Festivities of the Virgen del Carmen

If you've ended up here, it's because you're wondering when is Carmel DayThis is a special day for all those who feel devotion to the Virgin Mary in her invocation as Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The festivities of Our Lady of Mount Carmel offer the opportunity to to honour and pay homage to the protector of seafarers and those who work at sea.

During the feast of the Virgen del Carmen, various activities take place in different parts of the world to express faith and gratitude towards the Virgen del Carmen. The maritime and land processions are a fundamental part of this celebration. In coastal towns, boats are decorated and sea tours take place, while land processions allow the faithful to accompany the image of the Virgin through the streets.

From Visitanddo.com, company specialised in excursions in Andalusia we tell you some interesting facts about the Virgen del Carmen festivity in Andalusia.

When is Carmen's Day?

Carmen's Day is celebrated on 16 July. every year. The festivity is dedicated to the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of sailors and of various coastal towns in several Spanish-speaking countries. During this day, processions, masses and other religious events are held in honour of the Virgen del Carmen. It is also common to see boat parades and sea-related activities in coastal communities.

A brief history of the festivities of the Virgin of Carmen

The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel has its origins in the 13th century on Mount Carmel, Israel. The hermits of the Carmelite Order adopted her as their patron saint, receiving the scapular in a vision. The devotion spread among sailors and fishermen, seeking protection on their voyages.. The feast is celebrated on 16 July in honour of Our Lady's apparition to Saint Simon Stock, who received the scapular. Over time, the devotion spread and took root in different cultures, becoming an important part of the one of the most popular Marian festivals worldwide.

Where the Virgin of Carmen is celebrated in Andalusia

Although its origin is from Israel, the Virgen del Carmen is widely venerated in the region of Andalusia in Spain. There are several locations in Andalusia where this festivity is especially celebrated. Some of the most prominent places are:

1. Malaga: In the city of Malaga, a maritime procession of the Virgen del Carmen takes place in the bay. Boats accompany the image of the Virgin as she sails along the waters.
2. Almeria: In the city of Almería, a land procession of the Virgen del Carmen is held in the streets, followed by a maritime procession in the port.
3. Cadiz: The festivity of the Virgen del Carmen in Cádiz is particularly important. On the Caleta beach, a maritime procession takes place where the image of the Virgin is carried by boat across the bay of Cádiz.
4. Huelva: In Huelva, a maritime procession of the Virgen del Carmen is held along the Huelva estuary, where boats accompany her.

These are just some of the places in Andalusia where the Virgen del Carmen is celebrated in a prominent way. It is important to bear in mind that each place may have particular traditions and rituals associated with this festivity.

Where the Virgen del Carmen is celebrated in Malaga

In Malaga, the Virgen del Carmen is celebrated in several places. Here are some of the most popular places:

1. El Perchel: In the Perchel neighbourhood is the Hermandad del Carmen del Perchel, where an important procession in honour of the Virgen del Carmen takes place. It is popular to go to the beaches of the Huelin area to see the maritime procession from the port of Malaga.
2. Pedregalejo: In the district of Pedregalejo, a maritime procession of the Virgen del Carmen is also held. Fishermen and local residents accompany the image of the Virgin in a boat as they travel along the coast.
3. El Palo: In the neighbourhood of El Palo, another maritime procession of the Virgen del Carmen takes place. Sailors and the local community congregate to pay homage to the Virgin on this feast day.
4. La Carihuela: Once on the beach, an emotional ceremony takes place in which the image of the Virgin is loaded onto an ornate and decorated boat. The fishermen and volunteers embark in numerous boats and surround the Virgin's boat, while flowers are thrown into the sea as an offering.

These are some of the most outstanding places where the Virgen del Carmen is celebrated in Malaga, better known as "Star of the Seasyou can also see it from Nerja to Manilvastopping along the coast in the areas of Marbella, Estepona, Fuengirola, Benalmádena, Torremolinos, Málaga city, Pedregalejo, El Palo, Rincón de la Victoria and Torre del Mar.

Where the Virgen del Carmen is celebrated in Cádiz

In the city of Cádiz, the Virgen del Carmen is celebrated in several places. Here we mention some of them:

1. La Caleta beach: The Caleta beach is one of the main stages of the festivity of the Virgen del Carmen in Cádiz. A maritime procession takes place on this beach, where the image of the Virgin is carried by boat across the bay of Cádiz. It is one of the most emblematic and popular processions in the city.
2. El MentideroIn the Plaza del Mentidero is the Iglesia del Carmen, where a terrestrial procession of the Virgen del Carmen takes place. The image is carried on a platform and walks through the streets near the church.
3. Barrio de la Viña: The neighbourhood of La Viña is known for its devotion to the Virgen del Carmen. During the festivity, different acts and processions take place through the streets of this neighbourhood, being one of the areas with the greatest Marian fervour in the city.

These are some of the outstanding places where the Virgen del Carmen is celebrated in Cádiz, you can also enjoy this festivity from Conil, Barbate, Zahara de los Atunes o Chiclana.

Excursions in Andalusia: complement your visit to celebrate the Virgin of Carmen

If you are in the province of Malaga or in the province of Cadiz, and you would like to see how the Virgen del Carmen is celebrated in Andalusia, you can also complete your visit discovering Andalusia with Visitanddo.com's excursions. All excursions include transport to and from the city centre, an accompanying guide and, depending on the type of tour, tickets to monuments and attractions that you can't miss. Here are a few that may be of interest to you: