Caravaca de la Cruz, Fiestas of the Vera Cruz and running of the Wine Horses 1st-5th May

Caravaca de la Cruz Fiestas de la Santisima y Vera Cruz 2011

 The running of the wine horses is one of the most exciting and unique fiesta activities to occur in the region and takes place this year on Monday 2^nd May, although the actual afternoon on which the horses run is just a small part of this extraordinary fiesta, which combines religion, pride,  tradition, history and legend to create an astonishing blend which is justifiably famous.

At the centre of the fiestas is the extraordinary story of the Vera Cruz, the true cross which has protected this city since the 13^th century, and is the reason why Caravaca is a holy city, one of only 5 in the world, on a par with Rome and Jerusalem. To read its extraordinary history, click the Vera Cruz

Built around the cross are legends which tell of conflicts between the Moors and Christians who fought for dominance of this area, and the act of heroism which inspired the running of the wine horses.

Throughout the week, these events are brought back to life for the public to witness by residents of the city, who don glorious costumes and partake in mock battles , re-enactments of the important events which took place in the city and parades through the streets, a riot of colour, shining gold and flashing swords.

Weve broken it down day by day and interspersed the story with the events, so you can choose when to go and what to see.

The beginning of the fiestas are announced by El Tio de la Pita, a series of processions which take place throughout the five days leading up to the fiestas which feature Gigantes y Cabezudos, enormous papier mache figures with grotesque faces, which parade through the streets to the accompaniment of music played on a dulzainero, a type of musical instrument similar to a clarinet, and tabor.

The weekend before the fiesta is characterised by the day of the panuelo, or the coloured neck-kerchief worn by the various groups, the penas who race up the hill with their horses, and enjoy the weekend beforehand to celebrate and relax.

 To read the post-event report taken after last year´s Running of the wine Horses, Click Running of the Wine Horses Caravaca

To read the report after the Moors and Christians parade, Click Moors and Christians Caravaca

If you´ve not been to this before, we would strongly recommend reading our practical recommendations for visitors to the Fiestas, click Practical recommendations

 Saturday 30^th May

7am. The town awakes to the ringing of church bells and a procession through the town to celebrate the fiestas have begun during which loud firecrackers are let off to ensure everyone is wide awake.

9.30 Colecta official, with the participation of military, local authorities and local ecclesiastical figures.

On this evening before the fiesta , a gathering of families and friends is celebrated by the consumption of Migas. This is a traditional dish which sustained the communities of Murcia through many hungry years, and is a calorific combination of flour and olive oil , served with meat or fish and at these celebrations is cooked in an enormous frying pan over an open fire. This is a night of song and celebration, traditional music and good local wine fortifying the population in preparation for the week ahead.

There is a big migas making competition which takes place in the Plaza de los Caballos del Vino and the surrounding streets, but dont arrive too early as this is scheduled for midnight.

 Sunday 1st May.

On this day the participants prepare for the following day and the horses come into Caravaca, without their embroidered coats to compete for the title of best undressed horse and for their owner to show off their skill and daring.

At 11am the participants in the fiestas congregate in the Glorieta, parading up to the Santuario for a special open air service in which floral offerings, the first fruits of the earth are made to the patron, and new members of the Cofradia are awarded a replica cross in a mass  which takes place at 12 midday.

At 4pm, the penas assemble in the Plaza Eliptica, then move up to the Plaza de los Caballos del Vino for the competitions to begin. There is a competition between the riders of the horses, in which control and riding skills are given prizes, as well as for the best horses themselves, followed by an evening of satyrical musical entertainment at 7pm, a  throwback to the jongleurs, wandering troubadours of Mediaeval Europe, celebrating wit and merryment.

This takes place in the Gran Via, Plaza de Tuzla

 From 5pm in the Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus, the magnificent embroidered coats of the horses are displayed , for those who wish to visit and see them close-up.There are also displays in the peñas around town.

At 8pm the musical groups enter town from the Plaza Eliptica and parade to Plaza del Arco and at 10pm the Himno a Caravaca is sung by the Agrupacion Musical de Caravaca de la Cruz

Monday 2nd May, Running of the wine horses

On this day the Wine Horses recreate the legend in which the Knights Templar braved the Moorish armies besieging the castle to bring wine up the hill to the thirsty inhabitants, barricaded within.

Visiting this event is quite an experience and we would strongly recommend reading the guidelines we´ve prepared for visitors, as it can be very dangerous if you don´t know what´s going on and one reader last year was very upset to see the horses handled in this way, although we had many emails from those who had an incredible day out.Click practical advice for attending the running of the wine horses

During the morning , from 9.30am, the horses parade, showing off their exquisitely worked mantels, before travelling up to the sanctuary to compete in the Race of the Wine Horses. 

The legend dates back to the days of the Knights Templar, who answered the cries of the townspeople,  besieged by Moorish armies. The invaders had contaminated the water supply and those inside the protection of the castle walls were dying of thirst. 

Desperately seeking water, they were only able to locate wine, which was tied to the backs of the horses and the brave Knights ran up the hill before the moorish armies realised what was happening, bringing the precious liquid inside. The Vera Cruz was bathed in the wine, blessing it before consumption,  and miraculously the sick and wounded were healed, the weak restored and the battle could continue against the moors.

