the festivities of La Plana, in honor of the Mare de Déu dels Àngels or Virgen de los Angeles, They are some parties traditional areas specifically located in Xàbia/Jávea, La Plana: La Plana de Xàbia is the part where the Montgo forms a plateau that descends to the sea, ending at the Cape San AntonioIt is located away from the town center and has special characteristics, because it is an area in the heart of nature, straddling the mountains and the sea, and where tranquility reigns.
For these reasons, in the 14th century it was chosen for religious and meditation purposes by hermits seeking secluded places where to meet god. This is the germ of Monastery of La Plana o Santuari de la Mare de Déu dels Àngels, the nerve center of the festivities.
When and where are they
The first days of August, around the feast of Our Lady of the Angels, which is on the 2nd. Normally, the main events of the festivities are celebrated between the 1st and the 3rd, and the central location is the La Plana Monastery, although this year 2026 they are from July 31 to August 2.
Acts
The main event is the mass held on the morning of August 2nd at the Sanctuary, followed by the pilgrimage with the painting of the Virgin Mary around the monastery.
The playful and brotherhood part of these parties is usually made up of despertà with dolçaina i tabalet (typical Valencian instruments, the first one is wind, the second one is percussion), popular festival, games, tastings of coca maria and mistela, brotherhood dinners (germanor's soup), raffles, raffles, games and snacks for children.
party program
The 24 1 July to August
- 19:00h: Novena in honor of the Mare de Dèu dels Àngels.
Friday July 31
- 20:00h: Opening of the bar at popular prices.
- 20:30h: Popular dance with the group of danses Portitxol.
- 22:00hBrotherhood dinner - Potluck dinner and popular raffle sponsored by local businesses and individuals. To finish, a musical performance by Toni El Poblero.
Saturday August 1
- 12:00hSolemn Eucharist in the Monastery presided over by Fr. Francisco Murillo and sung by the choir of the parish of Our Lady of LoretoThe traditional procession around the Sanctuary will then take place, accompanied by the dolçaina and tabalet (traditional Valencian instruments). Afterwards, there will be a reception with music provided by the singer Aitana, a resident of La Plana.
- 18:00h: Opening of the bar at popular prices.
- 18:30hChildren's Afternoon with games, inflatables, wagons, and snacks. Dance performances and entertainment for children follow.
- 22:00hBrotherhood dinner - Potluck dinner and popular raffle sponsored by local businesses and individuals. Followed by a mobile disco by d'Aibaix&Bup.
Sunday 2 August
- 12:00hA solemn Eucharist will be celebrated at the Monastery of La Plana, followed by the traditional procession around the sanctuary, accompanied by the The music of dolçaina and tabalet. As a final touch to the celebrations, the organization will offer a wine reception for all attendees.
History and traditions
According to tradition, in the XNUMXth century, three centuries after the destruction of the Monestir de La Plana by Berber pirates, some hunters found a canvas of the Mare de Deu dels Àngels hidden in the trunk of a tree. This painting It was placed in the hermitage that was built on the remains of the old monastery, and since then it has been an object of veneration. According to the book 'La Plana, land of the llebeig', by Zurriaga i Agustí, in 1864 the Valencian writer Vicent Boix made this description of the festival:
«On August 2nd, these peaks offer a highly varied perspective, both joyful and religious. All the inhabitants of the town of Jávea, without distinction of class, and with them those from the neighboring towns and some more distant ones, fill this magnificent solitude, coming to celebrate the annual feast of the Virgin and to gain the indulgence granted in 1787 by Pope Pius VI. The evening before, one or two flags can be seen floating above the tower of the Chapel, as a sign of the imminent feast. From that evening until the first light of the following morning, multitudes of people can be seen coming along all the paths, both on foot and on horseback, coming to bear witness to the sacred image of their faith and their gratitude.»
In the old days, the houses of La Plana were filled with friends and family who came up there to parties. The main acts were the mass and the procession. There was also a DANSA (a ball) with dolçainers (musicians who play the dolçaina): the DANSA He left the courtyard of the hermitage and reached the end of the cypress path next to it, turned around on the cross and returned to the courtyard of the hermitage. Again, according to the work of Ferran Zurriaga i Agustí, this is how the party continued:
"Després de la dansà, the people continued to party in the cassettes on following the ball and the molta people were to sleep because of the garrofers. At the break of day, the" rompuda "came and the caçadors began to run La Plana. Grup de caçadors -les caçades- in prenia possessió d'una part. After the missa tots anaven a l'ermita began. There, at the voltant de l'ermita, there were parades that feien amb canyissos: two or three sucrers i Also feien bunyols. After the missa, the process that is feia pel mateix camí that the dansà i després the fireworks and the gall race. els dolçainers; a majoral donava the starting veu dient: "at one o'clock, at two, at three" i eixien amb tot el seu power els corredors to turn on the gall that penjava de la mà d'un majoral .. . "
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Route of the procession through La Plana de Jávea during the festivities
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Festeros of 2019 of the Festes de La Plana de Xàbia
