Land of cultures
Bathed by the Mediterranean, Melilla is located on the
south-east coast of the Tres Forcas Peninsula in northern
Africa. Melilla is thought of as the port of Africa because of
this privileged location.
Melilla has a population of around 70,000, the city being
home to four cultures, which, without losing the symbols of
their own identity, enrich each other day by day. We could
say that in the same city there are four different Melillas:
Christian Melilla, Muslim Melilla, Jewish Melilla and the
small Hindu Melilla.
In truth, it is a single city harmoniously offering the visitor
an incredible variety of nuances difficult to encounter in
other parts of the world. And all of this at the foot of Mount
Gurugú, which towers over the city.
In speaking of four Melillas in a single city, we can also
speak of four types of citizen. The Christian community, the
largest, was refounded in the 16th Century with the arrival
of the Spanish. The Muslim community, the majority of its
members of Berber origin, has been the second largest
since the 7th Century. The Jewish or Hebrew community is
the third biggest in population terms. The Romani community
is noted for its dynamism. Lastly, the Hindi
community is the newest and biggest. All are part of a
single community, surprising visitors to Melilla by the way
their peaceful co-existence marks life in the city.
Melilla is unique in affording the visitor the possibility of
strolling amongst such a variety of citizens, some with
Indian or Jewish features, others wearing typical Berber
clothing or with Arab chilabas. The essence of daily life is
infused with this singularity and respect for differences,
sharing a cosmopolitan outlook on a world which
increasingly values multi-ethnic richness as the true pillar
of social integration and democracy.
Far from being an empty myth, our city stresses the
importance of multicultural interaction, of strengthening
relations with other ethnic groups and culturally diverse
groups, in the process growing as individuals and as a
community
In addition to its architectural, historical and cultural
heritage, Melilla offers a fragile treasure in its example of
the peaceful co-existence of its citizens, tolerance, and
multi-ethnicity. Our city wants to show you this, share it with
you, and so enrich it further.
The cultural richness described is not only seen in the
peoples, but also on the streets of Melilla, where you can
see just as many mosques as churches and where you can
find synagogues and places of worship from other religions
too.
Along the outer streets of the so-called "Triángulo de Oro"
(the streets of the Héroes de España neighbourhood), one
can find the most original places of worship in the city. For
each of the religions and cultures cited we may mention:
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Christian celebrations
The celebrations of the Christian community are in
accordance with the solar calendar, the mains ones being
Easter, Christmas, and Epiphany.
- Christmas: from December 25th until our Lord's baptism
(the first Sunday after January 6th). Jesus' birth is
commemorated, as are the events immediately following.
- The Epiphany of our Lord:: celebration known as "Los
Reyes Magos" which commemorates the arrival of the Kings
of Orient at the stable in Bethlehem where Jesus was born
to bring him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh - since
they recognise him as God. In Melilla, the Reyes Magos
parade is followed by everyone, regardless of race or creed.
- Easter: there is no fixed date, but it is celebrated in March
or April every year. It is the time when Catholics celebrate
the mysteries of salvation which Jesus performed in the last
days of his earthly life. Although distinctly religious in
character, the streets fill up with citizens from all religions
who admire the beauty of the images passionately carried
by hundreds of believers. Holy Week begins on Palm
Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday, or the Resurrection of
Jesus after his crucifixion.
Other Christian celebrations are:
- The "Romería del Rocío": Pentecost, the citizens of
Melilla take part in this pilgrimage in honour of Our Lady of
the Rocío.
- Corpus Christi: ttwo weeks after the Pentecost, celebrating
Jesus' presence in the consecrated bread and wine which
are given to the faithful at mass.
- The "Virgen del Carmen" procession, patron saint of the sea:
taking place on July 16th. Hundreds of citizens go to
the port to accompany Our Lady on a procession around the
bay and streets of Melilla.
- Patron Saint of Melilla, Our Lady of Victory: taking place on September
8th. In her honour, there is a procession with the
participation of the "Casas Regionales de Melilla" from all
over Spain
- Patron Saint of the City, Saint Francis of Assisi:taking place on October
4th. Hundreds of people gather at Hernandez Park to have
their pets blessed.
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Churches
- Purísima ConcepciónMelilla's oldest church (1657).
Romanic in style, home to a sculpture of Christ of the True
Cross, brought to the city by the first Spaniards.
- Sagrado Corazón (1.911-1.918). Neo-Romantic in style, see of
the Bishop of Melilla.
- The Military Church
- San Francisco Javier (former Red Cross)
- San Agustín (El Real neighbourhood))
- Santa María Micaela (La Victoria neighbourhood)
- Tesorillo Church
- Medalla Milagrosa Church (Batería Jota neighbourhood)
- Military Hospital Church
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Muslim festivals
Muslims follow the Amazigh Calendar, which is solar like
the Gregorian calendar, celebrating the pre-Islamic
festivities such as the night of bonfires (charh-mellah) and
the festival of masks (bachig). The first day of the Berber
New Year is the first day of Yennayer, equal to January 13th
in the Gregorian calendar. However, in religious terms,
Muslims in our city follow the Hégira or Al-hiyra, calendar
(journey of the prophet from Mecca to Medina), which is
lunar, with months of 29 or 30 days - like the Jewish
calendar.
- New Year or First Moharem: the start of the Muslim year.
- "Hachura" is a celebration focusing on the smallest and most needy members of the community.
