History of La Tomatina

In 1945, on the last Wednesday of August, the young people in Buñol were waiting in the town square for the parade of gigantes y cabezudos that took place during the town’s festival. When the parade arrived, the crowd joined the procession with so much enthusiasm that one of the participants was knocked onto the ground. He did not react well and started hitting everything in his path. His behavior was contagious and fighting broke out among the crowd. A vegetable stand got caught in the crossfire and people started throwing its tomatoes at each other until the police finally contained the spontaneous battle.

The following year, a group of young people provoked a similar scuffle in memory of this fun occasion, although this time they brought tomatoes from home. The tomato fight continued to grow in popularity, but it always ended the same way, with police intervention.

In the 1950s, La Tomatina was banned and as a result some participants were arrested, because rather than backing down, the crowds that attended the fight only continued to grow in number.

The Spanish authorities wavered in the face of this defiance. The government authorized La Tomatina, only to ban it once again in 1957. The response to this decision was a unique demonstration known as the Burial of the Tomato or Entierro del Tomate, in which one large tomato was placed inside a coffin and there was a procession with a band playing funeral marches. The initiative was a great success, as La Tomatina was finally permitted once and for all and added to the official program of the festival held in Buñol during the last week of August in honour of San Luis Bertrán and Virgen de los Desamparados, the patron saints of the town.

Over time it became more and more popular, enjoying a spike in popularity due to a news report about it that was broadcasted on Spanish national television in 1983, and in 2002 the government of Spain declared it a Festival of International Touristic Interest.

When and where can I enjoy La Tomatina?

The fight takes place on the last Wednesday of August in Plaza del Pueblo, the main square of Buñol. Every year more than 30,000 people gather to throw tomatoes at each other for three hours. If you plan to attend the tomato fight, our advice for making sure your day goes off without a hitch is pretty simple.

Take some notes to enjoy La Tomatina as much as possible. Don’t bring bottles or hard objects that might cause accidents and injuries; throwing or ripping t-shirts is not allowed; in order to do the least damage possible, crush your tomatoes before throwing them; stay a safe distance away from the trucks transporting the “ammunition”; and stop throwing tomatoes when you hear the gunshot that signals the end of the fight.

As far as footwear goes, it’s better to wear closed-toe shoes rather than sandals, which are easier to lose in the commotion. You’ll want to wear your oldest clothes, since they will be practically unwearable afterwards. Also, bring swimming glasses to prevent the tomatoes from getting in your eyes and stinging them, and a waterproof camera is the best option for taking photos.

It’s remarkable how this festival which originated in Spain in 1945 as a childish joke has transcended borders, now being imitated in places such as the Colombian town of Sutamarchán, San José de Trojas in Costa Rica, Dongguan in China, and Reno in the United States, among others.

La Tomatina is the perfect opportunity to explore the lovely Buñol, a diverse and spectacular town. The town played a pioneering role in the industrialization of Valencia, and it is home to a wealth of history and artwork centered around a castle that has been pristinely maintained. Buñol also has a wide variety of natural areas surrounded by mountains and forests with hiking and bicycle paths as well as rock climbing courses - the perfect destination for nature lovers.

You can also read this article in Spanish and French.

Numerous artisan workshops in the city and the Valencian Community participate in the Fallas, as the celebration has spread to other towns in the region, lasting from March 15^th to 19^th.

What are the Fallas

Originally, carpenters burned their wood shavings and splinters on the eve of Saint Joseph’s Day. In the 18^th century, they started burning wooden boxes instead, displaying crude wax dolls dressed in old clothing and satirical posters poking fun at someone from each neighborhood of the city.

This all evolved thanks to the creativity of local artists who in the early 20^th century began to create all kinds of figures, the ninots, from papier-mâché. Today they use polystyrene, a malleable soft plastic that makes the monuments shinier. The fallas have continuously grown in size until reaching 32 meters high. Today, 385 fallas are located in the city and over 250 are scattered throughout the rest of the province.

Stages of the Fallas

The fallas' time on the streets and in the plazas ends when they are consumed by flames in the Cremá, on the night of Saint Joseph’s Day. Each falla consists of a central figure: the tallest one has smaller ones attached, alluding to one or several themes.

Everything regarding the creation of the monuments falls on L'associació de Artistes Fallers, while the organization of the festival is the responsibility of the Junta Central Fallera, composed of several commissions from all over the city. They have meeting places (Casal Faller) where the members decide on the theme of their monument and how to secure funding for it and the other costs of the festival. The Casal Faller also serve as meeting places, hosting cultural and social activities take place.

There are also junior committees, made up exclusively by children who set up their fallas, with kid-friendly themes and aesthetics. The fallas are installed on the streets on March 15^th, known as Plantá Day, although some exceptionally large ones have had to be set up weeks beforehand using cranes. The Cremá (burning) of the fallas is the climax of the festival and is preceded by several symbolic ceremonies. The first of all is the Crida, on the last Sunday in February, when the Fallera Mayor receives the key to the city. For several days, nearly 800 ninots are exhibited. The committees parade them in festive processions with the hope of currying favor with the public and earning the pardon that saves them from being burned.

The Ninot Cavalcade, the weekend before the week of The Fallas, includes satirical representations of social, political, or sports-related themes. The members, dressed up as ninots, travel on floats and compete for various prizes. The children have their own parade. There is another cavalcade known as the El Reino Cavalcade or the International Folklore Cavalcade. This is a large parade which represents the folklore of the three provinces of the Valencian Community (Valencia, Alicante, and Castellón) and other regions of Spain as well as other countries.

One of the defining characteristics of Las Fallas is its pyrotechnics displays. From March 1^st to 19^th, the Mascletá takes place at 2 pm. Its name comes from a type of firecracker, the masclet, and it consists of a thunderous explosion that can exceed 120 decibels.

