Día de la Cruz in Granada 2025: Traditions, Events, and May Cross Celebrations

The Día de la Cruz has been celebrated in Granada on May 3rd since the 19th century. It is one of the most popular festivals in Andalusia.


In English, the festival is typically referred to as "Day of the Cross", "Crosses of May" or "May Crosses Festivities".

Every year thousands of visitors come from all over Spain to experience this festival in Granada.

This year the festival of the May Crosses will take place in Granada on Friday 3 and Saturday 4 of May 2024.

The Origins of This Tradition

The festival was first celebrated in Granada in the 17th century, commemorating the erection of an alabaster cross in 1625 in the district of San Lazaro. Locals celebrated by singing and dancing around it.

The tradition continued in the most popular districts of Granada, such as the Albaicin and Realejo.

Children began to build small altars with a cross and decorate them with pottery and copper objects.

Many of these traditions live on to this day. One of them is the practice of placing an apple with a pair of scissors inserted into it somewhere in the decorations of the Cross.

This is done to try to avoid any criticism that might be made of the decoration of the Cross.

The Day of the Cross in the Present Day

Today, many of these traditions are still preserved, including the custom of placing a 'but' (as golden apples are called in Granada) somewhere on the cross, secured with scissors, as a symbolic warning that no criticism should be made of the decoration of the cross.

Tradition requires that the decoration of the May crosses in Granada include local crafts, such as inlaid woodwork and pottery, as well as typical courtyard plants like geraniums and pilistras, embroidered shawls, copper utensils, and other traditional items.

Official Festival Competition

On this festive day, it is common to see women and children all over Granada wearing the typical Andalusian outfits.

Additionally, beautiful Andalusian horses might parade in the streets.

Every year, the City Council organizes a competition to promote this tradition, which includes four categories: patios (courtyards), streets and squares, shop windows, and schools.

Thousands of carnations will decorate the dozens of crosses that compete for the prize every year.

The aroma of so many flowers perfumes Granada and invites people to enjoy such a special day.

The atmosphere is unmatched. The Granadines, adults and children alike, walk around the city visiting various crosses, dancing and celebrating this day in Granada.

You should visit the Albaicín, where crosses receive the best prizes every year: Plaza Larga, Casa de los Pisas o calle Zafra.

The cross at the Corrala de Santiago, in Realejo, is usually a winner for the "patios" section of the competition.

Enjoy the amazing atmosphere at the historic centre: Plaza del Carmen, Plaza Bib-Rambla and Plaza de las Pasiegas, where different stages will be erected for the flamenco performances that take place during the festivities.

Location of the May Crosses in Granada

What to do on the Day of the Cross in Granada?

On the Day of the Cross in Granada, take a leisurely walk through the city center and immerse yourself in its cheerful and festive atmosphere.

Throughout the day, you'll have the opportunity to enjoy Andalusian folklore through the cultural activities happening in various settings spread across the streets and squares (listed above).

There are usually musical performances featuring flamenco dances, some of which are very typical of Granada.

It's a tradition to visit the award-winning crosses to admire their decoration, enjoy the music, and join in the dancing. If there's a bar nearby, people typically linger for a while, indulging in tapas and drinks in the company of friends and family.

As a novelty, it's worth noting that this year, the crosses in streets and patios won't have a bar. Only the crosses in enclosed spaces will be able to offer drinks and food to the public.

This Day of the Cross in Granada will present 23 crosses with a bar, predominantly located in schoolyards, while others will be situated in emblematic locations like Carmen de los Martires.

During the award ceremony for the official Cruces de Mayo 2024 contest, winners will be presented, and there will be musical performances at the Plaza del Carmen.

At midnight on Saturday, it will be time to collect and dismantle the decorations, officially closing the May crosses in Granada.

The Ups and Downs of the Festival

Throughout history, the festival has experienced various ups and downs, including its near disappearance following the 1883 prohibition on soliciting money for crosses.

Thanks to the tradition being kept alive privately for many years, the festival began to revive. As early as 1924, the Granada City Council held a competition for altar designs for the first time.

The Day of the Cross festival was officially reinstated as a major event on the Granada city calendar starting in 1964.

As history often repeats itself, the festival faced a decline a few years ago when the Day of the Cross turned into an excuse for large-scale drinking parties.

As a result, the Granada City Council prohibited the installation of bars and music at all crosses.

However, the Day of the Cross has made a resurgence, and we can once again experience this celebration just as it began nearly 400 years ago: singing and dancing around the cross.

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