Wednesday, April 28, 2010

The Day of the Cross



Held on 3rd May.
Tradition tells us that in 1625, a cross of alabaster (a stone) was erected in the Barrio de San Lazaro, which was celebrated with dances.
In the early twentieth century children in the Albaicín and Realejo built small altars with a cross, decorated with embroidered silk shawls, ceramic pots, copper pots and a pear with a scissors nailed. For its surroundings, the children asked for the "chavico", a local word that means a small coin.

It’s very nice, but...
Scissors, nailed and open on the pear, and placed at the foot of the cross. A popular saying says that its meaning would be cut with scissors the buts that the evil people would inevitably put to cross, "it is very nice, but ...».

A chavico (coin of little value) to the cross...

The core festive of the Cross Day had around him some peripheral components, such as children who have remained to this day the custom of asking the "chavico for the Santa Cruz ', i.e. for their small crosses made in imitation from those of adults.


Copper Crafts
The copper pieces are also widely used for decoration of the crosses. The origin of the work on copper in Al-Andalus has its first manifestations from the arrival of the Almoravids.

The textiles
The fabrics are also very present in the samples craft that offers a maypole. On one side stand the pieces embroidered tulle, the lace and blankets or curtains, and other fabrics from Alpujarra with bright colors. The well-known rugs, made with thin strips of linen knotted clear colors.

Saladillas and beans

The raw beans with saladillas are the most characteristic product of that day that should be accompanied with an excellent Coast Wine.

Fajalauza ceramics

The Fajalauza ceramics are perhaps the most typical craft of the city present in the crosses. The origins of this pottery date back to the sixteenth century like a continuation of the ceramic manufactured by Muslims.

Pablo F.