This year Miss Universe Spain

In recent years, the Town Hall of Marchena, together with Radio Televisión Marchena, has been organizing a pre-campanadas party held a few days before New Year’s Eve. This event simulates the traditional New Year’s Eve “campanadas” (chimes). It is also a charitable event, as the proceeds from the sale of grapes are donated to an organization that supports Alzheimer’s victims. Lasting over five hours, it began at 5:30 PM and included performances for kids, artificial snow, a DJ, and at 10 PM, the “campanadas,” complete with fireworks. This year, the event was held in Plaza de la Constitución, in front of the child’s fountain. It is a fantastic initiative that brings joy and life to the town.

For those visiting from other countries who may not be familiar with Spain’s New Year’s Eve campanadas tradition, it is one of the most iconic rituals that unites Spaniards. As the clock strikes twelve midnight on December 31st in the famous Puerta del Sol square in Madrid, people eat one grape for each chime. This ritual symbolizes wishes for good luck in the coming year and brings families and friends together in a shared moment of celebration, joy, and hope. It ends with a hearty “Happy New Year!” and a toast with champagne, cava, or whatever each family prefers.

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Searching through the trunk of memories (that is, the hard drive), recovering some photos and recordings made with the iPhone from fairs from a few years ago (especially the typical Instagram stories… should I make one again?) I found myself It seemed interesting to publish them. At the end of the post I explain some things.

Fair of Marchena 2015

Llámame Lola fair booth:

Fair of Marchena 2016

Delia Suárez with La Bejazz at the caseta Llámame Lola:

Improvised flamenco in the “botellones” (area where young people bring bags with drinks, glasses and ice):

Fair of Marchena 2017

María “La Peke” with la Bejazz at caseta El Soniquete:

Of course, improvised flamenco in the street cannot be missed after the casetas close (6 in the morning):

Fair of Marchena 2018

Caribbean rhythms with Son de Cuba:

This is where the citrus fruit joke was born:

El Soniquete is a booth created by my friends. I am not a member, but my brother, my cousin, etc. are, so I consider it my booth even if I am not a member. Many of my friends are musicians, as you can see in the videos Mane Moraza, Pablo and Javier Carmona, Kisko Hidalgo, Amaga… (la Bejazz). I have known María “La Peke” since we were kids, because she was my classmate at school. Regarding “Son del Manchón”, the two in the middle are the sisters María and Ana Dorado, I have also known them since they were little, because their parents are very friends with my uncle and aunt. On the left was their cousin Marta Ponce (blonde), and on the right Carmen Ponce, cousin of Marta but not of María and Ana. In short, I am surrounded by many artists and everything is within family. This year the El Soniquete booth has been in charge of giving the fair opening speech. Ana Martín (Mane Moraza’s wife) was chosen as the person who gives the opening speech because she was who had the idea to create the booth. She chose her cousin Leticia Martín as the host. And her son Lorca was the one who pressed the button that turns on the lighting that officially opens the fair. The name Lorca is in honor of Federico García Lorca, famous Andalusian poet. Both the poetry recited by Ana in the opening speech, and the lyrics that Son del Manchón sang during the opening speech, are by Federico García Lorca. Ah! El Manchón is the name of another booth they belong to. At the Marchena fair, unlike others like the fair of Seville, all the booths are free access, anyone who wants can enter, except during the members’ dinner on Wednesday.

For such a small town (19,000 inhabitants) it is a town with a lot of culture and history (it already existed centuries before Christ). Monuments, artists, religious processions, flamenco…. And I want to show you everything, are you coming?

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