Editing Melilla (section)

=== Feasts and festivals ===
* [[Christmas]]: The public holidays are Christmas (December 25), New Year's Eve (December 31), New Year's Day (January 1), and the celebration of the Three Kings (January 6).

* [[Easter]]: with Holy Thursday and Good Friday.<ref>{{Cite web |title=COFRADÍAS MELILLA 2020 by Carlos Rubiales Morales - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/carlosrubiales/docs/cofrad_as_melilla_2020.indd |access-date=2022-02-10 |website=issuu.com |date=11 March 2020 |language=en}}</ref>
* [[Ramadan]]: [[Eid al-Fitr]]
* [[Eid al-Adha|Eid al Adha]]: July 11<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla Festive Calendar 2022 |url=https://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=s_fact_d4_v1.jsp&contenido=30529&nivel=1400&tipo=2&codMenu=291&evento=1}}</ref>
* [[Assumption of Mary]]: August 15.
* [[Patron Saint Festivals|Patron Saints' Festival]]: the celebration of [[Our Lady of the Rosary]], September 8.
* Melilla Day, September 17. It commemorates the [[conquest of Melilla]] in 1497 by Pedro de Estopiñán, when Melilla became part of the [[Crown of Castile]].
* [[National Day of Spain]]: October 12
* [[All Saints' Day]]: November 1
* [[Constitution of Spain|Constitution Day]]: December 6
* [[Feast of the Immaculate Conception]]: December 8

==== Melilla Fair ====
{{Main|Melilla Fair}}
[[File:Feria de Melilla 2008.jpg|thumb|[[Melilla Fair]].]]
During the celebration of the ''Melilla Fair'' in September, the streets are transformed into traditional symbols of Spanish culture and history, with sweet wine, tapas, and live flamenco shows. The day events consist of dancing, live music (such as [[flamenco]]) and bullfights at [[Plaza de Toros de Melilla]], while the night fair is moved to the Recinto Ferial, consisting of restaurants, clubs, and an entire fair ground with rides and games.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-07 |title=Penúltimo día de la Feria de Melilla en imágenes |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/penultimo-dia-feria-melilla-imagenes/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |language=es}}</ref>

==== Holy Week in Melilla ====
[[File:Procesión de Semana Santa en Melilla..jpg|thumb|Holy Week Procession: "La Pollinica" on Holy Monday in [[Hernandez Park|Hernández Park]]]]
[[Holy Week in Spain|Holy Week]] in Melilla is one of the city’s main religious festivities, celebrated with deep-rooted tradition and strong popular participation. Its documented origins date back to 1498, with the procession of the Christ of the True Cross (''Cristo de la Vera Cruz''), currently under the care of the ''Cofradía del Nazareno'', the oldest brotherhood in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-29 |title=Melilla: el secreto mejor guardado de la Semana Santa Española |url=https://www.abc.es/viajar/melilla-secreto-mejor-guardado-semana-santa-espanola-20250319191754-nt.html |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Diario ABC |language=es}}</ref>

During Holy Week, five brotherhoods — ''Flagelación'', ''Nazareno'', ''Jesús Cautivo'', ''Soledad'', and ''Humillado'' — organize processions from [[Palm Sunday]] to [[Easter|Easter Sunday]], passing through the streets of both the historic center and the modern parts of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodríguez |first=Víctor A. Lafuente Sánchez, Francisco Sangorrín Perdices y David Rodríguez |title=Semana Santa en Melilla en Melilla |url=https://www.cofradiasyhermandades.es/semanasantae.php?cc=588400 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Cofradias y Hermandades |language=es-ES}}</ref>

One of the most significant events is the [[Lamentation of Christ]] procession, held on [[Good Friday]]. It is considered the official ''station of penance'' and is attended by both civil and military authorities. Another distinctive tradition is the presence of women wearing black [[Mantilla|mantillas]], a symbol of respect and solemn reflection.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-14 |title=Recorridos y horarios para las procesiones del Viernes Santo |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/recorridos-horarios-procesiones-viernes-santo/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |language=es}}</ref>
[[File:Día de Melilla (5) Melilla.jpg|thumb|Melilla Day]]

