Spanish Events and Celebrations
Important Celebrations and Events
The first day of January, is New Year's Day as in the rest of Europe, and is therefore, a public holiday. The Spanish celebrate Christmas well into January. On the sixth of that month, the Epiphany or the day of the Three Wise Men (El dia de los Reyes Magos) is celebrated with colorful parades and figures dressed as camels and kings, throwing out candy and small gifts to the children. As tradition tells it, the three wise men receive wish letters from Spanish children and bring them presents the eve before Epiphany, when shoes are left out to be magically filled with gifts.
February is a quiet month while March gives way to Carnival which is especially worthwhile seeing in Cadiz and Tenerife. Fallas is the Fire Festival of Valencia, which take place just before the winter season leaves.
A feast is held on the third Sunday of Lent in honour of Mary Magdalene and Holy Week, Semana Santa, takes place in either March or April depending on the year. Impressive parades are held on Spanish streets. Those in Andalusia are particularly beautiful. The Seville Fair also takes place during April, usually two weeks after Easter. Many other fairs (ferias) throughout the country open in late April and during May.
Around this time of the year bullfighting season opens in Madrid. Whitsunday celebrations are also held throughout Spain. In Andalusia, on the Costa de la Luz, a region famous for its pilgrimages to popular shrines where great fiestas are held, an important romeria (Spanish for pilgrimage as pilgrims used to walk to Rome and were referred to as "romeros") - The Rocío Pilgrimage - is held at this time of year. This romeria is devoted to the Virgen del Rocío, (Madonna of the Dew). The famous Cordoba Patio Contest is held in mid-May and features home owners competing for the prize awarded to the most beautifully decorated patio.
In June, Corpus Christi is celebrated and in Toledo the processions in honor of this holiday are especially impressive. On the eve of June 23, San Juan Festival, a pagan event, is celebrated, involving many bonfires and general mayhem in the streets of Spain. Bonfires are set up especially on the beaches and when fires dwindle somewhat, people begin to show off skills by jumping over them.
On July 16, the fishing towns and villages honor the Virgen del Carmen, protectress of seamen and sailors. Parading her statues by the water, one of these statues is later set adrift on a boat. San Fermin festival is held for about a week from July 7 to July 14. In Pamplona , the famous running of the bulls is held.
August is taken up with various events paying homage to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary. A very popular festival, or rather food fight, La Tomatina, is held during the last week of this summer month in Buñol, about 30km from Valencia.
On October 12 celebrations are held in honor of the Virgen del Pilar. The discovery of America in 1492 by Columbus is also celebrated on Columbus Day on the 2nd Monday in October followed by All Saint son November 1.
December includes Constitution Day, The Immaculate Conception of Mary as well as Christmas.
Would you like to celebrate alongside the Spaniards and other overseas visitors in Spain? If so then a Language Study Tour is ideal for you.
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