Crujía de los Gamones

Every year in the first weekend of May the town of Ubrique celebrates the traditional festivity known as the Crujía de los Gamones, or "crunching of the reeds", which has been declared of Tourist Interest in Andalusia.

During the festivity the streets of the town are filled with fires on which to place the gamones, a type of reed which, when heated over wood fires and then struck on stones, produces a loud explosion.

That night the streets are decked with flower-covered crosses, and the focal point of the town moves to the Plaza de la Verdura Square in the heart of the old quarter.

The festivity is accompanied by what are known as the coplas de columpio, or "swing songs" –popular and sometimes risqué ditties sung by the older members of the community to the people pushed on swings which are specially installed for the occasion.