Javea offers a wide range of celebrations, rooted in the maritime and obviously Mediterranean traditions of its people, the chief protagonist in whatever festivals take place throughout the festive calendar with one common denominator the participation of the people.
Javea misses no opportunity to display the open and extrovert character of its people. If the carnival and the Enfariná anticipate the March celebrations, the summer is announced by the Fogueres de Sant Joan, a festivity rooted in the Mediterranean like no other, which in Javea still retains its magic and ancestral meaning. Fire takes on great importance in the middle of June, as in other towns along the Costa Blanca.
Papier-maché monuments, sometimes alluding to current affairs, decorate the streets of the town, are small bonfires over which young people jump, one by one, attired with garlands and flowers, which are burned when the last fire has been vaulted. Finally on the 24th of June, the feast of Sant Joan, all the monuments are burnt, putting an end to the festivities.
The largest religious festivals are celebrated in honour of the Nazarene at the end of April. The Calvari Hermitage becomes one of the main scenes of the celebration. From there, the statue of jesus of Nazaret is taken in procession to the San Bartolomé Church, one of the Mediterranean´s most beautiful places of worship, situated in the old town. This takes place on the Third Sunday of Lent in a display of popular faith. On the 3rd of May, the statue is taken back to the Calvari Hermitage.
Within the framework of its festivities appear the famous els bous a remarkable celebration based on young people running with young bulls. In addition, fireworks light up the sky. Coinciding with these celebrations is the Creus de maig competition, in which neighbours of Javea compete in the making of bright and colourful crosses. Religion, pagan traditions, the Mediterranean and History. The town of Javea has also taken on a typical celebration of the Alicante area: Moors and Christians, which is celebrated in the port between the supporters of the Cross and the Crescent Moon.
The festivities cycle ends its main celebrations in the first week of September, with the festivity in honour of the Mare de Déu de Loreto, which takes place in the Parish Church of Aduanas del Mar, a most remarkable church situated near to the Fishing Port. Then els bous appear once more in the locality, although this time the celebration takes on a new meaning as it takes place in the fishing port itself. This is the popular bous a la mar. The Mare de Déu del Carme, on the 16th of July ; the Mare de Deu dels angels at the beginning of August and Santa Llucía on the 13th of December are other celebrations of a clearly religious nature which make up the traditional festive calendar of Javea.
