Balmy hot summer evening filled with Christmas traditionNerja swapped its usual soundtrack of summer for the unmistakable sound of Andalucian Christmas carols on Saturday, August 1, as Zambombas al Fresquito visited the town for the first time. Traditional villancicos echoed through the streets as residents and visitors paused to enjoy an event rarely seen outside the Christmas season. First stop outside the area of MijasNerja became the first town outside Mijas to host the travelling version of Zambombas al Fresquito, an initiative organised by the Asociacion Amigos del Zambombeo to promote Malaga’s pastoral tradition in different towns across the province. Each group performed a selection of traditional carols and popular Christmas songs, accompanied by guitars, tambourines, zambombas and other instruments closely associated with Malaga’s pastoral music. Christmas may still be months away, but for a few hours in Nerja, festive spirit arrived early, and nobody seemed to mind.