15.000 pañuelos azules para vivir las Cruces de Mayo en Cartagena

15,000 blue scarves to experience the May Crosses in Cartagena. The City Council distributes these accessories for free screen-printed with a cross made of carnations to fill with color the historic center of the city, where this celebration takes place from May 2 to 4. The Marraja Brotherhood brought this celebration to Cartagena 50 years ago. However, they are also joined by more than a dozen crosses installed by groups like Californios, the Resurrected Brotherhood, the Pilgrims’ Brotherhood of San Ginés de la Jara, the Neighborhood Association of the Historic Center, Hostecar, and even the Carnival of Cartagena, among other collectives.

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Cartagena bids farewell to a record-breaking April for hospitality, commerce, and accommodations in the city and the coast in terms of tourism; with almost full capacity on the last three weekends due to Holy Week, sports tournaments, and the celebration of the Fallas of Valencia in the municipality. Now, this is added to by the May Crosses, which also serves as an attraction for tourists from Madrid as it coincides with the holiday on May 2 in their autonomous community.

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Visitors and locals will be able to enjoy May Crosses that combine tradition and free outdoor concerts at seven locations in the historic center. Among the programming offered by the Cartagena City Council are live performances by Decai or Cantores de Hispalís, among many other local and foreign artists. All information can be consulted online on the Google interactive map created with the program and locations of the venues, the Crosses, public toilets, and the point of assistance that Civil Protection will set up in San Francisco Square. To view the map, click on the following link:

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The festivity serves as a brotherhood and meeting point for the youngest members of the brotherhoods. There are more than a dozen installations of May Crosses located in Bretau Alley, Aire and Palas streets, and the squares of Rey, Icue, San Francisco, City Hall, Risueño, and Condesa de Peralta. In this last location, located at the foot of the Roman Theater and the Cuesta de la Baronesa, the most traditional May Cross takes place, organized by the Folkloric Group Ciudad de Cartagena de La Palma. There are children’s workshops, parades, traditional dance and singing displays scheduled for Saturday afternoon, culminating in the Folkloric Group’s performance at 9:30 pm.

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A poster designed by Cartagena artist Alberto Besada, from Cumiestudio, illustrates the May Crosses of Cartagena. It follows his particular colorful style and thick strokes that have become popular in recent years with creations of iconic local and worldwide locations. The poster features the Roman Theater and the Old Cathedral alongside a flowered May Cross. The cross also includes the usual apple and scissors. These two elements are traditionally placed to try to avoid criticisms from those who often say when approaching the cross: «It’s beautiful, but if they had added this…»

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