Fiestas de San Marcos

Name: Fiestas de San Marcos
Start: 2026-04-25
End: 2026-04-25

Jaén Paraíso Interior

Event

Description

The San Marcos festivities of Canena belong to the spring festival cycle and are deeply rooted in this town. During the celebration, the image of San Marcos is carried in procession around the outskirts of Canena to obtain a blessing for the fields. Along the processional route, as the image passes the "Sala de la Caridad", a child presents it with a specially kneaded and baked bread ring made for the occasion. Once the patron saint's image has returned to the church, the rings are handed out to those present at the Sala de la Caridad.

To prepare the Sala de la Caridad, a room in the house of that year's "prioste" (steward) is decorated as follows: the walls are lined with red fabric, altars are set up in the corners where the rings are later arranged, console tables and mirrors are placed around the room, and the rest of the space is decorated with cornucopias, old mother-of-pearl rosaries, Manila shawls, gold-trimmed lace and more. All these items are provided beforehand by local women to decorate the room.