This Saturday, April 11, the streets of Berja will light up with one of its most deeply rooted traditions: Los Humarrachos. This popular festival, which merges fire with history and community unity, annually brings together hundreds of people around bonfires distributed throughout the Virgitano municipality.

Organized by the City Council in collaboration with residents and associations, the celebration keeps alive a centuries-old custom linked to the devotion to San Tesifón, patron saint of Berja. The festivity is traditionally held on the eve of his feast day, evoking the popular saying “quemarle las barbas al santo” (burning the saint's beard), an expression that encapsulates the symbolic and festive nature of the night.

This year's program will begin at 8:30 PM with a gathering in the Plaza de la Constitución. From there, two simultaneous routes will start at 9:00 PM to visit the various humarrachos. Both routes, which will pass through emblematic neighborhoods and enclaves of the municipality, will converge at midnight in Castala, where the grand final humarracho will be lit.

The true spirit of Los Humarrachos lies in the involvement of the neighbors. For weeks, residents of different neighborhoods dedicate themselves to collecting firewood and materials to build the bonfires that will burn throughout the night. Once lit, these spots become meeting places where typical products such as bacon, broad beans, and wine are enjoyed, accompanied by music and dancing that extend the evening.

This tradition boasts centuries of history, dating back to the late 16th century. According to legend, the residents of Berja made a vow to San Tesifón to free them from the plagues that ravaged their crops. The disappearance of these adversities solidified devotion to the saint, giving rise to a celebration that has endured to this day, evolving but maintaining its intact participatory and festive essence.