To many of us, life in Andalucía means endless beaches, sunny days, and stunning sunsets at the Atlantic Ocean. With charming food and generous people, Andalucía gets every of its visitor in love. And to us Andalusians, there is one particular day in a year that means more than those elements, Andalucía Day, the 28th of February.
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Why do we celebrate Andalucía Day?
Dating back to the seventies, Franco died, and the democratic transition started. A million and a half Andalusians protested to obtain self-government of Andalucía. In 1979, “La Junta de Andalucía” was born. It invoked the Constitution to gain autonomy. On the 28th of February of 1980, Andalusians were going to vote to approve it. In memory of this relevant event, we celebrate Andalucía Day to commemorate it.
How do we celebrate it?
We celebrate this day in all the cities across Andalucía. And we can tell it in the streets this day is coming. We have different events related to Andalusian cultures, such as concerts with typical music like flamenco or Andalusian copla. Foods also have their presence in this day. Olive oil, fresh fish, Iberian ham, excellent meat, and various typical dishes of the Mediterranean diet compose our superb Andalusian gastronomy. Wines also play an important role on this day. Brandy, oloroso, fino, or Moscatel… any of these wines goes well with this day.
Andalusians put flags on their balconies. The Andalucía flag is green and white, and we usually call it Arbonaida. Hercules stands between two lions on the flag, which symbolizes the strength that controls the animal instincts. Also, on this day, flag-raising is carried out outside the Andalusian Parliament, and the Andalusian Medals are awarded. In addition, at the Teatro de la Maestranza in Seville, we grant Favorite Children of Andalucia to people or institutions that have stood out in our autonomous community.
Andalucía day in schools
Andalucía day reaches every corner of Andalucía, including education centers. Schools used to hold a cultural week with different activities related to Andalusian culture. Children would play the Andalucía hymn with the flute. A very famous tradition of this day is having breakfast in schools. Families would go there to make an unusual breakfast consisted of bread slices with olive oil and sugar. Also, some schools offer a typical Andalusian desert called “carmelitas”. It has cream inside, covering with icing sugar. It is typical in Cádiz, especially in Jerez de la Frontera.
An important figure
On this day it is also worth highlighting a person, Blas Infante. He was a thinker, politician, writer, historian, and musicologist. He was given the mission to recover the old white-and-green Andalusian flag. And also, Blas Infante designed the shield of Andalusia and composed the lyrics of the Andalusian hymn:
The white and green flag
returns, after centuries of war,
to say peace and hope,
under the sun of our land.
Andalusians, get up!
Ask for land and freedom!
Let Andalusia be free,
Spain and humanity!
Andalusians want
to go back to what we were
men of light, than men,
soul of men we gave them.
Andalusians, get up!
Ask for land and freedom!
Let Andalusia be free,
Spain and humanity!