60 horses are dressed in spectacular embroidered mantels, the fruit of a years work by dedicated pena members, and  run up the hill to the sanctuary one by one, in a race against the clock.

It can be incredibly dangerous on wet days, as the hooves skid and horses crash into the watching crowds, thousands of people packing the run up to the castle as the crowds part, allowing passage to the thundering hooves of the animals and their runners, magnificent mantels glinting in the sunlight and the crowds screaming their support.

Prizes are awarded for both the fastest horses and those with the most exceptional embroidery, and it really is an incredible honour to win either competition.

On this same day there is a moving ceremony in which the wine and flowers are blessed, before the Vera Cruz is taken down to the Parroquia de El Salvador, where it remains until the end of the fiesta, accompanied by the Moors and Christians.

Schedule

4am, Bellringing followed at 7am by an almighty racket as rockets are let off and bells ring from all the church towers.

9am. Mass is celebrated at the Templete, in the presence of the Moors, Christians and Caballos de Vino.

9.30am. Parade of the penas and wine horses.

Beginning in the Plaza of the Templete, Cuesta de la Simona, Calle del Hoyo, Plaza de los Caballos del Vino, Canalejas, Vidrieras, Gregorio Javier, Plaza del Arco and Gran Via, returning to the Templete.

12 midday. The Moors and Christians Pasacalles. A slightly less formal parade From the Templete via  Corredera, Poeta Ibanez, Canalejas, Gregorio Javier, to Plaza del Arco, where it picks up the official authorities and then carries on through Puentecilla, Gran Via, Maruja Garrido, Santisimo, Rafael Tejeo and Mayor.

At 1.15 it meets up with the Caballos del Vino and there is a blessing of the wine and the flowers.

1.30pm. Rice for all in the Almacen del trigo, in Carreterra de Granada.

2pm. The running of the wine horses in the Cuesta del Castillo.

8.30pm. Simulated combat in the Cuesta del Castillo in which the Moors take the fortress.

9pm. The Vera Cruz, the cross of Caravaca is paraded from its sanctuary in the Basilica to the church of El Salvador, accompanied by the Moors and Christians.

Tuesday 3rd May

This is the day of the Festividad de la Santisima y Vera Cruz

10.30am. Solemn mass in the church of El Salvador, presided over by the Bishop of Cartagena

12.30. Childrens procession of the infant Moors and Christians, from the Plaza Eliptica via Gran Via to the Plaza del Arco

6pm Santa Misa in the Parroquia de El Salvador

At 5.15pm the Solemne Procesion del Bano takes place, in which the Vera Cruz is taken to the Cuesta de la Cruz, accompanied by the Moors and Christians.

At 5.15pm the bands of Moors and Christians begin the procession in the Plaza del Arco, heading to the Templete.The cross then leaves from the Parroquia El Salvador arriving at the Templete for 8.30pm

Upon arrival, 8.30pm  there is a spot of parleying between the Christian King and Moorish sultan, followed by a mock battle.

At 9pm the procession continues to the Templete where the cross is bathed in the waters of the fountain, a symbolic act which blesses the orchards and crops of Caravaca, bringing fruitfulness and health to the countryside surrounding the town, a moment in which the waters of the town and the cross become one. Water taken from the fountain at this moment is highly prized and the crowds surge to try and dip their handkerchiefs into the holy water, calling on those closest to splash them .

At 10pm the cross is returned to the Iglesia de  El Salvador and once it arrives there is a grand fireworks display.

Wednesday 4th May

8am Mass, Iglesia de El Salvador

9am. The Cruz de Impedidos takes place, in which the cross travels from the Ermita de Santa Elena to the Monasterio de Santa Clara where it is received in a traditional ceremony in which thousands of Rose petals are strewn from the gallery of the monastery, bathing the cross in symbolic floral offerings

4.30pm. The Eucharist is celebrated in the Parroquia de san Francisco and the cross continues on its journery to the sick, with mass celebrated en-route, terminating in the Parroquia de la Purisima Concepcion where mass is celebrated at 8pm..

 8pm. In the evening , the grand parade of the Moors and Christians takes place, a spectacular display of gorgeous robes and costumes. This is the big parade of the week, leaving via Avenida de la Constitucion, Gran Via and Plaza del Arco.It´s a shame really, because this is one of the biggest and most spectacular Moors and Christians parades in the region, yet has a relatively small crowd of onlookers as such a high percentage of the town are taking part in it . There are thousands in this parade, and if you live anywhere near Caravaca, go and watch it, it´s a really good one.

At the end, there is a grand fireworks display.

Thursday 5^th May

8am Mass in the Parroquia de la Concepcion

9am. Cruz de  Impedidos

The cross is taken to the Monastery de Nuestra Senora del Carmen where it is greeted by the Carmelite order and then transferred to the Iglesia del Salvador.

5pm. Mass is celebrated in the Parroquia de El Salvador.

6pm. The final return from El Salvador. A procession accompanies the cross on its journey back to the Sanctuary in the Basilica. Upon its arrival the traditional blessing of the town and its surrounding countryside takes place and a spectacular firework display closes the week.