La Candelaria is one of the most beloved religious festivals in Hinojos, celebrated every 2 February since time immemorial and organised by the Brotherhood of Our Lady of the Rosary. This celebration commemorates the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple and the Purification of the Virgin Mary, according to Catholic tradition.
The day begins with a solemn mass in the Parish Church of Santiago el Mayor, located in the Plaza de España. During the ceremony, the candles are blessed, symbolising Christ as the ‘light to enlighten the nations’. It is customary for the faithful to carry lit candles, creating an atmosphere of contemplation and spirituality.
After Mass, the image of the Virgin of the Rosary, patron saint of the Brotherhood, is carried in procession around the Plaza de España. The Virgin carries a candle in her right hand. Tradition has it that if the candle carried in the procession does not go out, it will be a good year for harvests and prosperity. The procession culminates with the return of the image to its temple, where the faithful are bid farewell until next year.
The Festival of Candlemas in Hinojos is a manifestation of faith and tradition that strengthens community ties and keeps Marian devotion alive in the municipality. It is an opportunity for residents and visitors to participate in a celebration that combines spirituality, culture and local heritage.
In Escacena del Campo, three brotherhoods stand out for their deep historical roots and the artistic value of their heritage. These corporations make their procession between Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, travelling through the streets of the municipality in a public display of faith, tradition and culture.
On the one hand, the Very Ancient, Illustrious, Humble and Fervent Brotherhood and Confraternity of Nazarenes of the Holy Christ of Vera Cruz, Holy Mary of Sorrows in her Solitude, Holy Tree of the Cross and Saint Francis of Assisi, popularly known as the Brotherhood of Vera Cruz, has its origins linked to the Franciscan order and, specifically, the old convent of San Antonio de Escacena del Campo, which is credited with the initial impetus for the creation of the brotherhood in the town. There are documentary references throughout the 18th century that confirm its antiquity. As early as 1708 and 1717, mention is made of the existence of its chapel, and in 1767 new rules were drawn up, which were finally approved by the Royal Council of Castile in 1794.
On the other hand, the Brotherhood of Our Father Jesus Nazarene and Holy Mary of Sorrows is the result of the merger of two ancient corporations. On the one hand, there was the Brotherhood of the Sweet Name of Jesus, founded between 1571 and 1580 by Archbishop Rojas y Sandoval and reconstituted in 1629 by Archbishop Diego de Guzmán. On the other hand, there was the Brotherhood of Jesus Nazarene and the Virgin Mary of the Mount.
Every May, around the 15th, Escacena del Campo throws itself into celebrating its pilgrimage in honour of San Isidro Labrador, patron saint of farmers. This festival, which takes place in the village of Tejada la Nueva, has established itself as one of the most lively and eagerly awaited popular and religious events in the municipality.
The pilgrimage takes place over an intense weekend full of excitement and conviviality, which begins on the previous Friday with a lively ‘velá’ (evening celebration). That night, residents and visitors gather in a festive atmosphere to share music, joy and the traditional tasting of ‘pescaíto frito’ (fried fish), thus welcoming a special weekend.
On Saturday morning, one of the most significant moments takes place: the departure of the pilgrims from the village, devoutly accompanying the simpecado (banner) of San Isidro to the village of Tejada. On foot, on horseback or in carriages, the people of Escacena travel the road singing, cheering and displaying colourful images, in a deeply rooted manifestation of faith and tradition.
Once in Tejada la Nueva, the festival continues with liturgical ceremonies, music and conviviality in a privileged natural setting, where the religious and the popular come together. The Pilgrimage of San Isidro is, in short, a tribute to the agricultural roots of the municipality and a symbol of unity for the entire community.
Every February, when the cold is still biting and the earth smells of wood smoke, Escacena del Campo celebrates one of its most deeply rooted and beloved traditions: the festival of Los Tostones. This popular event, which takes place in the village of Tejada, brings together locals and visitors with the aim of raising funds for the brotherhoods of San Isidro and El Rocío. The main delicacy is the tostón, a piece of toasted bread spread with garlic and oil and accompanied by sardines.
Los Tostones is not only an excuse to eat well in the warmth of the fire, but also a way of celebrating rural roots and the values of community life. Visitors to Escacena at this time of year not only get to taste a simple and tasty delicacy, but also enjoy an experience of integration, with stories from the past, traditional songs and the welcoming spirit of the village.
Cada año, a principios de mayo y coincidiendo habitualmente con el Día del Trabajador (1 de mayo), Escacena del Campo celebra una de sus jornadas más emblemáticas: la Garbanzada Popular, un evento que aúna tradición agrícola, sabor local y encuentro vecinal en un ambiente festivo y acogedor.