Every morning, in what is called the Despertà, the partiers wake up the city by setting off masclets that explode when they hit the ground. Every night from the 15^th to the 19^th between 1 and 1:30 am, fireworks are set off in the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias. The most noteworthy display is the Nit del Foc, on the night of the 18^th into the 19^th, when fireworks fill Valencia's skies.

As a prelude to the burning of the fallas of Valencia, the Cavalcade of Fire has taken place on the afternoon of the 19^th every year since 2005. This has revived the tradition of the comparsas (troupes) dressed as devils and floats dedicated to the god Pluto lighting the fallas on fire. Finally, on the night of the 19^th, the Cremá takes place. This ceremony closes the festival. Fallas are set up on the streets of Valencia and then they are set on fire. These monuments have taken a lot of resources, many hours of work, and the tremendous talent and creativity of artisans who have already gotten to work preparing for next year’s celebration. As far as religious elements go, the Offering to Our Lady of the Forsaken, the patron saint of the city and the Valencian Community, is held in the in the afternoon and early evening of March 17^th and 18^th. Each fallera offers a flower bouquet to the Virgin, creating a spectacular floral tapestry that covers the body of the statue, positioned 14 meters above the floor.

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Christmas traditions that only take place in Spain

Arranging a nativity scene

Many countries decorate and light Christmas trees. Spanish homes add another decorative element to this season: a nativity scene, or belén. Arranging the figures to remember the birth of Jesus Christ is a popular tradition is very common.

And here is a fun fact: Cataluña has its own nativity scene figure, the caganer, a shepherd squatting to relieve himself. It is usually hidden in the scene.

Twelve grapes and twelve strokes

Undoubtedly, eating twelve grapes on New Year’s Eve is one of Spain’s most popular Christmas traditions and one of the most shocking to foreign countries. Every 31st of December, families gather at home or at their local main square and eat a grape per stroke once the clock strikes midnight. Puerta del Sol in Madrid is a good place to have the uvas de la suerte, a tradition that intends to welcome the new year and attract good luck. It is said to have its origins in the 19th century and became popular in the early 20th century.

Wearing red lingerie in New Year’s Eve

This is one of the most interesting traditions that take place on New Year’s Eve: wearing red underwear or lingerie, a colour considered a sign of happiness, success, passion, and good fortune. It is believed that those who want to bring luck to the new year should put on red lingerie before eating the twelve grapes so their dreams come true.

Buying lottery tickets and watching the draws

Many Spaniards look forward to buying lottery tickets, or décimos, and watching the draw on the 22nd of December. For some people, this day marks the real beginning of Christmas.

Most people go about their daily lives, but they listen carefully to the radio, watch television, or scroll through social media to hear the winning numbers and their respective prizes, sung by the students of the San Ildefonso School. But if there is something that people anxiously await anxiously, that is El Gordo, the grand prize. The Sorteo de El Niño, held on the 6th of January, is very renowned as well.

Day of the Holy Innocents, the Spanish April Fool’s Day

The Day of the Holy Innocents, or Día de los Santos Inocentes, is a singular tradition that takes place during the Christmas season. Every 28th of December, people play practical jokes on their family and friends. You can think of it as the Spanish April Fool's Day. A paper doll is a common symbol of this day since it is usually placed on the poor innocent who fell for the practical joke.

Enjoying the Three Kings’ Parade

This tradition delights Spanish children. On the evening of the 5th of January, most Spanish cities hold the Cabalgata de Reyes, or Three Kings’ Parade, which involves floats, Christmas carols, and, of course, the presence of the Three Kings, who will spend the night delivering gifts for every child. In these cabalgatas, pages and other characters give candy to those children who have written a letter to the Three Kings. But they will only get their gifts the next evening if they have been good.

Eating ‘roscón de Reyes’ and other traditional sweets

If there is something people know Spain for, it’s its gastronomy. And Christmas gastronomy is even more special. Seafood, jamón, pig, and suckling lamb are on most Spanish Christmas tables. But we should highlight the Christmas sweets. Turrón or nougat, marzipan, polvorones, mantecados, and dragée or peladillas are the most popular choices to conclude Christmas meals.

However, we can’t forget the roscón de Reyes, a treat that can be found in every Spanish home on the 6th of January. It can be eaten for breakfast, as desserts, or for merienda. This sweet, in the shape of a crown, hides a bean and a tiny figure. Whoever finds the bean in their portion gets to pay the roscón. But if you’re lucky enough to get the figure, you must be crowned king or queen. This is why most roscones come with a golden crown.

Watching the ‘pastorela’ in Madrid

Braojos de la Sierra is a village in Madrid whose Christmas tradition might not be renowned, but it is extremely peculiar. Every 24th and 25th of December, a shepherd dance known as the pastorela is celebrated. Live music and traditional clothes are important as well.

Listening to the Canto de la Sibila

Mallorca’s churches hold the Canto de la Sibila, or Song of the Sibyl, a performance of the popular Misa de Gallo, which takes place every 24th of December. This is one of the weirdest Christmas traditions, yet it has been declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO and Bien de Interés Cultural.

This chant dates back to the Middle Ages. It is sung by a single person who wears a robe and a cloak and holds a sword without the accompaniment of any instrument.

Waiting for the Olentzero and other regional personalities

Although the Three Kings and Santa, known as Papá Noel in Spain, are responsible for delivering gifts to the Spanish children, other Christmas figures help them complete their job in some cities. For instance, Tió de Nadal, or Cagatió, is one of the most cherished Christmas characters in Cataluña and Aragón. This smiling, four-legged log wears a barretina, a traditional Catalan hat. Children must feed Tió and keep him warm with a blanket from the first day of December to the 24th. If they do it correctly, Tió expels sweets and gifts for them.

