Día de la Mochila en Ceuta

Introduction and local significance

The Día de la Mochila en Ceuta is celebrated as one of the most unique, traditional, and deeply rooted festivities in the autonomous city. With an official date set for 1 November 2026, this local festival attracts thousands of citizens each year who temporarily leave urban areas to head en masse to the fields, mountains, and peri-urban areas of the municipality. The essence of the day lies in carrying a backpack specifically loaded with provisions, a simple gesture that transforms the natural landscape into an intergenerational meeting point where outdoor coexistence is the absolute highlight. This custom has a profound social significance that transcends a mere excursion, becoming an unmistakable hallmark of the people of Ceuta, who come with family and friends to enjoy the fields and mountains while carrying a backpack filled with food. The event combines the journey into nature with a parallel recreational programme that complements the more traditional aspect of the festive day.

Historical origins and tradition

This festival has its roots in the 19th century, although historians do not unanimously agree on a single exact origin. One of the main theories links the custom to men returning to Ceuta after finishing the harvest of nuts on the peninsula. Another interpretative line connects the tradition with the ancient practice of ancestors visiting the cemetery to lay flowers in memory of the deceased, carrying a backpack with food to ensure sustenance throughout the day due to the real risk of being isolated by rising tides. There are also references that connect the date with the events that took place at Loma de las Mochilas during the African War, a military episode later enhanced by groups of explorers who devised missions into the mountains loaded with bags of nuts for sustenance. As detailed by the official chronicler Gómez Barceló, the Día de la Mochila as it is known today was born when that religious visit to the cemetery evolved in the early 20th century into a family countryside excursion, detaching from its devotional character and becoming established as a festive day based on the consumption of nuts from the Almadraba boats, autumn fruits, and Christmas sweets. As an inseparable part of the tradition, each year participants sing a popular verse while preparing their bags and heading to the mountains: "My backpack, neither the rooster nor the hen will eat it, only my belly." As a permanent testament to this custom, the Parque de San Amaro houses a bronze sculpture sculpted by the Pedrajas brothers that immortalises a family celebrating the festival.

Programme and main events

The institutional and leisure activities scheduled for this edition are entirely concentrated in the Auditorio de la Marina, offering cultural proposals aimed at very diverse audiences over two consecutive days. The programme combines children's shows with concerts and performances by carnival and musical groups to enliven the eve and the main day of the festival. For precise details of the timings and exact locations of each proposal, it is recommended to consult the official programme available in the information sheet for the celebration.

Traditional festival food

The gastronomy of this festival is exclusively based on the traditional products that each participant brings inside their bag or backpack before starting the march to the fields. The repertoire mainly consists of a wide variety of seasonal nuts, including almonds, cashews, hazelnuts, peanuts, walnuts, pistachios, raisins, dried figs, dates, and pumpkin seeds. This selection of hard-shelled fruits is complemented by the traditional chestnuts typical of the autumn season, roasted chickpeas, and various types of chocolate that add a sweet touch to the countryside day. The backpack is necessarily completed with pieces of fresh fruit characteristic of this time of year, notably the presence of juicy pomegranates, ripe cherimoyas, and freshly picked oranges that serve to refresh hikers during their stay in the Ceuta mountains.

Visitor guide and where to stay

The celebration of the Día de la Mochila en Ceuta requires a large-scale logistical and security deployment to ensure the smooth running of the day in the natural environment. The special surveillance and emergency device will officially activate on 1 November from 08:00 to 20:00, while a specialised team of Civil Protection volunteers will monitor the Ceuta mountains from 15:00 on 31 October. To preserve safety and protect the environment, it is reminded that camping and parking of vehicles will not be permitted in the Aranguren area under any circumstances, and private cars may only transit strictly along the forest tracks and roads duly designated for this purpose. Furthermore, the area affected by the forest fire recorded in September 2022 will remain strictly cordoned off and signposted to prevent access by hikers, with an absolute prohibition on lighting fires in all outdoor areas, covering both the García Aldave enclaves and Monte Hacho, peri-urban areas, and open spaces. For the coordination of the forces, the Advanced Command Post will be located at the Mirador de Isabel II. In terms of cleanliness, the local administration will distribute specific bags in camping areas and place a total of 50 additional containers, 25 tables, and 30 biodegradable bins to promote environmental sustainability. It is advisable to book accommodation well in advance in the municipality itself or in nearby towns to facilitate travel to the evening events and enjoy the festival comfortably.