The sound of drums will once again echo through the streets of Cúllar during the last weekend of April, marking the start of a tradition rooted in the 17th century. These festivities, honoring the Virgen de la Cabeza, have become a significant cultural and tourist attraction for the municipality, blending history with community spirit.
This year's program will kick off on Friday with the arrival of the incoming and outgoing kings, the coronation ceremony, and the inaugural proclamation. Throughout Saturday and Sunday, the focus will be on parades, religious acts, and historical reenactments. On Monday, the celebration will conclude with popular activities and the traditional closing party.
“"It is prepared with great enthusiasm, effort, and hard work, but the most important thing is that the festivities go well, that people have fun and enjoy themselves."
Organizing this event requires months of dedication, starting in the summer with lottery sales and planning details. These collective efforts are fundamental to maintaining good relations between the comparsas, a crucial pillar of the festival. Despite the 'rivalry' staged in the parades, collaboration and dialogue are constant among participants.
The Moors and Christians Festival of Cúllar originated in the 17th century and continued until the 1920s. An incident in 1927, where an accidental shot caused a death, coupled with the instability prior to the Civil War, led to its interruption for nearly 50 years. The celebration was revived in 1983, initially driven by the Moorish comparsa, with the Christians joining a year later.
“"When people come to Cúllar, they are surprised by how such a small town can mobilize so many people."
Since its revival, the festival's growth has been continuous, with nearly a thousand participants in the parades and sixteen musical bands accompanying the route. The mayor of Cúllar has highlighted the event's impact across various sectors, considering it a tourist, cultural, economic, and hospitality driver that attracts thousands of visitors.
The uniqueness of these festivities lies in acts such as the coronation of the kings, the aesthetics of the parades, and the symbolic value of the settings. Furthermore, they maintain a strong connection to the devotion to the Virgen de la Cabeza, with events taking place around her hermitage and the traditional pilgrimage. Institutional recognition has come with its declaration as a Festival of Andalusian Tourist Interest in 2008 and the Granada Tourism Award in 2016.
