Like anywhere else, the city of Malaga also has its own distinctive symbols that differentiate it from other cities. Specifically, the flower that represents the city on the Costa del Sol is the biznaga. A plant that only locals know about, but, although it is unknown, it will make anyone fall in love with it thanks to its undeniable beauty and its captivating aroma.
If you take a stroll through the Larios Street, the surroundings of the Malaga Cathedral or Cathedral of the Incarnation, or the Plaza de las Flores, where the exclusive gastrobar is located. Kraken, In this town, famous for its exquisite tapas, you are sure to come across the biznagueros, who are the people who sell beautiful bunches of jasmine flowers nailed to dry stalks, forming a hemispherical structure. These flowers are the biznagas.
The biznagas are so characteristic that the prize awarded at the Malaga Spanish Film Festival is called ‘’Biznaga de oro’’, and there is even a statue in honour of the biznagueros in the Pedro Luis Alonso Gardens, very close to the Malagueta beach.
The fact that the biznaga is considered the flower of Malaga is no coincidence, as everything has its origins and the history of Malaga. In this post we will tell you how this flower became the symbol of the city and the figure of the biznaguero.
Origin of the biznaga
The biznaga is not a flower that is born, so to speak. Unlike other flowers, such as roses or daisies, the biznaga is made. It is a work of art created by the biznagueros that consists of carefully arranging jasmines one by one until they form a sort of bouquet.
The origin of the biznaga goes back to the Arabian past in Malaga (Al-Andalus), in fact, the term Biznaga is an Arabian concept, which means ‘’gift from God’’. This bouquet was born with the aim of repelling mosquitoes, because although its sweet aroma dazzles everyone, it is not so pleasant for mosquitoes.
Nowadays it is used more for decoration, although there are still people in Malaga who always keep a biznaga on their bedside table so that not a single mosquito can get near it.
The biznaguero of Malaga
The biznaguero is a street vendor of biznagas. This is a job that has existed for centuries in the city of Malaga, which has been passed down from generation to generation and is considered a family business.
As in all public-facing jobs, the biznagueros also have their own uniform. This consists of a white shirt, black trousers, a red sash and espadrilles.
So that we can enjoy the biznagas and their sweet scent during the summer nights, the biznagueros start their work at the end of winter. They collect the nerdo stems, clean them so that only the stalk remains and leave them in the open air while they wait for the jasmine to bloom in summer and then insert them one by one on the stalk. If in addition to satisfying your sense of smell, you also want to delight your taste buds, then head to the restaurant Wanda Fish and try their rice dishes, you won't want to try any others!
The highest peak for the biznagueros is the Feria de Málaga, where the biznagas take centre stage in the dresses and costumes of the locals and tourists.
In short, if you are visiting Malaga in the near future, don't forget to take a look at the biznagueros and buy your own biznaga to decorate and scent your home with this beautiful and unique flower.
