San Hilario Festival. Comares


Saint Hilary of Poitiers

Event details

17 January 2026 until 17 January 2026

Provincial Festival of Touristic Singularity

January 17, 2026

Festival in honor of Saint Hilary of Poitiers
Comares
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In 1442, Mozarabs in Comares took up arms against the Muslim community of the town, coinciding with the anniversary of the death of Saint Hilary of Poitiers.

In gratitude for his protection, the inhabitants decided to choose this French bishop as the patron saint of the municipality and set that date, January 13, to celebrate festivals in his honor.


Declared a festival of provincial touristic singularity. Every year on January 13, Saint Hilary of Poitiers, the patron saint of the town, is paraded through the streets with a large following of locals and visitors. It is said that Saint Hilary of Poitiers (315 France) became interested in Christianity, was baptized, and was chosen bishop of his hometown in the year 350. His opposition to Arianism led to his exile; upon returning to Gaul, he reaffirmed his ideas and began a victorious campaign in favor of Catholicism.

The festival is celebrated on the Saturday following January 13. The program begins at 11:00 AM with a mass in honor of the patron saint officiated at the Church of the Incarnation, followed by a procession of the image through various streets of the town.

Dances and songs by verdiales, very popular in Comares and in Axarquía, accompany the patron saint from the moment he leaves the parish church of Nuestra Señora de la Encarnación in procession until reaching Balcón de la Axarquía square.

At 2:00 PM, a large popular paella is enjoyed with the traditional verdiales bands of the municipality. The streets of Comares return to silence when Saint Hilary of Poitiers is taken back to the temple in the afternoon. The festivities conclude with an entertaining evening fair where everyone can enjoy themselves until the early hours of the morning.

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