There is another famous figure in Cataluña, Home dels Nassos, which literally means Men of Noses. Legend has it that he is covered with noses. On the 1st of January, he has 365 noses. He only has one left on the 31st of December, when he wanders the city under his regular appearance.

The Olentzero is similar to Santa, but he visits Basque and Navarrese kids instead. This coalman of robust looks lives in the forest, away from the crowds. He delivers gifts on the 24th of December or Nochebuena.

Just like the Olentzero, the Apalpador is a coalman, but he lives in the Galician mountains. On the 24th and 31st of December, he visits Galician children to make sure they are eating properly and bring them gifts and chestnuts.

You can also read this article in Spanish here.

First events begin the first week of the month with the Crosses of May or the Battle of the Flowers. The floats that go out in procession are decorated with flowers, Manila shaws and multicoloured quilts. It became a contest in 1953. Cruces de San Basilio, San Andrés and San Agustín are some of the most popular areas to enjoy the festivity.

May in Córdoba: a display of crosses and flowers

The Crosses of May

The celebration of the Crosses of May has a religious nature. As its name suggests, the "Cruz de Mayo" is focused on the Christian cross, and it is held every year on the 3rd May. People place crosses decorated with flowers all over the city, in streets and squares. Córdoba is the epicentre of this tradition in Spain, but it also takes place in other cities in Andalusia and in Latin America too. 

Catholic brotherhoods and neighbourhood associations that decorate the crosses open bars in the streets where tapas and drinks are sold. Live concerts enlighten the nights while decorated carriages cross the city, and one can get lost in the vibrant atmosphere of the Andalusian city.

The Patios Festival

The Patios Contest takes place in the middle of May. It is sponsored by the City Council, and its roots date back to 1918. The event is closely related to the local architecture and indoor courtyards that most of the buildings have. Since Roman times, the typical houses of Córdoba were designed around a courtyard in order to mitigate the dry and hot climate. Later, the Muslims added a porch decorated with abundant vegetation that cooled down the interior. It allowed the entry from the street through the courtyard, which had a fountain or a well to collect rainwater. 

Although the patios are taken care of throughout the year, the owners decorate them with flowers for the competition. They dispute the award to the 'Most beautiful courtyard' given by the City Council. At the same time, there is a great variety of performances that welcome the greatest singers and dancers.

During the days the contest takes place, you can visit both public and private patios. We recommend you the Viana’s Palace, a 14th century building known as the ‘Museum of the Courtyards’. It has twelve courtyards to visit, as well as those of the ‘Círuclo de la Amistad’ and the Faculty of Law. There are also patios in religious buildings such as the convents of the Encarnación, Santa Isabel de los Ángeles, Capuchinas, Santa Cruz, Jesús Crucificado and the Corpus Christi.

The origin of the April fair

It was councillors Narciso Bonaplata and José María de Ybarra who came up with the idea of creating an agricultural fair in the city in order to reactivate the economy of this sector in the Andalusian capital. This activity was already celebrated when the King Alfonso X granted the city the right to hold two annual fairs in 1254. However, this became again popular in 1847, thanks to the idea of these two councillors.

For that reason, the original aim of this fair had a strong interest in livestock and trade. The fair attracted a great success among the public, as a large part of society of Seville of the time gathered there. The first fair consisted of 19 stands, however, over the years, that was completely different. In 1858 were around 119 stands. So, the festivity became more a celebration to have fun than to increase the livestock interest. Nowadays, this fact is even more evident, since there are around 1000 stands!

Public and private stands

The fair is like a city due to its 275,000 square metres with different streets and stands. Although it may seem that there is room for everyone, it is not easy to find a stand. The great majority of them are private, so it is forbidden to access them without the invitation of the owner. However, even not having an invitation, it is possible to enjoy this amazing Andalusian atmosphere.

In fact, here are many public stands which are available for those who do not know anyone of the city. As it is above-mentioned, the fair is a little town inside the city of Seville, so maybe if it is your first visit, you will need a map of the location. However, there is even an easier solution for that: Google Maps. This app also includes the streets of the fairgrounds. The main streets are usually Pascual Márquez, Antonio Bienvenida Street, Costillares Street , Ignacio Sánchez Mejías Street and Monolo Vázquez Street.

The façade of the fair, one of its most significant “monuments”

One of the most striking features that give the fair its personality is the façade at the entrance. A temporary construction that changes its spectacular design every year. This tradition dates back to 1896 when it was built ‘la Pasarela’, an iron façade inspired by the materials and the design of the Eiffel Tower. However, this façade was demolished in 1921 and, since then, a temporal one is created for each year. In 1949 was when the first most incredible façade was designed. Since then, this is a high-significant tradition of the April fair.

Las Palmas holds one of the biggest Carnival celebrations in Spain

One of the main events of Carnival is the pregón ("Proclamation"), the ceremony that marks the official start of the festivities with a declaration by a person or group that is distinguished for their artistic career or contributions to the city. The pregón used to take place on the balcony of city hall, but today it is held in Santa Catalina Park, where the Verbena de las Sábanas is held afterwards.

The festival also includes multiple pageants, the most important one being the Queen Pageant (Gala de la Reina), a competition to select a young woman as the Queen of Carnival for an entire year. The contestants wear enormous dresses that almost seem to absorb them. These dresses, known as fantasías, are the true stars of the show, with their feathers and sequins. Accompanied by music and lights, the contest makes for a dazzling spectacle.

Since 1998 the city has also hosted a Drag Queen Pageant, considered one of the most original elements of its Carnival celebration. In a pageant similar to the Queen Pageant, 17 candidates participate in a drag queen competition that does not have any restrictions on gender or sexual orientation.

The Saturday after both pageants, another one of the festival’s main attractions takes place: the Grand Cavalcade, which features the pageant winners and involves hundreds of thousands of people, including comparsas, murgas, and other Carnival groups. There are also dozens of decorated floats and carriages, creating a festive atmosphere in the streets for hours.

