The Crujía of Gamones
The "Crujía de Gamones de Ubrique" is a very ancient festival in which the town is filled with bonfires and attendees have fun making the gamón plant crackle, which explodes with a deafening sound.
Fire and gamón flowers are the main protagonists of a festival that has been declared of Tourist Interest in Andalusia and attracts thousands of tourists every year.
It is celebrated on the Saturday following May 3rd, to give visitors and tourists who come from afar the opportunity to approach the town and enjoy a tradition that has become famous all over the world. At the end of April and beginning of May is when gamón plants bloom in the mountains, and it is taken advantage of to celebrate the "Crujía de Gamones".
What is the origin of this festivity?
It is not known for sure where the tradition of making gamón plants crackle comes from. These plants have been used for centuries to cure skin diseases, obtain alcohol, and it is even said that the inhabitants of Ubrique used it to scare away wolves from the Sierra or to scare French troops when they entered Ubrique.
But the truth is that, whatever the case may be, this festival is so much fun that its origins remain a mere curiosity. We only know that it is extremely ancient.
What is the Crujía de Gamones?
During the festival of the Crujía de Gamones, the streets and squares of Ubrique are filled with bonfires in every corner, necessary to make the flowers of the gamón crackle. The terraces and balconies are decorated with flowers, and the musical atmosphere extends throughout the village.
In reality, several weeks before, the children of the town have already been in charge of finding firewood and preparing the bonfires that will be lit on the big night. The neighbors take care of decorating the balconies and collecting the gamones.
Everyone is invited to crack gamones to the health of their friends. And cracking a gamón, gentlemen, is not so easy! The procedure is as follows. The gamones are placed at the base of the bonfire so that their root is heated to the appropriate point. The expert takes the gamón when he considers that the sap has been heated and approaches it to his ear to check that a sound like a balloon deflating through a small hole is heard. If this is heard, the gamón is ready to be exploded.
Then, the protagonist takes the gamón and, while looking for an ideal smooth surface to stamp it with all his strength, dedicates the act to a loved one, and if everything is correct, the gamón will explode making a huge noise. If it does not explode, everyone watching will laugh uproariously at the protagonist's clumsiness. Either way, the point is to have fun.
Some show incredible mastery at exploding gamones.
Parallel to the bonfires, there are also street parties with music and dance performances by local academies, and the neighbors offer food and drink. The town hall also organizes events such as chess championships, sack races, greasy poles, piñatas, and other games.
Why go to the Crujía de Gamones?
We definitely recommend going to the Crujía de Gamones in Ubrique for the simple reason that you will have a great time. You will witness a tradition that is many years old and, if you dare, you can even try to crack a gamón, perhaps surprising yourself!
In addition, Ubrique is a beautiful village in the Sierra de Cádiz and has many interesting things to offer, such as its rich and varied cuisine, handmade leather goods, and tourist visits.
What to do if you visit Ubrique?
In addition to the festival, Ubrique has other tourist attractions, such as the Roman City of Ocuri, where you can take a guided tour, its trails through the mountains, of spectacular beauty. Its historic center is declared a Cultural Heritage Site. It has the Interpretation Center of the History of Ubrique, located in the Hermitage of San Juan de Letrán.
Hiking trails are another tourist attraction for those who want to be in contact with nature.
Leather craftsmanship and cuisine are of extraordinary richness. The flavors of the countryside acquire a great representation in Ubrique: game meats, migas, chacinas, blood with onions, gañotes, borrachos, and other delicacies.
