Spain is a country which witnesses hundreds of festivals and holidays throughout the year which become big time Spain current events. From the smallest mountain village, to all the key streets of Madrid, all celebrate these events with all the zest. In Spain holidays are celebrated with a passion and dedication, that is unique all the world over. Current events in Spain are motivated by religious and cultural festivals, with each village and city having its own personal fiesta in addition to nationally recognized holidays. Spain’s calendar is full of holidays, which become special events in Spain. Travelers can gather at Madrid’s Puerta del Sol with the New Years’ masses and eat a single grape for each stroke of midnight, or engage in the world’s biggest food fight—an epic tomato battle in the town of Bunol.
The country has a shear for a number of festivals spread throughout Spain during the entire year resulting in whichever time tourists visit the country, they can find special events in Spain to amaze and entertain them during their trip. |
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January
Date: 6th
Epiphany or Three Kings Day is Spanish childrens Christmas. Kids leave their shoes out to be filled with gifts by the three wise men, or Three Kings. In towns throughout the country the Kings arrive by car or by camel in parades the night of January 5th.
February
Carnaval: Although the most flamboyant parades take place in Tenerife, Cadiz or Sitges (Barcelona) almost all cities celebrate in costume and festivities in some way.
March
March 19: Las Fallas in Valencia. Paper maché figures up to 30 feet tall are torched this night lighting up the sky of Valencia. The constructions of wood and paper represent political and social criticism.
April
Semana Santa: It’s Spain’s most pious and spectacular fiesta. Easter religious processions takes place through out Spain, and the most famous takes place in Seville, Valladolid, Toledo Murcia and Cuenca.
Festival of the Moors and the Christians in Alcoy: This reenactment of the battle of 1275 in which the Catholic knights aided by St. George ousted the infidel invaders brings history alive.
April Fair (Sevilla): This brings out the best of Andalusian hospitality. Horse parades and men and women in traditional Andalusian dress mixed with sevillanas and flamenco music make this quite a picturesque fiesta.
May
The Jerez Horse Fair: Equestrian events and bullfighting, flamenco music and dance.
San Isidro: It sees 2 weeks of bullfighting in honor of the patron saint of Madrid.
Romería del Rocío in Almonte (Huelva).
June
Corpus Christi is celebrated with magnificent processions in Toledo and Stiges on June25.
June 29: The wine war in Haro (La Rioja) wastes thousands of gallons of delicious Rioja wine. One can watch people using the bota bag as a squirt gun instead of a canteen.
July
San Fermines (Pamplona): The running of the bulls through the streets of Pamplona (Navarra). It’s a week of nonstop wine, merrymaking and bravado.
August
Malaga: Ferias in Malaga around the 19th of August. Festive atmosphere with music, bull fights, open air concerts and foods.
Alcalá de Henares: Fiestas de San Bartolomé around the 24th of August. Open air concerts, a temporary amusement park, street theater and fireworks. Special events held by each of the Peñas.
Salamanca: The Ferias de Virgen de la Vega start on September 8th with activities for children, traditional dances, a temporary amusement park, theater, open air concerts and fireworks.
September
Date: 24th
La Merced is celebrated in Barcelona with concerts, fireworks, and parades featuring Cabezudos which is people wearing costumes with giant paper maché heads.
October
Date: 12th
Fiesta del Pilar (Zaragoza): Children of Zaragoza dress in regional costumes for parades and jota dance contests.
November
Date:12th to 20th
Film Festival in Alcalá de Henares takes place.
December
Fiestas Navideñas:
Date: 31st
Noche Vieja (New Year’s Eve), people gather at Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, to eat 12 grapes, one on each stroke of midnight. |