In 2011, the Carnival of Las Palmas was declared a Festival of Touristic Interest due to events like these, as well as many other elements such as the colorful and rhythmic contests of the comparsas and murgas, the Canine Carnival, the pasacalles, and the mogollones, which are huge gatherings to enjoy outdoor concerts or DJ sessions during the weeks of Carnival.

After all this partying, it comes time to return to everyday life. The Burial of the Sardine is the tradition that closes out Carnival in Las Palmas. On this last Saturday of the festival, crowds flood the streets to accompany the sardine in its funeral procession to Las Canteras Beach. The sardine is placed on a barge and cremated in the sea, amidst enormous fireworks displays that the crowd, dressed in the black clothes of mourning, watch in amazement. Right after that, the last big mogollón of Carnival begins and everyone in attendance sends the festival off with a good party.

Piorno, a key flower

Piorno broom is a kind of bush that belongs to the legumes. The thickets consist of a bundle of tightly packed branches that are normally green until the flowering period, usually between May and June. Junipers, brooms and other plants live together with this specie, which grows above forest level. Its flowers are white and yellow.

Piornos brooms were significant for the inhabitants of Gredos in the past since they were used as fuel, as a roof to protect against the cold and even to make brooms and baskets. Nowadays, they are not used like that anymore. However, these flowers are mainly used to regenerate poor and fallow land or after a fire, as well as to decorate.

On the other side, this bush is not only located in Gredos, but also around the Iberian Peninsula and part of Europa, such as France, Irland and North Africa. In Spain, it is common to find these flowers in Béjar, Guadarrama, Gata and La Serrota mountain ranges, the Iberian System, the mountains of León and the Pyrenees. However, the most outstanding area is, undoubtedly, in the Gredos mountain range, where 23 varieties of broom flourish on more than 65,000 hectares.

This festival, a link between villages.

More than 10 years ago, the Association of Entrepreneurs of the North of Gredos, a non-profit association, decided to launch the Piorno Festival to attract more tourism to the area. However, not any kind of tourism, but a sustainable tourism that would bring new opportunities of jobs and boost the daily life and economy of these villages. This festival has also become a link between the villages. For example, in 2021, around 29 villages took part in Piorno festival.

There is a great variety of activities, such as yellow ‘tapas’, horse ridings, photography and ornament contests, etc… All of these celebrations take part during a whole month, in which wearing yellow is a very typical tradition.

Here there are the most popular ones which takes places in Spain. Would you like to visit any of them?

Romería de Santa Marta de Ribarterme, Pontevedra

This celebration takes place every 29^th July in a village of Pontevedra, called As Neves. The origin of the devotion to Santa Marta was based on the Way to Santiago in the Middle Ages. However, the pilgrimage of Santa Marta was first mentioned in writing in 1700, more than five centuries of history.

It is fundamental to mention the ‘Procesión de los Cadeleitos’ (Cadeleitos Procession) which consists of a parade of coffins with alive people, carried by relatives, who walk alongside the saint in the procession for different reasons: some have been on the verge of death and want to give thanks to the saint; while others do so out of devotion or to pray. Another curious element is the ‘Trinos de las plegarias’ (Trinos of the prayers). In this celebration, two women and a man follow the procession to the hermitage, and they sing prayers dedicated to the saint.

Romería del Cerro del Cabezo, Andújar (Jaén)

This pilgrimage is considered the oldest one of Spain. It is claimed that the first time that this festivity took place was in 1227, when the Virgen appeared to a shepherd of Colomera. The pilgrimage is followed by thousands of brotherhoods from all over Spain on foot, on horseback, by mule or by cart.

The date of this pilgrimage is the Friday before the last Sunday in April. However, the most significant event is the procession of the ‘Santísima Virgen de la Cabeza’ on Sunday, one of the most popular Spanish pilgrimages.

Romería de la Virgen de Ujué, Navarra

The date of this popular festival is the Sunday after San Marcos festivity (25^th April). The usual starting point is from Tafalla, but pilgrims come from all over Navarre.

Its procession is spectacular, what makes this festivity one of the most popular pilgrimages of the country. Its ‘followers’ walk with large wooden crosses on their shoulders and are dressed in tunics. The final point of this procession is in the 14^th century gothic style Salutation Cross.

Romería de la Virgen del Rocío, Huelva

The brotherhood of Almonte is in charge of organising the pilgrimage of the Virgen del Rocío, one of the most typical in Spain. More than a million of people covered this route every year! Its origin dates back to the 16^th century, and it is celebrated every Whit Monday. More than 121 brotherhoods make the route on foot, horseback or in cart from different places accompanied by music, flamenco costumes and dance along every kilometre of the way.

Its popularity increased even more in 1993, when San Juan Pablo II followed this pilgrimage and claimed: “everyone should be ‘rociero’.” A typical name of those who are very devoted to the Virgin.

Romería de Santa María de los Alarcos, Ciudad Real

This pilgrimage consists of taking the Virgin from her hermitage in Alarcos, where she remains the whole year round, to the parish church of San Pedro four days before Pentecost. She spends four days there and numerous religious ceremonies are celebrated. At the end of this period, the young men of Valverde return her running back to the hermitage. It is said that its origin dates back to 1212 as a commemoration of the battle of Navas de Tolosa.

The entire village travels back in time to the Middle Ages. The bars are now taverns, the inhabitants are medieval villagers and the musicians are troubadours. This incredible metamorphosis is possible thanks to the participations of the local residents since they are in charge of transforming their own houses as inns, decorate the streets and dress up in medieval costumes. For their dedication, Alburquerque has been awarded the ‘Premio Mundo Teatro’ (Theatre World Award), a prestigious European award in the world of acting, which they have won as a collective performance.