El escenario de esta cita gastronómica es el recinto ferial “José María Cerero Sola”, donde se instala una pequeña feria de muestras en la que se exponen los productos típicos del municipio, destacando aquellos ligados al campo y a la producción local. Esta feria pone en valor el saber hacer del sector primario escacenero y ofrece al visitante una ventana a la riqueza de su entorno agrícola.
Pero, sin duda, el protagonista indiscutible del día es el garbanzo, producto emblemático de Escacena del Campo, símbolo de su identidad agrícola y de su historia ligada al cultivo de legumbres. Durante la jornada, vecinos y visitantes se reúnen para degustar este producto cocinado de diversas formas, compartiendo mesa, conversación y raíces.
Más que una cita gastronómica, la Garbanzada Popular se ha convertido en una jornada de convivencia, en la que escaceneros y escaceneras celebran lo que les une: su tierra, su gente y su forma de vivir. El ambiente es animado, familiar y abierto a todo aquel que desee conocer de cerca la cultura local.
Cada mes de agosto, Escacena del Campo rinde homenaje a su patrona, la Virgen de Luna, en unas fiestas patronales que combinan fervor religioso, tradición y celebración popular en uno de los momentos más esperados del año por los escaceneros y escaceneras.
Los actos festivos comienzan oficialmente el 13 de agosto con el pregón, una intervención cargada de emoción que da paso al remojón popular, una divertida actividad al aire libre que refresca y une a vecinos y visitantes en pleno verano. Ese mismo día se produce la apertura oficial del recinto ferial, punto de encuentro para la convivencia, la música y el ambiente festivo que caracteriza estos días.
De carácter profundamente religioso, la festividad se enmarca en una novena que tiene lugar durante los días previos al 15 de agosto. Este día, festividad litúrgica de la Asunción de la Virgen, se celebra la Función Principal de Instituto por la mañana, seguida, al caer la tarde, de uno de los momentos más solemnes y emotivos: la procesión de la Virgen de Luna por las calles del municipio, cuando el ocaso tiñe de dorado la devoción de un pueblo que acompaña a su patrona entre cánticos, oraciones y muestras de fe.
Las Fiestas Patronales en honor a la Virgen de Luna son un reflejo de la identidad espiritual y comunitaria de Escacena del Campo, donde tradición y alegría caminan de la mano al calor del verano.
During the month of July, Escacena del Campo celebrates one of its most representative and unique festivities: the Fiestas de las Cruces, a deeply rooted tradition that revolves around the popular fervour for two religious insignia: the Holy Cross of Calle Tejada and the Holy Cross of Abajo.
These festivities are a key moment in the local calendar, combining religious ceremonies and popular celebrations. The residents enthusiastically participate in the proclamation of the festival’s young man, a symbolic figure who embodies the youthful and festive spirit of the celebration.
Throughout the festivities, religious events such as the rosary and the romerito take place, expressing the devotion of the people in an atmosphere of contemplation and collective participation. The culmination is the joyful and colourful procession of the crosses, in which both icons are carried through the streets of the town amid singing, cheering, floral decorations and an atmosphere of shared joy.
The Fiestas de las Cruces are much more than a religious event: they are a manifestation of identity, a testimony to the transmission of values and a display of the neighbourhood cohesion that characterises Escacena del Campo.
The Tartessian Fair in Escacena del Campo has established itself as one of the most unique cultural events in the region, offering an immersive experience that allows visitors to delve into the legacy of the ancient civilisation of Tartessos, whose archaeological and symbolic traces live on in this land.
This event is held annually, coinciding with Columbus Day, in Cantarrana Park, which is transformed into an authentic Tartessian village, with historical re-enactments, educational workshops, theatrical performances, exhibitions of ancient crafts, craft markets and family activities. The fair seeks to disseminate the protohistoric past of Escacena del Campo, closely linked to the archaeological site of Tejada la Vieja, one of the most important Tartessian enclaves in the south-west of the peninsula.
During the days of the celebration, the village recaptures the atmosphere of a remote era, when trade, metallurgy, religion and social organisation were already leaving an advanced and fascinating mark on the history of Andalusia. The participation of local associations, educational centres and cultural entities reinforces the participatory, intergenerational and informative nature of the event.
The Tartessian Fair is, in essence, an opportunity to relive history through emotion and experience, promoting awareness of the archaeological heritage of Escacena del Campo and the identity of its inhabitants.
