This is a very local fiesta celebrated around Mojacar, Villaricos and Vera. It takes place during lent on a Thursday, 3 weeks before Holy Thursday.
Families head off to the campo in the afternoon for a picnic, Later on piñata’s of old ladies are hung from trees and children hit them with sticks or throw rocks at them. Eventually the old lady is demolished and sweets break out from the inside and the children all run to grab them. And that is Día de la Vieja. Now aside from those wonderful things, I have no idea why it is only celebrated in our area. Most people have probably never heard of it.
A theory is that it provides light relief for the children who were taken for a day out by their Grandmothers as a treat halfway through lent, hence the sweets inside the old ladies.
Even if you miss the event you always know when it has occurred just by seeing the rubbish that has been left behind in true Spanish style !!!
