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La Voz de Madrid

Alcalá de Henares Hornazo Festival Consolidates Tradition with Large Turnout and Music

Hundreds of residents gathered at the Ermita del Val esplanade to celebrate Easter Monday with gastronomy and cultural performances.

Image of an Alcalá hornazo at a popular celebration.
IA

Image of an Alcalá hornazo at a popular celebration.

Hundreds of residents from Alcalá de Henares gathered at the Ermita del Val esplanade this Easter Monday to celebrate the traditional hornazo festival, an event combining gastronomy, music, and a strong sense of community.

The festive day in Alcalá de Henares was marked by a family pilgrimage atmosphere, where attendees shared improvised picnics and conversations. The Ermita del Val esplanade gradually filled with groups of friends and families, many attending for the hornazo tradition, a pastry that in this locality holds special significance as a symbol of gathering and social cohesion.
Chef Iván Plademunt was responsible for preparing the hornazo, respecting the traditional recipe while incorporating a gluten-free version to broaden participation. The preparation process was closely followed by many, adding an educational component to the celebration, allowing attendees to understand the making of this recipe deeply rooted in local memory and craftsmanship.
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"To preserve the Complutense identity, recover and disseminate our gastronomic traditions, foster intergenerational encounters, and promote local tourism."

Isabel Ruiz Maldonado · First Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Tourism
Music was another fundamental pillar of the event, with the participation of various groups and associations that enlivened the esplanade. Among them were the “Quintería” dance group from the Casa Regional de Castilla-La Mancha, the Alcalá Dulzaina Group, the “Pliego de Cordel” Cultural Association, the Belén Rodríguez Dance School, the dulzaina group from the Centro de Castilla y León, and the Henares Choir and Rondalla. These performances created a sound mosaic that invited the participation of all present, building a strong sense of community.
The celebration was attended by institutional representatives, including the First Deputy Mayor and Councillor for Tourism, Isabel Ruiz Maldonado, the Councillor for Festivals and Popular Traditions, Antonio Saldaña, and councillors Esther de Andrés, Víctor Cobo, and Pilar Cruz. Socialist councillors Enrique Nogués, Rosa Gorgues, and Diana Díaz also attended. Their presence highlighted the City Council's support for initiatives that strengthen local identity and promote tourism.
The success of the event was measured not only by attendance but by the quality of the gathering, demonstrating that Alcalá de Henares knows how to keep its traditions alive without turning them into mere exhibitions. The hornazo stood as a metaphor for simplicity and shared experience, an intergenerational meeting point that reaffirms the city's identity.

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