¨La Tomatina¨
Valencia Tomato Fight Festival
August. Buñol, Valencia.
Every year around 30,000 people descend on the Spanish town of Buñol
(in the Valencia region of Spain) to throw more than 240,000 pounds of
tomatoes at each other as part of the La Tomatina festival.
Tamborrada de San Sebastian
The San Sebastian Drum Festival.
January. San Sebastian, Basque Country.
A march to the deafening sounds of drums, as groups of drummers
parade through the city on the night of the first day of the year. The next
morning, the "Tamborrada Infantil" (Child Drummer's Ceremony) is
celebrated.
La Endiablada
The Disguised Devils
February. Cuenca, Castilla y La Mancha.
People of this village celebrate disguised as devils in this festival of
prehistoric origin. The young boys of the town dressed as devils -
wearing pants and jackets painted in bright designs, with large cowbells
tied to their waists, and multicolored paper hats, which are replaced later
on with cardboard bishop mitres - run through the streets, dance at the
entrance and inside the church, pretend to wash the statue of San Blas,
and march in procession with it to the uninterrupted sound of the
cowbells.
Fallas de San Jose
March. Valencia.
This Fiesta dates from the Middle Ages, but it did not acquire the
personality we know today until the middle of the last century. The
festivites include a nighttime parade; a procession of the old towns of
Valencia; the offerings of flowers to Nuestra Senora de los
Desamparados (Our Lady of the Forsaken), patroness of the city; and
the famous "Nit del Foc" (Night of the Fire), on which all the "fallas"
(grotesque and humorous scenes made up of carboard figures) are
burned.
Semana Santa,
ANDALUCÍA and others week before Easter
Year after year, each and every village proudly enjoys the beauty and
mystery of "Semana Santa" although there are variances and some
towns for instance, will preserve certain traditions more than others.
Feria de Abril
April Fair
April. Sevilla, Andalucia.
Shortly after Holy Week, the Seville Fair opens, brimming over with joy
and full of spectacularity. Morning, evening and night - the height being
at midday during the long cavalcade of riders, and late at night when the
spirit takes over the thousand throats of the "cantaores" (flamenco
singers) and the legs and arms of the "bailaoras" (dancers) with their
four sevillanas - the Real de la Feria blazes with multicolored tents,
wreaths and paper lanterns outlined against the sky.
Fiesta de Moros y Cristianos
(Moors and Christians)
April 22 to April 24. Alicante, Valencia.
Starting with the feast of the Holy Christ, in Valverde del Jucar (Cuenca)
in January and ending with the "Moorish King" in Agost (Alicante) in
December, almost one hundred and fifty celebrations of "Moors and
Christians" take place over the length and breadth of the country. The
majority are found in Alicante where the festivities become livelier and
more numerous as the days pass. As early as the 17th century, groups
of Moors and Christians drove through the town accompanied by noisy
bands, after which a "battle" ensues, ending with the triumph of the
followers of the Cross, who surround the Moors and defeat them.
Everything goes on amidst the noise of fireworks and the ringing of bells.
Festival de los Patios Cordobeses
The Cordoba Patio Festival.
May. Cordoba, Andalucia.
This centuries-old festival includes the pilgrimage of the conquering
Virgin of the Linares Sanctuary across the countryside with horsemen
and richly decorated coaches, a competition of Mary Crosses and a
Patio, Iron Grille and Balcony Contest in which the patios, small side
street and plazas so typical of the city are filled with flowers.
Corpus Christi
May 29. Toledo, Castilla y La Mancha.
The nun Juliana of Liege used to have a strange vision every time she
began to pray, in which a full moon appeared with its center darkened by
shadow. Finally, Jesus himself told her of the significance of the vision:
the bright circle signified all liturgical celebrations and these were only
darkened by the absence of a feast day dedicated to the exaltation of the
actual presence of Christ in the Eucharist (which was debated at the
time). Official recognition of the feast day was given in 1246. The new
feast day arrived in Spain sometime during the 14th century. In the
procession, the main feature is the Host, housed in magnificent
masterpieces of silverwork.
Hogueras de San Juan
June 20 to June 29. Alicante, Valencia.
