COSTA ALMERIA NEWS: Celebrating traditional Christmas sweet treats in Mojacar

AS part of the annual Festive Season programme, Mojacar council set aside time to celebrate traditional Almeria cuisine, and there is nothing more typical than sweet treats like yule logs, ‘turron’, ‘rosquillas’ and ‘mantecados’. 
Tables in the municipal multi-uses centre were filled with home-made cakes and sweets, accompanied by hot chocolate, giving everyone the chance to sample the delicious results of age-old local baking techniques free of charge.
Local ladies made most of the confectionary, using ingredients provided by the local authority, and putting their love and skill into Christmas flavours which have been passed down from generation to generation.
The event has now run for several years and has grown in popularity, ensuring old recipes, some made with local seasonal products, are not forgotten, gastronomy representing an important aspect of the area’s roots and culture.
Mojacar Mayor Rosmari Cano and members of the local council were on hand to serve and to explain the stories behind the cakes and sweets.
The Mayor highlighted Mojacar’s old traditions, making the point that even when resources were scarce in the village, the doors to people’s homes were always open at Christmas time to share the treats made especially for the occasion by grandmothers.
This year’s event attracted people of various nationalities, who came together to enjoy the seasonal specialities, as well as to compare cultural Christmas traditions.
There was also entertainment with dance performances by Nicky Mainstone’s Prodanza and Natalia Lopez’s Ultima Fusion, and singing by the well-loved Embrujo Mojaquero and La Fuente choirs.