ISSUE 650 • 31st August - 6th September 2018
EST 2005
By Jose Artur A FIESTA honouring Mojacar’s patron saint has ended for another year after a record number of people turned out to watch processions and join in with four days of festivities. A mass was held in honour of Saint Augustine, the early Christian theologian, to close the event last Tuesday. It was overseen by priest Miguel Jose Esteban Jerez and took place in the Santa Maria Parish Church. City of God author Saint Augustine, or San Agustin in Spanish, is the town’s patron saint. The religious observance was followed by a procession through the streets of
Mojacar. A statue of the saint was carried aloft by locals and paraded through the town. They were joined by the Fiesta Queen and the Dames of Honour, as well as Mayor Rosmari Cano, town councillors, the Mojacar band and several locals and visitors. The town’s council said in a statement they and the local Merchants’ Association were pleased with how the event had gone. A record number of people turned out for the fiesta’s midday fair (feria de medio dia) in the town’s Plaza Nueva, the council added. “Visitors made the most of the great atmosphere,
music and tasty food which carried them throughout the afternoon until the dancing started up again at night,” the council said. The fiesta was packed with the usual run of traditional events including ribbon races and the carrying of floral offerings to the patron saint. Mojacar officials said participation in Tuesday’s mass was attended by record numbers of people. Eliseo Martinez Garcia, a teacher and theatre director at Mojacar Secondary School, delivered the opening address to festival goers. Sports activities also featured as part of the programme. Almost 300 run-
ners took part in the children’s and adults’ marathons and townsfolk cheered Mojacar’s home side on in a football friendly with Cuevas del Almanzora. The traditional events were accompanied by ones with cutting-edge technology including an online games championship. The town’s council said several events had been geared especially towards engaging children and young people in the fiesta. Festivities were not just confined to the day time. Those who wanted to also had the chance to party well into the night with traditional music and dance.
CREDIT: Mojacar Council
Saintly show
ON HIGH: Saint Augustine was paraded through the streets.