In mid-August, the Medieval Festival brings the whole town of Extremadura back several centuries, and its inhabitants are deeply involved in the celebration of the event.

Small theatrical performances take place one after the other in the streets. During these days, you can stroll through the town among beggars, knights and courtiers and have a beer in an earthenware jug or a traditional dish at a country inn (paying with maravedis, of course), take part in the popular dinners and dances or attend the burning of heretics in an act of faith.

The most important theatrical story is that of Don Pedro of Portugal and Doña Inés of Castro, a Portuguese prince who arrives from far away to marry in secret a lady secluded in the castle. This wedding takes places on the main day of the festival, which is the most visited day and lasts until the early hours of the morning. Besides, some witches’ Sabbaths are celebrated in this realistic festival.  

Its medieval heritage has a relevance during these public events since some concerts, knighting and relic processions take place in Santa María del Mercado church. In the Old Town there are medieval markets, parades and performances by fire-eaters and acrobats, while in the majestic Luna Castle everything is decorated as it was in medieval times, recreating court life and constituting an authentic museum of the Middle Ages.

Visitors can also enjoy the history of the different monuments thanks to some organized guided tours. These are undoubtedly days to live a unique experience, immersed in a historic town. Through its streets, perhaps a rascal will steal some maravedis, a damsel will make us fall in love or a knight will amaze us with his bravery in the tournament. In any case, they will make it difficult to forget this visit to the Medieval Festival of Alburquerque.

Holy Week in Seville is probably the most famous in Spain. It is an event of exceptional character and solemnity.

Only the brotherhoods of Triana remained out of this arrangement due to the difficulty of crossing the plank bridge that linked the quarter with the rest of the city. From then on, the Sevillian Holy Week grows and develops times of great splendour. There were others of crisis as the one experienced in all Spain during the 19th century. It was a result of an adverse economic situation that begins to revert after the Bourbon restoration, coinciding with a time defined by the tourism boom. During the Second Republic, there was another crisis due to the refusal of the brotherhoods to go out in procession.

In 1932 the Brotherhood de la Estrella was the only one to parade on Holy Thursday. In its path there are some riots and an anarchist manages to shoot the image of the Virgin. Once the Spanish Civil War was over, and the 20th century advanced, Seville's Holy Week was once again definitively consolidated.

Generally, the brotherhoods are joined by music bands that play different hymns of the Holy Week. Examples are Quinta Angustia, Amargura, Virgen del Valle or Rocío. In addition, at certain points the saetas sound. They are distressing popular songs sung at streets or balconies as the images pass by. At the head of the parade is the cross of the guide. Behind it, others carry elements such as the rulebook, the standard, with the embroidered shield of the brotherhood, or the senatus. The latter is a symbol alluding to Roman iconography in which the signs S.P.Q.R, Senatus Populusque Romanus, are shown.

Floats, on the other hand, are usually the most colourful part of the parades. They are made in accordance with artistic precepts of a high sculptural level and reflect moments of the Passion of Christ or enhance the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The procession then runs along Sierpes Street, San Francisco Square, Constitución Avenue and finally arrives at the cathedral. Another special moment is La Madrugá, which takes place during the night between Good Thursday and Good Friday. Its importance lies in the fact that while it lasts, the order of departure of the processions is reversed. Therefore, the oldest ones parade first, leaving the youngest one in last place. The rest of the days, the different brotherhoods carry out processions according to the calendar set by the General Council.

The Holy Week of Seville is one of the most important celebrations in Spain, as well as one of the most recognized popular and religious events beyond our borders. It is an occasion to enjoy the traditions of Seville's Holy Week. And the essence of a city that becomes a solemn centre of religious feeling and popular attraction for a week.

Main image: Genlab Frank

The night of Saint John’s Day is associated with the pagan celebration of the arrival of summer and the cult of fire on the shortest night of the year

The festival begins on June 20^th. At midnight, the traditional Plantá takes place, which consists of the creation of a great bonfire and a children’s bonfire in each district of the city. Cranes are used for the plantá and the installation of the barracas (festival stalls). Once everything is set up, all those involved in the preparations eat a traditional dinner of coca amb tonyina in the stalls.

The multitude of events that take place surrounding the bonfires includes the entrada de bandas (entrance of the bands), a parade of bands and the bellezas dressed in traditional outfits; as well as the International Folklore Parade (June 23^rd), in which floats and dancers from all over the world parade around the streets of Alicante wearing the customary clothing of their respective countries. And, of course, every day from June 19^th to 24^th at 2:00 in the afternoon, mascletás (pyrotechnics displays) take place in Plaza de los Luceros. Each day the show is put on by a different pyrotechnics group competing against the others. As if that weren’t enough, the event is complete with its own bullfighting festival, which has been held every year since 1929.

The festivities reach their climax on the night of Saint John’s Day, when it comes time for the traditional Cremá. From Benacantil Hill, the site of the majestic Santa Bárbara Castle, an enormous palm-tree shaped firework is set off to announce the beginning of the burning of the bonfires and firecrackers throughout the city, starting with the official bonfire in Plaza del Ayuntamiento. District by district, the bonfires and their corresponding ninots are reduced to ashes amidst fireworks and music on this magical night. And, every year, fire lights up the eyes of all the spectators once again celebrating the arrival of summer.

The satirical song competition is the hallmark of the Carnival in Cádiz, one of the “Treasures of Spain”

These festivals spread from Rome to the rest of Europe and were brought to America in the 15^th century by Spanish and Portuguese ships. By that time, Carnival was associated primarily with Catholicism, as it had become a time when morality and propriety were relaxed before the penitence and sacrifice of Lent.

Carnival in Cádiz faced all the obstacles that have historically confronted this festival, which has been intermittently banned and permitted in Spain over the centuries, depending on the severity or tolerance of the ruling government at the time.

