May 3, Day of the May Crosses celebrated in Spain
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By h.b. - May 4, 2009 - 12:20 AM
The city of Granada is at the centre of the celebrations

It was the weekend for the traditional May Crosses in many towns and villages of Andalucía. The main centre for the fiesta is Granada, where this year nearly 60 of the traditionally decorated crosses were erected across the plazas and streets of the city.

For the third year bars serving drinks next to the crosses were banned, and many have commentated that the fiesta has lost its ‘gracia’ as a consequence. Even so Sunday saw the streets of the city alive with the public, many of whom were in traditional flamenco dress.

One cross which caused varied opinions was set up as if it was half completed, with a sign which read ‘closed because of suspension of payments’, and the work site also showed a litrona beer bottle.

Many crosses show an apple with a pair of scissors stuck inside. The reason is a curious one. An apple is known as a ‘pero in Granada, a ‘but’, and so the idea is that with its presence the visitors will all declare how beautiful the cross is, without any ‘buts’.

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