ARCHIVED - 1st and 2nd February 2020 The Romería and day of the Candelaria in Alhama de Murcia

The Día de la Candelaría has been celebrated in Alhama de Murcia for more than 200 years

Alhama de Murcia in the south-west of the Murcia region, holds its annual celebrations in honour of the Virgen de la Candelaria on the 2nd February, as it has done for over 200 years. The core act at the centre of this is a Romería, in which the image of the Virgen is returned to her sanctuary above the town after being brought down into Alhama de Murcia on Christmas day.

Romerías are a concept unfamiliar to most expats, although for the native Spanish they’re a way of life and part of the religious and festive calendar of virtually every community in Spain.

Although a Romeria is based around a religious act, it’s so much more than that, blending tradition, history, culture and an integral part of the region’s identity, drawing the town and community together to participate in an act which engenders pride and tradition, as well as offering the chance to enjoy the company of family and friends in a convivial atmosphere.

At its most basic level it’s simply the act of transferring the figure of a saint from one place to another on their saint’s day, accompanied by the local population and local musicians, stopping for a celebration in honour of the saint, which is then returned to their hermitage or taken to another church before being transferred back to their regular church on another, or the same, date.

But on another level, it´s tourism on a regional level and a surprisingly enjoyable and healthy activity in which all religious denominations can participate.

Residents travel from all over the place to join in Romerias, in fact sometimes it´s difficult to find a local to get a straight answer to a question as there are so many who travel to be part of an occasion just because they enjoy participating, as accompanying the figure of a saint is only the first part in what inevitably concludes as an open air picnic in a beautiful place, enjoying a day out.

The Romeria of the Candelaria in Alhama de Murcia takes place on the 2nd February, as part of the fiestas of the Candelaria, which celebrates the purification of the Virgen Mary and the presentation of the Baby Jesus to the temple. It´s certainly been celebrated in Alhama for the last 200 years, although participation in the Romeria is growing as more of these traditions are revived.

As Romerias go, it’s a fairly short one, only about 3 kilometres long : some can be 6 or 7 kilometres in length, so offers a good chance to enjoy a more tranquil walk, before reaching a popular viewing point and enjoying a picnic.

All participants are welcome and expats wishing to participate in local events, doubly so.

Saturday 1st February
7.30pm Mass in the Iglesia de la Concepción, sung by the church choir.
At the end of this,  the image of the Virgen of the Candelaria is transferred to the Iglesia of San Lázaro, via the Rambla Don Diego, Calle Corredera and Calle Feria, so that she can leave San Lázaro in Romería the next day.

On her arrival at the door of San Lázaro, the group, "Los Zalameros" sing to the virgen

Sunday 2nd February, Day of the Candelaria
09:45. Procession of the children. This is from the Iglesia de San Lázaro in a circular route which brings the participants back to the church. All the children who were born within the last year participate, bringing them into the community from the earliest days of their life.

10:00 Mass in honour of the Virgen, in the Iglesia of San Lazaro, sung by the group, "Cantores de Alhama."

11:00. Romeria. The image of the Virgen, accompanied by the Cuadrillas leaves in Romería, with a vast crowd of residents, via the following route, Corredera, Rambla D. Diego, Moreras, Rambla San Roque, Ermita Padre Manuel and finally to the Collao.

Upon arrival, mass is celebrated, the sung mass being by the Musicos de Sonata.

14:00 Everyone settles down to enjoy a relaxed meal, with a Paella provided by the Town hall for all participants.

15:00 Onwards. Bouncy castle free of charge for the youngsters.

Many people bring their own food, and set up picnic tables and barbeques, and enjoy a sociable occasion in the open air. Normally family members drive up behind the castle in advance and set up food for their friends who are walking the route.

Click for more information about the Alhama de Murcia municipality