Festivals play a major role in Spanish life. They are eagerly awaited and planned well in advance. Each city and region has its own special fiesta, often in honor of a patron saint. Activities associated with fiestas include processions, fireworks, dancing, and the wearing of the regional costume, bullfights, and amusement attractions.
Here are a few
Three Kings Celebrations is an evening parade on January 5th. Often, on the eve of Three King's Day, the Christ child is placed in nativity scenes in local homes and stores. Men attired in Three Kings costumes ride on colorfully decorated floats & throw tons of candies to thousands of people lined up on the streets.
Location: Pretty much all-Spanish towns
Carnaval Celebrations takes place the week before Lent.
The Spanish
word "Carnaval" means "farewell to flesh." It is
a period of feasting and revelry just before Lent. The church often refers
to it as the "Devil's Feast." Most Americans know this celebration
by the name "Mardi Gras", as it is called in New Orleans. Celebrations
include wild masquerade dances, parades, fireworks, pinatas, and elections
of nymphs, burning of witches, singing contests, street-singing parties,
patio decorations and costume contest.
Location: Cadiz; El Puerto de Santa Maria; Rota; Chipiona; San Lucar de Barremeda and Jerez de la Frontera
Running of the Bulls, which takes place in the second week of July, is dedicated to Pamplona's Saint Fermin who was martyred when bulls dragged him through the streets. For over six centuries now, the Spanish have held gala festivals involving bulls, dancing and voluminous consumption of red wine. Pamplona, a small town in the northern part of Spain hosts the wildest and most famous of all these festivals -- La Fiesta De San Fermin -- which undoubtedly ranks as one of the most exciting and fun-filled weeks anywhere on earth. The celebration first gained world attention with Hemingway's classic, The Sun Also Rises. Today, thousands of people flock to Pamplona each year to be chased through the same streets by bulls. If you want to have a great time, go to Pamplona.
Location: Pamplona
"Ferias", take place from the end of April to end of May. The
importance and popularity of a given fair depends on the size of the town.
Not only the decoration, lighting of the fairgrounds, number of bullfights,
rides, shooting galleries and "casetas" (booths), but also the
idiosyncrasies of the local people and area wines are the determining factors
in gaining fame for certain fairs. Fair activity programs usually include
at least one bullfight. Late in the evening, after the bullfights, the
fair activities regain new energy and last until dawn.
Location: Andalusia's cities
Location: Bunol
Horse
Fair, takes place late April/early
May. It is a week dedicated
to horses. Jerez is famous for raising the best quality horses in Spain.
Different competitions, including bullfighting on horseback, are held and
awards presented. It also features the annual evening gala of the famous
Andalucian Dancing Horses.
Location: Jerez de la Frontera
-'Els Castellets', building human towers. The 'castle' is deemed to be complete when the very smallest person is at the top and activities begin three days earlier.
-'El Correfoc', 'diablos y demonios', devils and demons armed with all sorts of fireworks go through the streets.
-The Celebration ends with the fireworks and music spectacle on September 24th', at 10 o'clock in the evening.
Location: Barcelona
Location: Madrid
Location: Salamanca
"Semana Santa", takes place during Holy Week/Easter. There
is Palm Sunday and Holy Week processions with a variety of colorfully
decorated floats depicting Christ's Crucifixion, as well as other historically
Christian statues. The participants in the processions dress in special
robes and hoods, which add color and somberness to the event.
Location: Andalusia