A festival that overcame all obstacles

However, even through dark times, the people of Cádiz have always kept the festival alive. Carnival in Cádiz evolved due to the contributions that merchants from Genoa brought from Italy in the 15^th century. They saw in Cádiz a place from which they could expand trade with northern and central Africa. The masks, streamers, and confetti used in Carnival today are elements adopted from the Italian Carnival celebration.

The earliest written references to Carnival in Cádiz, which is now known around the world, date from the late 16^th century. By that time the festival was already very popular, although due to the difficulties it has faced it has been celebrated at different times of year. Since 1977, it has been held in February on varying dates according to the religious calendar that marks the beginning of Lent, coinciding with the first Carnival after the restoration of democracy in Spain. Since then participation and media interest in the event have increased, and it has been the object of national and international news coverage.Carnival in Cádiz lasts from the Thursday before Ash Wednesday, which marks the beginning of Lent, until the following Sunday, “Domingo de Piñata.” However, the spirit of Carnival remains present in Cádiz throughout the year with Carnaval de los Jartibles (also known as “Carnaval Chiquito” or “Little Carnival”) on the second Sunday of Lent, the “Lo mejó de lo mejón” gala, the “Me Río de Janeiro” festival, a contest for Carnival-related anthologies, and the summertime Carousel of Choruses.

The streets get jam-packed with cheerful crowds

It goes without saying that the city is a bona fide party during Carnival. The streets of Cádiz, decorated with lights, get jam-packed with crowds, especially Calle Columela, one of the most central streets. The party atmosphere starts to heat up days before the official start of Carnival with events called La Pestiñada, La Erizada, and La Ostionada, all of which have a folk essence.

The festival includes parades, cavalcades, dances, musical performances, fireworks, tributes, the burning of the god Momo and the witch Piti, and ceremonies performed by the official Carnival groups (of which there are over 100) as well as other semi-official organizations that take to the streets on the days of the festival.

Much like Carnival in Río de Janeiro (Brazil), there are dazzling parades to the rhythm of samba music. The hallmark of Carnival in Cádiz is the performances by groups who make a mockery of the most cutting-edge current events with their hilarious original songs, which they enter in the Official Contest of Carnival Groups.

A lively Carnival, full of music and art

The competition, which includes over 100 groups and is held in the Gran Teatro Falla, consists of several rounds of eliminations which after a month culminate in a grand finale on the Friday before Ash Wednesday. Groups from all over Andalusia participate in different types of ensembles (choirs, chirigotas, comparsas, quartets) and styles of music (pasodoble, tango, parody, cuplé, refrain, potpourri, miscellaneous). Depending on the type of group, instruments such as snare drums, bass drums, guiro, eunuch flute, kazoo, guitar, bandurria, lute, and claves are used.There is a long list of Carnival participants who have gone down in history as performers or authors of songs. The list of pregoneros (heralds) of Carnival includes names of writers like José María Pemán, Joaquín Calvo Sotelo, Fernando Quiñones and Rafael Alberti, as well as musicians and artists like Rocío Jurado, Mario Moreno (Cantinflas), Isabel Pantoja, Alejandro Sanz, Sara Baras, and Pasión Vega.

Since 2002, the organization of Carnival has fallen on the Board of the Official Contest of Carnival Groups and Festivals of the Carnival of Cádiz.

Carnival in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, well-known around the world, has become one of the most popular celebrations in Spain.

In the 20^th century, the town was able to get around the nationwide ban on Carnival celebrations under the dictatorships of generals Primo de Rivera and Franco. Alongside Cádiz, Bielsa, and a few other very small towns, Santa Cruz de Tenerife was one of a small number of places that continued to celebrate Carnival. In order to do so, the organizers had to make some minor changes to the program, using the name “Winter Festival” instead of Carnival.

This grandiose festival can be said to start on the Wednesday before Carnival weekend, since that is when the Queen of Carnival Pageant takes place. However, with a variety of festivities and contests including street music performances, comparsas (troupes), and the selection of the junior and senior queens, the Carnival atmosphere descends on the city several weeks before the festival officially arrives.

The Queen of Carnival Pageant is a fundamental event in Tenerife’s Carnival which draws a massive audience, even being broadcast via satellite for viewers in the most secluded parts of the world. The pageant is judged by a panel which selects one woman to be the representative of Carnival for an entire year. The winner receives a scepter from the mayor as a symbol of her victory. The spectacle revolves around the contestants’ elaborate dresses, known as “fantasías” (“fantasies”), which can weigh up to 200 kilograms.

The next event of Carnival in Tenerife takes place that same Friday: the Great Inaugural Cavalcade, a huge parade of horses accompanied by batucada music (in cultures with African roots, this refers to music played by a group of percussionists). The Queen, her court, and an endless number of groups and organizations like the murgas (bands of street performers) participate in the parade, wandering the streets of the city for hours with their floats and costumes. The cavalcade announces the official start of Carnival, and when the route is finished they disperse and take to the streets to get the party started.

On Monday and Tuesday, the festivities continue with various events and concerts that take place throughout the city. Tuesday is the official last day of Carnival, closed out by the Gran Coso Apoteósis, another colossal parade, this time geared towards tourists from Spain and abroad.

On Ash Wednesday, the traditional Burial of the Sardine takes place. The whole city dresses like they are in mourning with black ribbons while a massive funeral procession consisting of people dressed as widows, nuns, bishops, and popes tearfully accompany an enormous sardine in a ceremony that (nominally) marks the end of the festival.

With the Burial of the Sardine, Carnival in Tenerife is over, and it’s time to return to everyday life. However, many feel that this is too short, so that weekend Carnival takes its final breaths with the “Piñata” celebration on Saturday and Sunday. During the weekend, the concerts and performances start up again throughout the city. There is another Daytime Carnival as well as exhibits including an old car show. On Sunday night, the closing ceremonies take place, this time ending one of Spain’s greatest festivals for good. Carnival is sent off with the burning of an enormous pyrotechnic castle that ascends into the night, bringing Don Carnal with it, not to return until the next year.