==== Melilla Day ====
Melilla Day is celebrated on [[September 17th]], commemorating the incorporation of the city into the [[Crown of Castile]] in 1497. During this festivity, commemorative events and official ceremonies are held.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla - ¡FELICITACIÓN DÍA DE MELILLA 2024! |url=https://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=s_fact_d4_v1.jsp&contenido=37527&nivel=1400&tipo=2&codResi=1&language=es&codMenu=156&codMenuPN=600&codMenuSN=261 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=www.melilla.es}}</ref>

==== Other celebrations ====
[[File:Virgen_del_Carmen_en_Melilla.jpg|thumb|[[Our Lady of Mount Carmel]] in Melilla]]
The Festivity of [[Our Lady of Mount Carmel]] is celebrated on July 16 and consists of a land procession followed by a maritime procession of images under the invocation of [[Our Lady of Mount Carmel]], patron saint of sailors. One of the images, the "Virgen del Carmen Coronada del Perchel", goes out on the Sunday following her feast day, starting in the morning heading towards the Church of San Agustín, and returning in the afternoon after being embarked at the [[Port of Melilla]] and later processed back to the temple.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Monumental |first=Melilla |date=2020-07-16 |title=Conociendo nuestro patrimonio Virgen del Carmen |url=https://melillamonumental.es/conociendo-nuestro-patrimonio-virgen-del-carmen/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=Melilla Monumental |language=es}}</ref>

The last weekend of June marks the celebration of the ''Carlos V Renaissance Market'', a festival held in [[Melilla la Vieja|Melilla La Vieja]], recreating a medieval market for three days.<ref>{{Cite web |title=En junio regresa el Mercado Medieval a Melilla |url=https://elfarodemelilla.es/junio-regresa-mercadop-medieval-melilla/ |access-date=2025-03-14 |language=es}}</ref>
[[File:Patrona_de_Melilla_(3).jpg|thumb|[[Our Lady of the Rosary|Patroness of Melilla]]]]
Every September 8 marks the celebration of the day of [[Our Lady of the Rosary]], Patron Saint of Melilla.

Additionally, the observance of [[Ramadan]] is official, including [[Eid al-Fitr]] and [[Eid al-Adha]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ciudad Autónoma de Melilla Calendario de Festivos 2022 |url=https://www.melilla.es/melillaportal/contenedor.jsp?seccion=s_fact_d4_v1.jsp&contenido=30529&nivel=1400&tipo=2&codMenu=291&evento=1}}</ref>

Each community celebrates its own holidays, such as the Jewish [[Hanukkah]],<ref>[http://www.elfarodigital.es/ceuta/sociedad/112160-hoy-quedara-inaugurada-la-iluminacion-con-motivo-de-la-fiesta-hebrea-januca.html Today the lighting will be inaugurated on the occasion of the Jewish holiday 'Hanukkah'] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728190845/http://www.elfarodigital.es/ceuta/sociedad/112160-hoy-quedara-inaugurada-la-iluminacion-con-motivo-de-la-fiesta-hebrea-januca.html}}. El Faro Digital, November 3, 2013.</ref> the Hindu [[Diwali]],<ref>[http://www.elfarodigital.es/especiales-diario-impreso/diwali.html Diwali] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130129170640/http://www.elfarodigital.es/especiales-diario-impreso/diwali.html}}. El Faro Digital, December 3, 2012.</ref> or the [[Eid al-Adha|Aid-al Kebir]], also known as the Feast of the Sacrifice or Festival of the Lamb. This is the only non-Christian community celebration officially recognized in the labor calendar since 2010.<ref>[http://www.antena3.com/noticias/espana/ceuta-melilla-celebran-fiesta-musulmana-sacrificio-cordero_2010111700092.html Ceuta and Melilla celebrate the Muslim Feast of the Sacrifice]. [[Antena 3 (Spanish TV channel)|Antena 3]], November 17, 2010.</ref>