Just a few days after All Saints’ Day, Madrilenians will be able to enjoy a new celebration on their calendar. This is the day of Our Lady of Almudena, patron saint of Madrid, celebrated next Saturday, November 9.
Madrid workers are impatiently awaiting the arrival of this festivitylocalfrom which they benefit only in the capital and not in the rest of the Community. However, this year will hardly change the calendar for many, as it falls in SATURDAY.
Almudena Day has great cultural and religious importance in Madrid, since homage to the city’s patron saint is paid not only on November 9, but for several days. And the capital’s Town Hall organizes a wide calendar of typical events such as mass, procession, floral offering and tasting of typical sweetsthe crown of Almudena.
In addition, this year, as part of the activities marking this celebration, the Madrid en Vivo association, in collaboration with the Department of Culture, Tourism and Sports, is organizing ‘Patronas 2024’, a concert series featuring exclusively female artists. You can access the full program on their website.
Then we tell you the most important acts for La Almudena Day and we provide you with the information to find the typical sweetness of this holiday.
Program of activities and concerts for Almudena 2023
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5:30 p.m.: Performance of the Orfeón de la Sociedad with concerts organized by Madrid City Hall in the Cathedral
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7:45 p.m.: Floral offering and performances by Madrid groups in the Plaza de la Almudena
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8:30 p.m.: Youth vigil at the Cathedral
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10:00 a.m.: Floral and solidarity offering in the Plaza de la Almudena, which will be available until 8:00 p.m.
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11:00 a.m.: Eucharist and subsequent procession with a circular route that will pass through the Almudena Cathedral, Mayor Street, Santiago Street, Requena Street and Bailén Street, finally returning to the Cathedral.
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11:30 a.m.: performances by Madrid groups in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento
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12:30 p.m.: concert by the Los Castizos association in the Plaza Mayor
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5:00 p.m.: parade from the Cathedral to the Town Hall
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6:00 p.m.: concert by the Jesús el Pobre group in the Plaza de la Almudena.
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11:00 a.m.: Parade and floral offering of Veterans of the Armed Forces in Almudena Square
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11:30 a.m.: Floral offering from the Regional Houses in Almudena Square
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11:45 a.m.: Parade of Regional Houses from the Cathedral to the Town Hall
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12:00 p.m.: Performance of the Music of the Three Falls in the Plaza de la Almudena
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8:00 p.m.: Concert by the Municipal Symphony Orchestra of Madrid in the Cathedral
Where can you find typical Almudena sweets?
One of the most characteristic aspects of this Madrid celebration is its typical pastry: the crown, also known as Almudena rosco. At first glance, it may look like a roscón de Reyes. There are differences, however, since the Madrid dessert is generally simpler in its decoration.
Also, in terms of taste, the crown dough is slightly denser and less fragrant than that of Roscón, which generally contains orange blossom water and other flavorings.
Those who wish to taste this traditional Madrid dessert can do so free from 12:30 p.m. on November 9 in the Plaza Mayor. However, it is also possible to buy the crown in the pastry shops that offer it on these dates. Some of the best known are El Riojano, La Mallorquina, Pan Delirio or El Panazo.
