The Festa Major of Dénia, dedicated to the Holy Blood, combines religious tradition and popular celebration in an event that vertebrates the life of the city. Its origin dates back to the Brotherhood of the Blood of Christ founded in 1587, with a decisive boost in the seventeenth century to thank the protection against an epidemic. This festivity is celebrated for several days in July, with a multitude of activities for all audiences: from liturgical acts and processions to shows such as correfoc, floats, fireworks, music and neighborhood heat.
It is a moment when the city is completely transformed, opening a period of coexistence and collective pride. The Festa Major integrates spectacle, such as Las Carrozas (parade through the city center, declared a Festival of Provincial Tourist Interest), cultural events, bullfighting – such as the “bous à la mar” and entertainment, merging solemnity and fun under a unique festive atmosphere.
More than a party, it is a meeting place where neighbors and visitors share tradition, heritage and community in a vibrant and memorable atmosphere.
The origin of this festival dates back to 1587 with the founding of the Brotherhood of the Blood of Christ, but it is in 1633 when the devotion of the city lived a moment of greater fullness and growth of the hand of Fray Pere Esteve, popularly known as Pare Pere, who after learning that the city suffered an epidemic, by divine inspiration decided to celebrate a feast in honor of the Immaculate Blood of Christ. Tradition has it that a procession, mass and a sermon were held in which Father Pere blessed some loaves of bread that were distributed to the population, which miraculously healed from the epidemic.
Today, the festival is represented by the Cofradía de la Santísima Sangre (Brotherhood of the Most Holy Blood), whose mayorales and mayoralesas are in charge of organizing the religious activities.
The traditional celebration of Els Bous a la Mar in Dénia is a bullfighting spectacle that attracts for its originality and festive character. Unlike conventional bullfights, this event takes place in a semicircular square installed by the sea in the port, where participants run and dodge a heifer in an environment open to the water. When the animal chases someone too closely, it is common for both the runner and the heifer to end up in the sea. A boat is in charge of rescuing the bull and bringing it to dry land. At the same time, another heifer is released into the semiplaza to continue the spectacle, thus completing this unique bullfighting rite.
The program distinguishes between “entrada” and “actuación”. The Entrance means that the heifers run through the main street until they reach the semiplaza. The Performance takes place directly in the semiplaza.
Declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest, Els Bous a la Mar combines emotion, tradition and popular entertainment. Its origin dates back to traditional bullfights in past centuries, although it was in the twentieth century, with the construction of the port, when it adopted the current modality and its distinctive essence.
The festive atmosphere, the soundtrack of collective emotion and the direct connection of the runners with the sea make this event an unforgettable experience.
The parade of Les Carrosses de Dénia is one of the most spectacular and colorful events within the Festa Major in honor of the Holy Blood. In it, the eleven falleras commissions exhibit handcrafted floats, accompanied by comparsas that embody festive dances, music and vibrant choreographies.
This display of collective creativity becomes a parade that fills the heart of the city with joy and community, attracting the attention of neighbors and visitors alike.
More than an event, Les Carrosses is a visual and emotional experience that reflects the fusion of fallera tradition and local festive spirit. Along the route through emblematic streets, the floats dazzle with their design, details and color, giving a special prominence to each commission. The participation of the people both on the floats and in the audience creates a warm and participatory atmosphere, consolidating this parade as one of the emblematic events of the festive season in Dianes, declared a Festival of Provincial Tourist Interest that has a strong cultural and tourist roots.
The Fire Shows section of Dénia’s festivities is highlighted by two vibrant events that ignite the local festive spirit. The first is the Correfoc, a street spectacle where participants dressed as devils and carrying torches and flares run through the urban center, dancing and filling the air with sparks. Attendees can choose to watch or even join the race under fire, which requires safety measures such as covering head and body to avoid burns.
The second highlight is the fireworks display that closes the festivities in the port area. Scheduled on the last Sunday of the celebration, this nocturnal spectacle illuminates the sky and the sea, gathering a large crowd to experience the festive closing in an overwhelming atmosphere of light, color and noise.
The solemn Day of the Santíssima Sang, in which the city pays homage to its patron saint with deep devotion and tradition. This day is marked by a solemn mass in the church of the Assumption, in which bread is blessed – the well-known pa beneït -which is then distributed among the faithful as a symbol of blessing and community. In the afternoon, the procession goes through the streets of the town center with the image of the Holy Blood, accompanied by local authorities, members of the brotherhood and citizens, generating an atmosphere of meditation and collective feeling.
This main event embodies the fusion of religious tradition and festive celebration of the Festa Major. The Day of the Holy Blood reinforces the social fabric of Dénia, bringing together neighbors and visitors in a journey full of symbolism and emotion. The streets become the scene of shared faith, where every participation, every prayer and every song reinforces local identity and community unity, transforming the celebration of the patron saint into a historical moment of profound significance for the city.
The section of Other popular events during the Festa Major of Dénia completes the festive spirit with activities designed for the whole city. One of the first acts is the distribution of festival programs by the Quintos, the young people who turn 18 that year, who accompanied by brass bands walk the streets and liven up the atmosphere, preparing neighbors and visitors for an intense week of celebration.
Also noteworthy is the Aplec de Danses, a gathering of folk dance groups that, both in the afternoon and at night, floods squares and streets with the rhythm, traditional costumes and joy of Valencian cultural heritage.
Another attraction is the Paella Contest, in which the falleras commissions compete to prepare the best paella in the middle of Marqués de Campo Street, adding a gastronomic aroma to the festive program.
These events reinforce the community character of the Festa Major, allow you to actively participate as a spectator or amateur cook, and offer a close, authentic and familiar festive experience.