La Arribada (“the Arrival”) Festival commemorates the docking of the caravel La Pinta, which brought the first news of the American continent to Spain.

Although it commemorates events that occurred over 500 years ago, the Festival of Pinzón’s Arrival in Baiona (in Pontevedra province) came about relatively recently—in 1974—but it quickly caught on among the townspeople and outside visitors. Today more than 30,000 people gather in Baiona for the event.

The festival commemorates a historic event: the arrival of the caravel La Pinta in the town’s port on March 1^st, 1493, making it the first of Columbus’ three ships to return to Spanish soil after reaching America on October 12^th, 1492. At the head of the crew was Martín Alonso Pinzón, the first person to spot the New World on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Baiona was the first town in Spain to learn of the discovery which would transform the course of history, and the corregidor of this Galician town had the privilege of being the first person to hear Pinzón’s news. Although the festival’s predecessor dates back to the 19^th century, Pinzón’s Arrival was officially declared a local festival by the Baiona Municipal Government on March 1^st, 1974.

However, in light of the increasing number of events organized around the reenactment, it now takes place on the weekend after the official dates of the festival. The main event, which is repeated on Saturday and Sunday in the morning, is the reenactment of the arrival of La Pinta on a jam-packed La Ribera Beach. Actors recreate the telling of Pinzón’s tale about their momentous discovery. Dozens of actors dressed in period clothing participate in the reenactment, and a replica of La Pinta (which remains anchored in the port for the rest of the year) sets sail.

The La Pinta replica was built in 1993 to commemorate the 500^th anniversary of the Discovery. Inside it houses a museum where visitors can see pieces from the two “worlds”—one Christian, one indigenous—and the new plants and animals from the New Continent which were introduced to the Old European Continent.

The remembrance of this historic occasion has become a full-fledged festival which transports Baiona back to the Middle Ages for a weekend. During La Arribada Festival in Baiona, a market is set up on the streets of the historical quarter and the surrounding area where you can buy artisanal products and food items that were consumed in the 15^th century. Meanwhile, parades of musicians, troubadours, and jugglers pass through the streets, and there are activities for the entertainment of the crowds, such as archery, falconry exhibits, jousting tournaments, magic shows, and a variety of concerts. The official program of events culminates in the awarding of the Gold Medal of Baiona to individuals or organizations who have done outstanding cultural work within the context of emigration, followed by an official ceremony including representatives of the governments of Palos de la Frontera (Huelva), Santa Fe (Granada), and Pornic (France), Baiona’s sister cities.

Buitrago del Lozoya’s live nativity scene is one of the most famous folk performances in the Community of Madrid. It is also one of the best-known displays of its kind in all of Spain.

In 1988, a group of townspeople from Buitrago del Lozoya decided to implement an idea inspired by a project carried out in the town of Bàscara as well as by the pastorelas of towns in the Sierra de Madrid. Thus the town’s live nativity scene was born, consisting of just 80 actors and 11 scenes in its first year. Due to the success of this first performance, the event was staged again the following year. In 1991, it became necessary to create an organization to plan and prepare for the event. The nativity continues to develop year after year: the technology is improved, the number of actors and scenes increases, and its reputation is progressively growing, reflected in the number of spectators in attendance each year. Over time, Buitrago del Lozoya’s live nativity scene has garnered major awards including the international Mundo Teatre prize in 2000 and the title of Festival of Regional Touristic Interest in 2001. In 2014, the local government decided to rechristen one of the town squares in Buitrago del Lozoya with the name Plaza del Belén Viviente.

Today, the display includes over 200 actors who represent nearly 40 scenes. Spanning various places and events from the Bible, the people of Buitrago del Lozoya recreate scenes including the Prophets, the Annunciation, the Market, the Carpenter’s Workshop, the Temple in Jerusalem, Herod’s Palace, the Shepherds, and the Three Wise Men. The streets of the historical quarter serve as the stage for all these episodes. During the four days of the festival, the living nativity scene takes place around 6:00 in the evening, and depending on the turnout, there may be a second performance two hours afterwards.

Over time, this festival has become one of the main wintertime events in the Community of Madrid, attracting an increasing number of visitors from other parts of Spain. For a few days, this unique event with great symbolic value transforms Buitrago del Lozoya into one of Spain’s main centers of religious celebration.

On the second weekend in November, the town of Potes holds a festival in honor of the liquor known as orujo, one of the most traditional products of the comarca of Liébana.

The town of Potes celebrated the first Orujo Festival in 1984 on the second weekend in November. From 1985 to 1994, the festival was suspended due to Spain’s nationwide ban on homemade orujo, a privilege which is now reserved for legally registered orujeros. Since the festival was resumed in 1994, the prohibition has been relaxed for the days of the festival. Some producers are allowed to distill without a license on the condition that all of the orujo they make must be consumed during the festival and that it can’t be sold.

Aside from the sampling of orujo produced in the comarca of Liébena, the Orujo Festival also entails a number of entertaining events in the form of folk exhibits, musical performances, and conferences. One of the most highly-anticipated moments takes place on the last day of the festival: the selection of the Distillery of Honor, an award that recognizes the best orujo of the year, chosen after a blind tasting in which the main distilleries of the comarca participate.

Over the years, Potes’ Orujo Festival has become one of the cornerstones of Cantabria’s calendar of events. Thousands of people, locals and visitors alike, gather for the celebration to participate in one of the most representative traditions of Cantabria and one of Spain’s most interesting festivals of traditional alcohol products.

Every year on November 9th, thousands of people take to the streets of Madrid to celebrate the day of their patron saint with a series of events that have a pure traditional essence.