- El Mulud a festival celebrating the birth of the prophet, also known as Flag Day.
- Ramadán with the start of the ninth lunar month,
Muslims commence the holiest month - commemorating
the month in which Mohammed received the divine
revelation.
- Lailat al Kader or Night of Destiny: on the 27th day of the month of Ramadan.
- Aid-El-Fitr or Pascua Chica celebrating the end of Ramadan
- Aid-El-Kebir or Pascua Grande also known as the
Festival of the Lamb, and held 70 days after the "Pascua
Chica".
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Mosques
- Central Mosque (Calle García Cabrelles):the main Muslim
place of worship in Melilla. Built in 1945 by the architect
Enrique Nieto, it is a clear example of neo-Arabic
architecture, and has a colourful minaret with an Andalusistyle
dome.
- Assalam or Mosque of Peace (La Cañada neighbourhood)
- La Cañada neighbourhood mosque
- Aceituna (Reina Regente neighbourhood)
- La Bola (Cabrerizas neighbourhood)
- La Palmera (Batería Jota)
- Abubakar Sadik (Carretera de Hidum)
- Bacha (El Zoquillo neighbourhood)
- Azegag (on Carretera de los Tanques between Carretera de Hidum and la Cañada)
- El Real neighbourhood mosque
- Zauia Alauia del Cerro de la Palma
- Monte de María Cristina mosque
- Mantelete mosque
- Arahma mosque (Muslim Cemetery)
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Jewish festivals
Jewish Sefards form the third largest religious community
in the city. More than 800 people make up the community,
one of the most important and oldest in Spain. The Jewish
festivals do not have a fixed date in the solar calendar
since, like Muslim celebrations, they follow the lunar
calendar. The Hebrew calendar is based on the Moon in
terms of counting months, but years are calculated in
accordance with the solar calendar.
Festivals are based on
religious and historical events of importance to Jews. There
are two types of celebrations: those stipulated by the Tora,
which are held to be divinely inspired, and those which are
fruit of the rabbinical tradition, which are linked to
customs or popular traditions. The first type includes the
three pilgrimage festivities: Passover (Pesach), Pentecost
(Shavuot), the Festival of the Hut (Succot), New Year (Rosh
Hashanah) and the Day of Forgiveness (Yom Kippur). The
rabbinical celebrations, thanksgivings for God's protection,
are the Purim, Chanukah and Tisha-Beav.
- Rosh Hashana (September-October): This celebration
begins the Jewish year and commemorates the moment
when the world was created. It is the Day of Judgement,
the day of repentance and correction.
- Yom Kippur (September-October): Also called the Day of
Forgiveness. It marks a new beginning; it is a day of rest
and highest elevation of the spirit, the most solemn day in the Jewish calendar.
- Succot (September-October): In the Fiesta de la Cabaña,
the Jews relive Moses' 40 years of pilgrimage in the Sinai
Desert, from Egypt to the Promised Land.
- Pésaj (April-May): Or Jewish Easter, commemorates
the exodus of the Jews from Egypt and the crossing of the
Red Sea, the spring harvest and the passing of the
exterminating angel killing the Egyptian first-born but
leaving the Jews unscathed.
- Shavuot (May-June): lThe Pentecost festival recalls the
handing of the Tablets of the Law to Moses on Monte Sinai.
- Janucá (November-December): festival
commemorates the retaking of Jerusalem and the
consecrating of the new Maccabi temple, which had been
profaned.
- Purim (February-March): The festival of the Fortunes,
commemorating the providential salvation of the Jews
when Queen Esther freed them from the slavery in Babylon.
- Tisha-Beav: The saddest and most solemn day. It recalls
the destruction of the two Jerusalem temples in 580 B.C. y
70 B.C. It is also a day in which Jews fast in remembrance
of the holocaust victims.
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Synagogues
- Or Zoruah /Yamín Benarroch Synagogue (Holy Light) (c/
López Moreno):Three-storey building designed by the
architect Enrique Nieto (1.924), with a beautiful façade and
a well-cared for interior.
- Isaac Benarroch Synagogue (c/ General Marina)
- Foinquinos Synagogue (c/ O'Donnell)
- Benguigui Synagogue (c/ Gran Capitán)
- Chocrón Synagogue (El Polígono neighbourhood)
- Almosnino Synagogue (c/ Luis de Sotomayor)
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Hindu festivals
This religion is based on the idea that our life on earth
forms part of an eternal cycle of births, deaths and
reincarnations until a person leading a good life manages
to free himself of this cycle. The most important celebration
for the Hindu Community
in our city is Diwali, although there are others too, such as
Shivaratri and Janmashtami.
- Diwali (October-November): the festival of light and
prosperity lasting all year. It commemorates the return of
Rama after 14 years exiled from Ayodhia.
- Shivaratri (March): renders homage to the deity Shiva,
one of the two gods, along with Visnú "the protector" most
popular amongst Hindus.
- Janmashtami (August): commemorates the birth of
Krishna and is celebrated with great fervour in our city.
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Places of worship
- Hindu temple (c/ Castelar): This is the only Hindu temple
in Melilla, which also acts as a meeting place for the
community. The temple has a beautiful altar used by the
community to venerate images and photographs of
different holy men and gurus. There are also pictures of
gods and even, given the synchretist nature of the religion,
- pictures of Christ.
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City