Festival of the Mayas and Mayos

The Maya Festival is held on 2 May. Small altars with living plants and fabrics are set up in streets and squares. They are handmade with lavender, rosemary, poppies and wildflowers, simple ornaments are added, and the city’s familiar corners are transformed into small floral settings.

At the centre of every altar sits the Maya. She remains still, wearing a white dress and brightly coloured shawls, while other girls beside her welcome passers-by, talk with them and accept symbolic gifts, almost always sprigs of rosemary.

They prepare for the festival in advance. They gather the plants day by day, devise the compositions and decorate the structures with fabrics and details. All this takes shape in living installations that last only one day and disappear when the festival ends.

Events and locations

30 April

Orusco de Tajuña, Parque Felipe Rivas — Moving the maypole (17:00)

Orusco de Tajuña — Singing the Mayos (17:00)

Estremera, Church of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios — Singing and Mayos Round (23:45)

Belmonte de Tajo, Church of Nuestra Señora de la Estrella — Singing the Mayos (23:00)

Brea de Tajo, Church of the Assumption of Nuestra Señora — Singing the Mayos (from 24:00)

Fuentidueña de Tajo, Church of San Andrés Apóstol — Singing the Mayos (from 24:00)

1 May

El Molar, Plaza Mayor — Maya Festival

Fuentidueña de Tajo, Church of San Andrés Apóstol — Singing the Mayos (continues until 1 May, 24:00)

Brea de Tajo, Church of the Assumption of Nuestra Señora — Singing the Mayos (until 1 May, 24:00)

Pilgrimage to the Virgen de Alarilla — Pilgrimage and singing the Mayos (17:00)

2 May

Colmenar Viejo, Plaza del Pueblo — Maya Festival (12:00)