Christmas Celebrations in Andalucia

Throughout the province, from the beginning of December until January 6th and the arrival of the Three Kings, everyone in Granada is beginning to decorate their towns, villages, Churches, homes and shops, with Belens (Nativity Scenes) and other Christmas decorations.

Here are a few that we have spotted on our travels over the last week in various locations.

Feliz Navidad!

Chrsitmas Events in Illora

All Saints Day - Todos Los Santos

All Saints Day in Spain (Todos Los Santos) takes place on November 1st. It is a very important national public holiday when people from all over the country return to their town or village to lay flowers on the graves of deceased relatives. There are few religious days that mean quite so much to the ordinary people of Spain as this solemn festival.

 Most people will visit the graves of relatives and decorate them with elaborate floral displays.The Eucharist, or Mass, will often be performed in the cemetery several times during the day.

Halloween in Illora - Marimantas Illorunas 2016

Monday 31 October 2016 18.00 - 22.00

Around the streets of Illora, Ghosts and Ghouls walk in the dark shadows, recounting tales of times gone past. Its quite spooky, especially when you hear the music that follows them, and walking in the darkness, with only candlelight to show your way. It's Illora's traditional way of celebrating Halloween.

More alleyways and ginnels

Following on from my previous blog post about the alleyways around Illora town, here are a couple more. They are quite steep, and impossible to drive a car either up or down them.

Illora Feria de Ganado 2016

So today is the final day of the Feria in lllora and unfortunately its a rainy day. The first 4 days have had fantastic sunny weather, so I guess one day out of 5 isn't too bad.
The Illorquenses turned out in their hundreds, young and old alike, most dressed in their finery and traditional Spanish costumes and partied from early morning, until late at night. with an enormous choice of pop up cafes and bars, the streets came alive to the sound of traditional music, especially on the Vino stalls and from the 80s disco bar, loudly competing with each other to be heard. There were probably around 50 stalls selling everything from handbags and scarves to live ducklings, sweet pancakes and of course the enjoyable chicken kebabs.

Programme of Events for the Illora Feria 2016 - Real Feria de Ganado de Illora

Alleyways and Ginnels of Illora

Around the town there are many short-cuts, ginnels, snickets and alleyways that cross from one street to another, yet these passageways are too narrow to allow for a car to pass by.

Over time, its our intention to discover and explore as many of these narrow alley ways as possible. I'm sure in years gone by that donkeys would carry their passengers along these narrow streets.

Illora Animal Feria October 2016 - Real Feria de Ganado

The dates have been confirmed for the annual Illora Animal Fair (Real Feria de Ganado) - 8 to 12 October 2016, this year beginning on a Saturday, allowing the final day, Wednesday to take place on the public bank holiday.

The weather forecast promises to be a good one - so far!
Pics to follow after the event. 

Vintage bar brochures

Its amazing what appears on the internet - take a look at these vintage brochures for some of the older bars in Illora. As far as we are aware, Los Polos ceased trading around 10 years ago following a fire that damaged the building.

Gamaba Disco appears to have dropped off the radar too!

Parapanda Festival Illora 2016

Summer Events in Illora 2016

The Wedding of Charlotte Wellesley and Alejandro Santo Domingo in Illora, May 28 2016

Lady Charlotte Wellesley, the daughter of the Duke of Wellington, Charles Wellesley, and the Princess Maria Antonia of Prussia,  married New York based Alejandro Santo Domingo, in front of more than 200 high society family and friends, at the 16th century Church of the Incarnation in Illora.

Anticipation and excitement abounds in the town for the wedding; who will the celebrity guests be? what will the bride be wearing? will the weather be sunny? will the public be allowed near to the church to catch a glimpse of the bride as she arrives at the church?

The wedding service was scheduled for 6pm in the afternoon, however, around 4pm, a cold weather front blew in over the town, bringing heavy rain showers; surely this would deter some of the people who wanted to go stand and view the guest arriving? The crowds began gathering, regardless of the rain, the balconies surrounding the church square, (which it was rumoured had been rented out for in excess of three thousand euros to the press) were heaving with people wanting a close look at Charlotte as she arrived at the church with her father, the Duke of Wellington.

 

The Celebrity guests began to arrive, as the heavens opened! Some were delivered direct to the church door in their taxis, while others descended from the mini buses and walked to the church.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall arriving

James Blunt and his wife arrive at the church

 

The arrival of King Juan Carlos of Spain

 

Charlotte and her father, the Duke of Wellington arrived fashionably late at around 6.20pm, to great applause from the crowd.

 After a brief problem getting her veil out of the car, she gave a small glimpse of her green wedding shoes, before walking up the hill to enter the church, to her waiting groom.

The church service was conducted by the Archbishop of Granada and The Bishop of London, assisted by Padre Don Jose Louis Ontiveros. After all singing the Hymn "Dear Lord and Father of Mankind", a reading by Mary Wellesley was followed by the Aleluya chorus. A Gospel reading by the Archbishop of Granada taken from The Gospel according to St John, 2:1 -11. the marriage ceremony was followed by Communion, the final prayers and blessing, with a final Hymn "And did those feet, in ancient time".

 The Order of Service

 

Congratulations to the Bride and Groom