Torremolinos celebrates many important holidays and fiestas throughout the year, just like the rest of the Andalucian municipalities and towns. These showcase the vibrant and colorful Andalucian life and culture.
The year starts, of course, with New Year’s Day on January 1. There are big parties and spectacular fireworks displays around Torremolinos on this day. Then, days after, on the 6th of January, the town celebrates Tres Reyes (“Three Kings”). This is the holiday that commemorates the biblical journey of the three oriental kings to visit and pay respects to the infant Jesus Christ. On this day, three men dress up as the three kings and walk around town, giving sweets to children.
In February, Torremolinos holds a carnival that is open for 3 to 5 days. There is a great fair with rides, live music and dance, and great fun for all to be had.
From February to April, the entire Spain observes the Lenten season. The 2nd week of April is known as the Semana Santa (“Holy Week”), the culmination of the Lenten season that commemorates the passion and death of Jesus Christ. This is a very solemn week throughout Spain, with solemn masses and processions throughout the week.
In early May, the people of Torremolinos celebrate Cruces de Mayo (“Crosses of May”). In this celebration, people erect crosses decorated with flowers around town, and women and children dance around the crosses. There is often a contest where the prettiest cross wins a prize.
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Come the month of June, the Corpus Christi is observed. This is the feast day honoring the sanctity of the Holy Eucharist, acknowledging the presence of the Lord Jesus in the host. On this day, the consecrated host is brought around town in a procession.
The eve of the 23rd of June is the Noche de San Juan (“St. John’s Eve”). The celebrations on this day begin early in the morning, with outdoor barbecues and parties, lasting well into the late night. There are fireworks displays on the beach, and for good luck, people dip their feet into the sea just after midnight.
The 16th of July is the feast day of the Virgen del Carmen (“Virgin of Carmen”), the patron saint of fishermen. This is an important holiday for Torremolinos, as it once was, and always shall remain in essence, a fishing town. On this day, a solemn mass is held in honor of the virgin. Afterwards, a procession bearing her statue makes its way around the town to the sea, where the statue is loaded onto a brightly decorated boat. The parade then proceeds to the sea, where there are fireworks displays on the shore.
Around September 29, Torremolinos holds its annual summer fairs that coincide with St. Michael’s day, the feast day of the town’s patron saint. Also around this time, the town celebrates the ‘Day of the Tourist,’ which is less lavish than the summer fair, but just as important. As with the summer fair, there is live entertainment and music on this day, and the entire town gathers in cooking a giant pan of delicious paella.
Finally, the year ends with the celebration of Christmas on December 25, which is a standard holiday in Spain.
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