouring into the Ferial for whom the night is just beginning
Article provided by kind permission of The Leader Newspaper
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