Birthdays, weddings and Fiesta de las Cruces.

By the end of April, after several weeks of abnormally cold and wet weather we were finally treated to some typically southern Spanish spring weather.  The people began to fill the streets and the plazas again.  Tourists, bless ‘em, began to crowd the Albaycin once again.  The weather was fabulous by the time another Spanish holiday, Fiesta de las Cruces, came around in early May. 

The Fiesta de las Cruces is really an interesting holiday.  This holiday celebrates the emperor Constantin’s vision of the cross on the eve of a very important battle and some subsequent events involving his mother and his conversion.  That’s the very short version. 

This festival occurs in early May and is celebrated in Spain and Latin America.  The city of Granada is known for having one of the most beautiful celebrations of this holiday.

Every neighborhood that chooses to do so, decorates a square or plaza with traditional items and typically rural settings.  Each square or plaza features a cross of course, covered with red or white flowers.  Each neighborhood’s display is unique and all are stunningly beautiful. 

The holiday begins on a Friday (although set-up for some begins on Thursday) and is over by Sunday.  The weekend is one of incredible celebration as the plazas and squares are filled with people from all over Spain and Europe drinking and dancing as music is played, many times by live performers.

The children all get dressed up in traditional Spanish dress clothes, with the little girls all looking like Flamenco dancers,

and the little little boys all looking like Antonio Banderas in Zorro.  Many of the adults dress up as well but the kids are absolutely precious.

Noella was of course one of the cutest, in our opinion!

We used Las Cruces as a backdrop for our own celebration. Kellie turned 23 while we were there and Brittani would turn the same age the following month.  Of course a special cake was ordered from  Pasteles and we enjoyed fabulous food, drinks and great company at Puerta de las Pesas.

Another very special event occurred that was memorable and unique.  Brittani’s parents, Mitch and Deb were celebrating their 25^th wedding anniversary with a trip to Europe, the first for Deb.  They came to Granada to enjoy some of their very special time with Brittani, unbeknownst to Deb, her very romantic husband had been working out the details of a special renewal of their vows while in Spain.  With Fernando’s help we were able to reserve a time with the priest in the Monastery of Santa Isabella Real (a small and beautiful chapel in the monastery has a public mass twice a week).  It was built on the site of an ancient mosque within the original Palace complex in the Albaicyn.  This monastery has changed over the years and now houses and order of cloistered nuns.  They have no public contact and during the public mass twice a week they sit behind a wooden screen.  They provide the music for the mass by singing beautiful hymns.

On the evening that had been arranged we all went to the church – having explained that since it is so rarely open to the public we would all go down to see it right before the scheduled mass.  When we arrived in front of the church Mitch went down on one knee and asked Deb to marry him all over again, it was very touching and when she discovered that he had arranged for them to do it right then, in this beautiful church she was overcome.  Allie had come along with us to translate for the priest, no one spoke any English, but the service was simple and beautiful and created a very special set of memories that their family will cherish forever. 

It left quite a mark in all of our hearts as well!

A fabulous dinner had been ordered by Brittani and we were all treated to exceptional Spanish food and of course some lovely Cava (Spanish version of Champagne) at the restaurant and then the following day the folks left to head back to the states.

Kellie and Brittani still had until the end of June of their teaching contracts so they would be staying a while after all the rest of us had gone ahead.  Time was getting very short for us, 10 weeks had seemed like a long time when we planned it but it had flown!  Finally, the weather was beautiful, Spain was beautiful and we were going to be leaving in a few short days.