What to See
San Pedro Apóstol’s Church
Though it dates back to the 18th century, recently it has been restored. We can emphasizes in it the central dome and the paintings of the altarpiece, today placed as independent paintings in different places of the church.
Chapel of the Cross
In the walk of Santa Cruz there is located the hermitage of the same name, remodelled in 1996 and place of scattering preferred by the farmers. Granja celebrates its patron saints festivities from April 30 to May 3 in honour to the Santa Cruz.
Moorish’s Tower
The Moorish‘s tower is in the proximities of the locality of Granja de Rocamora, province of Alicante.
This population of Moslem origin (possibly a former farm-house) belonged from 1462 to the family Rocamora, Lords of Benferri. With the expulsion of the Morish it remained practically uninhabited. It formed part of Orihuela's town until 1565, in which it became independent. Its parochial church depended on the Cox until 1602. In 1628 they granted the title of county of La Granja to Francisco de Rocamora I Maça. Later would hold it, Los Dávalos Los Pardo and Los Agrela.
The Tower of the Moorish is a great cube which top, crenellated, its building is very later to the low one. It may have been the defensive tower of the original farmhouse which was a part. In its surroundings there can be seen remains of small walled that connect with the tower.
Holidays
Cross of May
The Catholic Church dedicates on May 3 to honour La cruz del Salvador, because on that date, was found after having been long ignored. There were many complications in finding the cross, which killed Jesus, but among the elderly residents gave the clue to his discovery, telling that this was in a hole in the Holy Sepulcher. Here were three crosses, Jesus Christ and the two thieves crucified with him, it was impossible to recognize which was which, they took pieces of each one of them to a seriously ill woman, who on having touched two of them, did not experience any improvement, but the third, cured her. In Granja de Rocamora, there exist particles, of the log of the cross of our God Jesus Christ, extracted from the apostolic reliquary, granted by the Department of Liturgical Celebrations of the Pope, for its public veneration.
The Santa Cruz is the big holiday of Granja de Rocamora, takes place from the 1st to May 3, in these festivities the people of Granja de Rocamora venerates "lignum crucis".
The symbols of these festivities are two flags of red colour, with the emblem and sign of the Cross which preside at all the acts. The flags are transported and hoisted during the feasts by the captain of the holidays who carries a blue flag and a court of angels that accompany him in the parades together with the arquebusiers.
On May 3, the relic of the Santa Cruz is taken in procession, up to the hermitage where it remains the rest of the year. Once there, there is celebrated the " Blessing of the Airs ", rite that consists of raising the relic orientated to the four cardinal points, by the purpose from which the sky protects the crops.
Along the parades and processions that take place in the itinerary of the holidays, the flags are hoisting for the streets, whereas the angels realize a ritual dance. The acts and parades of the holiday finish last night with "the auction of the flags", act that consists of the bid for the present flags of all the festive acts, in order of whom gets them, will be the captain of the holidays next year, being this a singular tradition inside the festive programs of the province. The above mentioned holiday is accompanied by the extras of Moors and Christians
Information of ExtrasSan Pedro
The festivity of this saint is celebrated On June 29, being the patron saint of the village of Granja de Rocamora. There are celebrated three days of activities in his honour, beginning the day of his celebration.
Virgen del Rosario
On October 7 celebrates the festivity of the Virgen del Rosario, coinciding with this celebration the month of the Auroros begins in Granja de Rocamora, that on Saturday dawn of this month, they sing and cross the village with songs and written poetries.
Folklore
The Folklore is one of the most recent traditions in Granja de Rocamora that at present has not more than two years.
During the national sample of Folklore, celebrated at the beginning of summer, there are carried out a series of activities planned, as the concentration of groups invited in the Square del Ayuntamiento and reception by the authorities, the parade of all the groups through different streets of the village towards the enclosure of the festival and finally the presentation of the groups and the beginning of the sample with the performance among others of the Choir "San Pedro Apostle" of Granja de Rocamora andthe Band "New Musical Union" of Granja de Rocamora.
Los Auroros
The auroros of the Virgen del Rosario keep a centenary tradition up.
Granja de Rocamora, with little more than thousand inhabitants, maintain the centenary tradition that is transmitted from generation to generation.
When there comes the festivity of the Virgen of the Rosario, men and women illuminate in the dawn with their canticles all the corners of the town. Grandparents and grandsons, mothers and daughters, share with illusion and loyalty the night tour through the streets and squares which is made the four Sundays of October.
These singings have taste to 18th century, though it is possible that the Dawn and, consequently, the so-called "Auroros", starting from much further back. The researchers date its origin in the Middle Ages, coinciding with the arrival of the Dominicos to the convent of Orihuela's Santo Domingo. The first tours of the solitary monks by the streets were support in the course of time by the faithful who joined a religious sample that has turned into one of the most popular of the Vega Baja del Segura. The meeting has turned into one of the most emotive celebrations, where they coexist in brotherhood, and there fertilize the friendship persons who share the love and loyalty of his history. The "Auroros" have a special gift to interpret the religious canticles that have been listened since childhood.
At five o'clock in the morning, the special touch of the bell calls the faithful in the square of the Church. Hence the initial group leave, which is growing as the tour is done. The retinue accompanied by lanterns, show off proudly his banner of the Rosario. Small bells, bass-drums and cymbals are the instruments that accompany the popular songs, normally fixed in each of the corners and places of custom where the neighbours wait impatiently. And then come through the throats, from the bottom of their soul, the religious canticles. The natural and innate energy that overflows is a true reflection of the essence of a devout and garden village, people who fights day and night to maintain their roots.
The succulent chocolate, children and major's delight, close the festive dawn, until the next Sunday.
Holy Week
With the arrival of spring comes Holy Week. This liturgical time is lived in Granja de Rocamora as the most religious intensity throughout the year. The people of Granja celebrate processions of passion and acts and religious ceremonies in which almost all the people take part actively.
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