A series of ancient rituals which were followed on this, the shortest night
of the year, when light triumphs over darkness, have been studied in
minute detail in the work of Baroja. In these rituals, the essential features
are the sun, fire and water. Around the feast of San Juan the streets are
often decorated with branches and leaves, especially the balconies of
young girls in love, who are serenaded; pines and poplars are planted;
pilgrimages ('romerias') are undertaken; straw effiges are burnt; the herb
thyme is blessed; and 'sanjuanera' songs are sung.
Fiestas de Haro
Summer. Haro, La Rioja.
Festivities are strung out through the summer, but the most famous
Festival in the city is celebrated on the 29th June - the day of San Pedro.
During this Festival the famous "Wine Battle" takes place in the Riscos
de Bilibio.
Running of the Bulls
SAN FERMÍN, PAMPLONA July
The festival of San Fermin is by far the best known event taking place in
Pamplona. TV-spectators in all the world are surprised, impressed or
shocked each year when they watch the spectacle of bulls running after
people down the streets.
Dia de Santiago
July 25. Santiago de Compostela, Galicia.
Celebration of the patron Saint of Spain. Fireworks, parades, televised
mass. National holiday.
Romeria Vikinga
August 3. Pontevedra, Galicia.
An splendid simulation of the Viking invasion of the "Torres de Oeste,"
which are defended by the Christian natives. After the 'battle'" everybody
drinks red wine from the Ulla River and eats seafood, all for free. The
feast is followed by folkloric dancing, in which everyone participates.
Fiestas Patronales de La Virgen de Gracia
September. Albacete, Castilla y La Mancha.
With more than 400 years of tradition behind them, the Fiestas of
Caudete are celebrated every year to honour its Virgin, La Virgen de
Gracia. The main components are the fireworks, gunpowder, music,
procession, and flower offering to the Virgin.
Fiestas de la Vendimia Riojana
La Rioja Wine Festival
September (around the 21st, the Day of San Mateo). Logrono, La Rioja.
Harvesting festivities of one of the most renown wine regions in Spain.
The Rioja is the center of a very important wine culture.
Valencia Tomato Fight Festival
August. Buñol, Valencia.
Every year around 30,000 people descend on the Spanish town of Buñol
(in the Valencia region of Spain) to throw more than 240,000 pounds of
tomatoes at each other as part of the La Tomatina festival.
Tamborrada de San Sebastian
The San Sebastian Drum Festival.
January. San Sebastian, Basque Country.
A march to the deafening sounds of drums, as groups of drummers
parade through the city on the night of the first day of the year. The next
morning, the "Tamborrada Infantil" (Child Drummer's Ceremony) is
celebrated.
La Endiablada
The Disguised Devils
February. Cuenca, Castilla y La Mancha.
People of this village celebrate disguised as devils in this festival of
prehistoric origin. The young boys of the town dressed as devils -
wearing pants and jackets painted in bright designs, with large cowbells
tied to their waists, and multicolored paper hats, which are replaced later
on with cardboard bishop mitres - run through the streets, dance at the
entrance and inside the church, pretend to wash the statue of San Blas,
and march in procession with it to the uninterrupted sound of the
cowbells.
Fallas de San Jose
March. Valencia.
This Fiesta dates from the Middle Ages, but it did not acquire the
personality we know today until the middle of the last century. The
festivites include a nighttime parade; a procession of the old towns of
Valencia; the offerings of flowers to Nuestra Senora de los
Desamparados (Our Lady of the Forsaken), patroness of the city; and
the famous "Nit del Foc" (Night of the Fire), on which all the "fallas"
(grotesque and humorous scenes made up of carboard figures) are
burned.
Semana Santa,
ANDALUCÍA and others week before Easter
Year after year, each and every village proudly enjoys the beauty and
mystery of "Semana Santa" although there are variances and some
towns for instance, will preserve certain traditions more than others.
Feria de Abril
April Fair
April. Sevilla, Andalucia.
Shortly after Holy Week, the Seville Fair opens, brimming over with joy
and full of spectacularity. Morning, evening and night - the height being
at midday during the long cavalcade of riders, and late at night when the
spirit takes over the thousand throats of the "cantaores" (flamenco
singers) and the legs and arms of the "bailaoras" (dancers) with their
four sevillanas - the Real de la Feria blazes with multicolored tents,
wreaths and paper lanterns outlined against the sky.
