May Crosses in Córdoba

The Cruces de Mayo are a popular festivity celebrated during the first week of May and its two corresponding weekends. During this time, Holy Week brotherhoods, associations of all kinds, and social clubs set up their crosses and participate in a contest, where several prizes are awarded depending on whether the location is in the old town, modern area, or enclosed venues.

Origin of the Cruces de Mayo

There are several hypotheses about the origin of this celebration. Some claim that it originates from pagan festivals held during the month of May to commemorate the arrival of spring, where a young woman dressed in white and crowned with flowers was the “Maya”, referring to the month of flowers. However, other historians affirm that the origin of the celebration of the “Cross” dates back to Roman festivals, as on May 3rd Saint Helena found the Holy Cross, and to verify it was the true one, she placed it over sick people and healed them. On the day of her death, Saint Helena asked all those who believed in Christ to celebrate the commemoration of the day the Cross was found.

On the first weekend of May, Córdoba celebrates the Cruces de Mayo, a contest focused on decorating the Cross with flowers.

Whatever its origin, we also do not know exactly when this popular tradition began to be celebrated, although it seems that during the 18th and 19th centuries it was very popular in many provinces of Spain. In some places, this tradition has been lost, but there are still many cities where the celebration continues.

History of the Cruces de Mayo in Córdoba

The first contest organized by the Córdoba City Council was held in 1953, during the mayoralty of Don Antonio Cruz Conde. In 1953 and 1954, the Cruces de Mayo were held together with the Patios Festival, as most of them were located in the same patios. By 1955, two separate contests were presented. Around this time, the social clubs joined the festivity, gaining great prominence. In 1974, the Brotherhood of Jesús Nazareno was the first to set up its own Cruz de Mayo. Today, the Holy Week brotherhoods are the main participants in this event, having replaced the social clubs, who now focus especially on the Pilgrimages. In the 1970s, neighborhood associations also joined the event.

Tradition and Festive Atmosphere

The tradition is to make a large Cruz de Mayo covered with a great number of flowers, usually red or white carnations. Around it, a beautiful decoration is usually set up with traditional elements such as a Spanish guitar, a Córdoba-style hat, and flower pots, as flowers are one of the most prominent elements of this festival and all those celebrated in the month of May in our city.

Next to the Cross, there is usually a bar or a street party where you can taste the city’s most typical tapas, such as salmorejo, the Córdoba-style flamenquín, or the classic Spanish omelet… enjoy a glass of D.O. Montilla-Moriles wine, a beer, or a soft drink, as well as dance and have a good time with family or friends.

Contest and Categories

There are around forty crosses to be found in Córdoba during the first weekend of May, and several prizes are awarded depending on the type of cross: “Old Town Cross” category, “Modern Area Cross” category, and “Enclosed Venues Cross” category.

Visiting the Cruces de Mayo

If you would like to discover the Cruces de Mayo, do not hesitate to book one of our guided tours. We are experts in the interpretation of Córdoba’s historical heritage. If you have chosen to do tourism in Córdoba, choose a quality option — choose ArtenCórdoba.

Text: J.A.S.C.