James Warren
AS Nerja prepares for its 2020 Virtual Fair following the cancellation of its feria, documents have revealed that 110 years ago the annual celebration was also cancelled due to a pandemic.
Handwritten documents housed in the Municipal Archive in Nerja show then mayor Sebatian Ruiz, cancelling the 1910 festivities due to the cholera pandemic that was spreading rapidly across the globe.
“We feel that the gathering of the public for the celebration of the feria is highly inappropriate at this time, therefore all events between October 9 – 11 will be cancelled,” read the letter.
The news was announced at an extraordinary plenary session on September 3 of that year.
While Spain was not particularly hit with the disease thanks to advances in modern medicine at the time, many parts of lesser developed countries such as India, Russia and the Philippines suffered hundreds of thousands of deaths.
Fast forward 110 years and the 2020 Nerja Feria was launched last week, however thanks to the wonders of modern technology, the entire celebration will be able to be viewed online.
All the traditional festivities, awards and activities will still be present and experienced via various social media platforms and local media.
Celebrations will begin on Friday, with updates throughout the weekend culminating in the traditional Virgen del Pilar mass held at the Church of El Salvador.
To experience the 2020 Nerja Feria, visit the official Facebook page facebook.com/tradicionespopularesnerja