Fiesta de Moros y Cristianos
(Moors and Christians)
April 22 to April 24. Alicante, Valencia.
Starting with the feast of the Holy Christ, in Valverde del Jucar (Cuenca)
in January and ending with the "Moorish King" in Agost (Alicante) in
December, almost one hundred and fifty celebrations of "Moors and
Christians" take place over the length and breadth of the country. The
majority are found in Alicante where the festivities become livelier and
more numerous as the days pass. As early as the 17th century, groups
of Moors and Christians drove through the town accompanied by noisy
bands, after which a "battle" ensues, ending with the triumph of the
followers of the Cross, who surround the Moors and defeat them.
Everything goes on amidst the noise of fireworks and the ringing of bells.
Festival de los Patios Cordobeses
The Cordoba Patio Festival.
May. Cordoba, Andalucia.
This centuries-old festival includes the pilgrimage of the conquering
Virgin of the Linares Sanctuary across the countryside with horsemen
and richly decorated coaches, a competition of Mary Crosses and a
Patio, Iron Grille and Balcony Contest in which the patios, small side
street and plazas so typical of the city are filled with flowers.
Corpus Christi
May 29. Toledo, Castilla y La Mancha.
The nun Juliana of Liege used to have a strange vision every time she
began to pray, in which a full moon appeared with its center darkened by
shadow. Finally, Jesus himself told her of the significance of the vision:
the bright circle signified all liturgical celebrations and these were only
darkened by the absence of a feast day dedicated to the exaltation of the
actual presence of Christ in the Eucharist (which was debated at the
time). Official recognition of the feast day was given in 1246. The new
feast day arrived in Spain sometime during the 14th century. In the
procession, the main feature is the Host, housed in magnificent
masterpieces of silverwork.
Hogueras de San Juan
June 20 to June 29. Alicante, Valencia.
A series of ancient rituals which were followed on this, the shortest night
of the year, when light triumphs over darkness, have been studied in
minute detail in the work of Baroja. In these rituals, the essential features
are the sun, fire and water. Around the feast of San Juan the streets are
often decorated with branches and leaves, especially the balconies of
young girls in love, who are serenaded; pines and poplars are planted;
pilgrimages ('romerias') are undertaken; straw effiges are burnt; the herb
thyme is blessed; and 'sanjuanera' songs are sung.
Fiestas de Haro
Summer. Haro, La Rioja.
Festivities are strung out through the summer, but the most famous
Festival in the city is celebrated on the 29th June - the day of San Pedro.
During this Festival the famous "Wine Battle" takes place in the Riscos
de Bilibio.
Running of the Bulls
SAN FERMÍN, PAMPLONA July
The festival of San Fermin is by far the best known event taking place in
Pamplona. TV-spectators in all the world are surprised, impressed or
shocked each year when they watch the spectacle of bulls running after
people down the streets.
Dia de Santiago
July 25. Santiago de Compostela, Galicia.
Celebration of the patron Saint of Spain. Fireworks, parades, televised
mass. National holiday.
Romeria Vikinga
August 3. Pontevedra, Galicia.
An splendid simulation of the Viking invasion of the "Torres de Oeste,"
which are defended by the Christian natives. After the 'battle'" everybody
drinks red wine from the Ulla River and eats seafood, all for free. The
feast is followed by folkloric dancing, in which everyone participates.
Fiestas Patronales de La Virgen de Gracia
September. Albacete, Castilla y La Mancha.
With more than 400 years of tradition behind them, the Fiestas of
Caudete are celebrated every year to honour its Virgin, La Virgen de
Gracia. The main components are the fireworks, gunpowder, music,
procession, and flower offering to the Virgin.
Fiestas de la Vendimia Riojana
La Rioja Wine Festival
September (around the 21st, the Day of San Mateo). Logrono, La Rioja.
Harvesting festivities of one of the most renown wine regions in Spain.
The Rioja is the center of a very important wine culture.
| Festivales de España |
| Festivales de España |
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| Some of the festivals that are celebrated in Spain |
