Fiestas around Oliva
Of course, Oliva is not the only town in the Safor area to have Fiestas. Many of the towns and villages around Oliva, like Gandia, Pego, Denia, and Daimus also have Fiestas.
Here is a guide to the Fiestas for some of the towns and villages around the Oliva area.
Some local Fiesta Informarion
The Fallas Fiestas
The great "Fallera" week brings to Oliva a great entertainment spectacle of music, colour and fire, that is kept going in the streets of the town throughout the festivities. The fallas, have been celebrated since the 60s and are spread throughout the different neighbourhoods of the city. These monuments, elaborated with paper maché and wood, depict different scenes
with an ironical and acidic touch. During the festivities diverse acts are celebrated such as the entertaining "Cabalgata del Ninot" or the floral offering to the Virgen del Rebollet. But undoubtedly, the most emotive act of the fallas in Oliva comes on the day of San José with the traditional "cremà", in which fire devastates the monuments under the attentive gaze of all the "fallera" community members.
Fallas Fiesta Dates
15th March to 19th March
San Christo de San Roque Fiesta
The most representative customs and traditions in Oliva take over the streets during the festivities of San Roque, which have been celebrated since the XVII century. The proclamation, in which all the "festeros" take part dressed in the traditional costume, announces the beginning of the
festive day. The religious acts consist of the prayer of the "novena" in the chapel of Christ, completed by a solemn procession. Theatrical representations, sporting competitions of Valencian ball and fancy dress cavalcades are just some of the different and most playful acts.
San Christo de San Roque Fiesta Dates
01st May to 03rd May
Semana Santa. Easter Week Fiesta
The Easter Week festivity in Oliva has gained the recognition of the whole region as being the oldest of the territory. On Holy Friday the religious manifestations begin with the Vía Crucis on the mountain of Santa Ana. At dawn, the images of the ‘Dolorosa’ arrive with the members of the different
confraternities. The evening brings one of the most enduring traditions of Holy Week in Oliva, the "desenclavamiento", a lyrical - religious representation in which Christ is lowered from the cross and liberated from his torture. On Easter Sunday the "Encuentro" is interpreted on the ‘Paseo Juan Carlos I’.
Semana Santa. Easter Week Fiesta Dates
April - Variable
Moors and Christians Fiesta
Oliva is one of the municipalities of the Valencian Community that lives with great intensity the Moors and Christian festivities, which commemorate the struggles between the two forces for the territory. One of the most distinguished acts of the festive week is the ‘ Day of the Entry ’ which is
celebrated on the Friday. The captains, ambassadors and standard-bearers, along with other festive protagonists, parade in sensational costumes, and provide an exceptional spectacle of colour and music. Later the disembarkation is represented with the landing of the Moorish Emissary whilst the Christians wait on the coast where the battle is interpreted with
fireworks. On Saturday evening a curious spectacle takes place, a living chess game is disputed between the two armies. The last of the representations is the " Reconquest of the Castle " on behalf of the Christians who fight to re-conquer the castle. The struggles finish on Sunday with the ‘ Day of the Brotherhood ’ and a great parade.
Moors and Christians Fiesta Dates
21st July to 24th July.
San Antonio / Porrats Fiesta
San Antonio is celebrated in Oliva with the installation of the traditional 'porrat', a typical custom to the whole region. The event, of medieval origin, consists of a travelling market being installed in the ‘plaza San Roque’. Many stalls sell products like candied fruits, nuts, toffee apples
and hammer shaped sweets. Sunday is dedicated to religious acts in honour of the Saint. At the hermitage of the Santos Antonios a great concentration of animals are blessed after the celebration of a Mass ceremony. At the same time ‘ blessed bread ’ is on sale at different stalls set up along the principal streets
San Antonio / Porrats Fiesta Dates
17th January to 19th January
Virgen del Rebollet Fiesta
The festivities in honour of the Virgen del Rebollet, Patron Saint of the city, begin with a peregrination, in which hundreds of pilgrims take part, accompanied with a cane from which they hang a pumpkin. The procession moves the image of the Virgin, a Romanesque sculpture from the XII century,
considered to be the most ancient Marian representation of the Valencian Community, from the Plaza de Santa María up to the Castle. There is a Mass ceremony celebrated in honour of the Patron Saint. Later, at lunchtime, the "romeros" distribute wine and fruits amongst the attendees.
Virgen del Rebollet Fiesta Dates
01st September to 08th September
Virgen del Carmen Fiesta
The maritime character of Oliva means that the people of the sea honour their Patron Saint by means of a procession at sea, in which the majority of the crafts of the municipality take part.
Virgen del Carmen Fiesta Dates
16th July to 16th July
