The Almudena celebration will include a sweet stop at the Plaza Mayor next Monday. Starting at 12:30 p.m., the heart of Madrid will host the preparation of a giant Almudena crown, an initiative that the City Council promotes every year in collaboration with the Madrid Association of Chefs and Pastry Chefs (ACYRE). The event will allow attendees to watch the preparation of one of the sweets most closely associated with the patron saint’s festival.
Once it’s finished, it will be time to taste it. Around 1,000 servings will be offered to attendees, while supplies last. Distribution will take place after the cake is made, so 12:30 p.m. marks the start of the activity and not necessarily the start of the tasting. The estimated quantity is approximate and will be subject to the availability of the cake.
What Is the Almudena Crown?
The Almudena Crown was created in 1978 as a tribute to Madrid’s patron saint. Since then, it has established itself as one of the culinary symbols of this celebration, with its own distinct identity within the city’s traditions. The preparation of a giant version brings that connection to the plaza and makes the dessert the centerpiece of a shared activity.
There will also be various performances to celebrate the patron saint’s day. From 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., the Los Castizos Association of Madrileños and Friends will present a Goyesque zarzuela and musical numbers in the traditional “castizo” style, featuring genres such as the chotis and the pasodoble, right in the square.
In the afternoon, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., the celebration will feature various expressions of Madrid and Castilian folklore, ranging from 18th-century Goyesque dances to Castilian dances and traditional dances from the 19th and 20th centuries.