The day of the Virgin of Almudena is one of the Spanish capital’s major festivals, a celebration with an authentic feel in which religious events go hand in hand with less traditional recreational activities. In the morning an offering of flowers takes place, followed by a solemn mass in honor of Madrid’s patron saint. Then the statue of the Virgin is taken out to the streets for a procession around the main streets of the city center in a route that runs between Plaza Mayor and Plaza de la Almudena. All day long, downtown Madrid is full of chulapos and chulapas, and it’s not unusual to see many of the locals dressed in the traditional garb of their city. A more modern addition is the Castañas y Buñuelos Festival, established in 2014, which aims to reinvent the concept of the verbena with a high-quality selection of contemporary music.

When all is said and done, the Virgin of Almudena Festival is one of the best opportunities to discover the essence of the Spanish capital, a mix of tradition and modernity to properly celebrate Madrid’s patron saint.

“Lunes gerniqués, ni golpe des” (“On Mondays in Guernica, you don’t lift a finger”), a popular refrain says of Guernica, which hosts one of the Basque Country’s greatest street markets.

For as long as anyone can remember, Monday has been the day when peasants (baserritarras) from the comarca of Busturialdea and other parts of Biscay travel to Guernica to sell their products. The Monday market has hardly changed over time, except for the advances in transportation. The festival was described by the first Lehendakari (president of the Basque government), José Antonio de Aguirre y Lecube, in his book From Guernica to New York, Passing Through Berlin:

“Every Monday of the year Guernica held its famous festival, picturesque gatherings of villagers, with an age-old essence that exemplifies the civility and joy of Basque celebrations. All the products from the gardens and home businesses near Guernica were exhibited in the plaza and, while transactions were carried out with commercial seriousness, the mules and oxen that had transported the products passed the time under the lime trees, awaiting the return of their owners. Once the important part of the day—the business part—was over, the crowds poured into the restaurants which bring Guernica gastronomic renown to satisfy one of the principal commandments of Basque life: eating and drinking well, with calm, excess, and animated conversation. And in a euphoric state that is the direct consequence of the culinary ritual, the people spill over into the fronton where the famous pelota games take place, or they head to the plaza to dance along to the sounds of the txistu and the tabor. When the church bells rang out the toque de ánimas, the visitors began their procession back home and Guernica regained the calm of an old, traditional city.”

The festival is spread out throughout the entire city center, with baserritarras and artisans occupying the nearly 300 stands set up on the streets of San Juan Ibarra, Paseleku, Artekale, and Juan Calzada. The festival’s main event is the contests in various categories including vegetables, fruit, flowers, cheese, txakolí (a kind of wine), and honey.

The panel of judges ranks the products first thing in the morning, and then the participants can start selling their products. At noon, prizes are awarded in front of the fountain of Mercury. The Idiazabal cheese (which is made using milk from the Latxa sheep) competition culminates in the auction of the winning cheese with proceeds going to charity. Several restaurants bid on the cheese, and in 2010 the winning bid reached 7,700 Euros.

The people of Ávila celebrate Saint Teresa, the mystic and Doctor of the Church who reformed the Carmelite Order in the 16th century.

The city of Ávila itself seems to be immersed in that same spirit. The streets of the historical quarter, whose perimeter is fortified by one of the best-preserved defensive walls in Spain, seem to have a life of their own. The visitor is met with Saint Teresa’s presence on every street corner and in numerous businesses and products bearing her name, such as yemas de Santa Teresa, a famous dessert of candied and baked egg yolks. The month of October, which is dedicated to the saint, is a good time to visit Ávila.

The religious and cultural ceremonies of the festival all venerate the figure of Teresa of Jesus and the multiple facets of her life: sainthood, life, work, mysticism, and literary career. She penned important works on spirituality such as The Way of Perfection and The Interior Castle (also known as The Mansions), as well as poetry, short works, and 409 letters published in several epistolary collections. Her body of work has been translated into several languages.

The festivities begin days before October 15^th with the pregón (proclamation) of the mayor, who is usually accompanied by a folk character on the main balcony of city hall. Then the gigantes and cabezudos, along with the tarasca, parade around the streets for the children’s entertainment. An offering of flowers is made to the image of Saint Teresa in Plaza del Mercado Grande. Representatives of the city’s most important public and private institutions participate in the offering. The festivities continue until the day of the 15^th arrives—the last day of the Festival of Saint Teresa—when the city celebrates Día Grande. Crowds of people from all over the province of Ávila, Spain, and abroad come to the city on that day, including members of the Carmelite Order (men and women).

The most important religious ceremonies of the festival take place on the 15^th. The bishop presides over the main mass in the cathedral, which gets jam packed with crowds. Then there is a big procession revolving around the image of the saint which, accompanied by police and military officers, is carried from the cathedral to the church dedicated to Teresa of Jesus. An enthusiastic audience fills all the streets and plazas of the historical quarter that the procession passes through.

The previous day, on the 14^th, the Procesión Chica (“Little Procession”) follows the same route, but in reverse. The image of the saint is not the only image in this parade; it is accompanied by Our Lady of Charity who Saint Teresa adopted as her mother, devoting herself to this version of the Virgin Mary when at 14 years old she lost her own mother, Beatriz de Ahumada.

The Royal Gentlemen’s Association of Santa María puts on the Hispanic Festival every year in Guadalupe.

The Royal Gentlemen’s Association of Santa María is responsible for putting on the Hispanic Festival every year on October 12^th. The ceremonies begin in the morning with the distribution of medals and a reception of new members of the association. Then the gentlemen travel in a procession to the basilica where a mass is held in honor of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Other events take place throughout the day, including the Guadalupe–Hispanidad Awards, the Jornadas de la Hispanidad (which recognize towns, events, or people from the Hispanic world who have made contributions to that community), and the Hispanidad Concert, usually performed by the Extremadura Orchestra.