New Year’s Eve is party night and many people welcome it in with a fiesta at home, in a restaurant or discothèque. Fundamental is a good meal with cava and twelve grapes eaten in time to the chimes of the bells of a new year...just for luck! If you can eat all twelve grapes without choking then you are indeed lucky. New Year’s Day is a pubic holiday for hangovers; most restaurants and bars will be closed but there will be a 24.hour clinic available at the Playa del Cura for headaches.

On the evening of the 5th January the parade of the Three Wise Men is held in a carnival spirit with lots of sweets for the kids. This normally begins in the playa del Cura area, but may have a change of direction because of works at the plaza del Oriente. The 6th is the Three Kings when children get their presents. Prior to Christmas the Social Services and the Red Cross collect any old toys (or new ones) that are distributed among those less well off www.aytoorihuela.com/turismo/fiestas/orihuela.

Animals are blessed in most towns on the feast of San Anton on 17th January, in Torrevieja an evening service in the plaza de la Constitución. Around this date the annual International Pig Day is held in La Mata with a BBQ.

 

 

1 st - New Year's Day public holiday

1 - 4 th Alcoy - a living nativity scene - Belén de Tirisit.

2 nd & 6 th - Elche - Nativity play at noon in the Hort de Xocolater park.

5 th - Kings parade in most towns.

6 th - Public holiday for the Three Kings.

6 th - Tibi celebrates dance known as Les danses de Reis.

6 th - Callosa de Segura the "Cantos de La Pastorela" is repeated.

16 th /17 th - San Fulgencio fiestas.

17 th - Animal feastday in honour of their patron saint San Anton Abad

Blessing services held at La Inmaculada Church, Torrevieja; Alicante; Alcoy; Alfafara; Benidorm; Elche; Finestrat; Hondon de los Frailes; Mutchamiel; Parent; Pedreguer; Pego; Sagra; Vall d Álcalà; Xàbia; Xixona; Jacarilla; Orihuela; Baniarbeig and Gata de Gorgos.

19 th Mig Any Moors & Christians and medieval market in Orihuela.

20 th Orihuela and Murla celebrate San Sebastian.