Santa Cruz Day (May)
May is a month of festivities, starting with the Crosses of May Festival (1st, 2nd and 3rd of May which is Santa Cruz day). The crosses identify distinct zones of the town and they all compete for the prize of the best florally decorated cross.
The preparations take place in secret during the preceding months. The event is organized by brotherhoods and financed by voluntary contributions in the neighbourhood.
With the preparations made, the crosses are dressed and the fiesta begins and can last several days. Representatives from each brotherhood act as judges to vote on the best dressed cross.
In a way, the fiestas resemble a sort of street party and are great fun. I would say one of the best areas to be in is calle las Parras, a side street off calle Cristo (Post Office street). The other end of calle Las Parras joins calle Frigiliana, near to the Parador.
Crosses in calle Las Parras inevitably win one of the prizes.
Some of the crosses, although florally decorated, are not necessary made of flowers. This one, for example, in calle Cristo was made using balls of wool.