How Local Celebrations Create Lasting Memories for Travelers in Spain
Spain’s annual calendar of fiestas is full of local and regional celebrations, often with a religious theme. These provide a unique opportunity for visitors to see Spain at its most relaxed, sociable, and fun-loving. These are five of the best. Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Seville is one of the most significant events in the Catholic calendar. In Seville, a deeply religious, culturally conservative city, the week is marked by a series of solemn processions. Locals join the processions as penitents, wearing the pointed hoods of the Ku Klux Klan (the Ku Klux Klan actually copied the design from the Spanish penitents, not the other way around).
The penitents follow a float carrying a statue of the Virgin Mary or Jesus Christ, accompanied by the music of a sombre brass band. Some carry heavy wooden crosses, while others go barefoot, the soles of their feet bleeding. Visitors to Seville can watch these processions, which wind through the centre of the city, day and night, during the week leading up to Easter. But the biggest crowd-puller of all is the Feria de Abril (April Fair), which takes place two weeks after Easter, when the city’s streets are filled with the sound of flamenco music and the clatter of horse-drawn carriages.
At the Feria de Abril, everyone dresses in traditional clothes: men in smart suits and hats, women in brightly coloured flamenco dresses. The majority of Seville’s inhabitants stroll around the fairground, stopping at the various casetas (tents) to eat, drink, dance, and socialise. At lunchtime, it’s traditional to eat fried fish, washed down with glasses of manzanilla (a type of sherry) or rebujito (a refreshing cocktail made with manzanilla and lemonade). In the evening, men ride around the fairground on horseback, while women parade in horse-drawn carriages.
The best place to catch the action is on the Calle del Infierno (Hell Street), where the fairground rides are located. Las Fallas in Valencia is one of Spain’s most spectacular fiestas. The city’s normally quiet streets are transformed into a riot of noise and colour as locals set off thousands of firecrackers and fireworks. The fiesta culminates in the burning of huge papier-mâché figures, called ninots, on the night of March 19. The figures are often satirical, poking fun at politicians, celebrities, or current events.
Each neighbourhood builds its own falla (a collection of ninots) and competes for prizes. The most impressive falla is displayed in the city centre, surrounded by a huge crowd. As the clock strikes midnight, the fireworks start, and the crowd watches in awe as the ninots are engulfed in flames. It’s a truly unforgettable experience. La Tomatina in Buñol, a small town near Valencia, is perhaps the world’s most famous food fight. Every year, on the last Wednesday of August, thousands of people gather in the town’s main square to throw overripe tomatoes at each other.
The event lasts for just one hour, but in that time, more than 100 metric tons of tomatoes are thrown. It’s a messy, chaotic scene, but everyone has a great time. After the fight, the crowd disperses to the town’s river, where they wash off the tomato pulp. The origins of La Tomatina are unclear, but it’s thought to have started in the 1940s, when a group of young people threw tomatoes at each other during a local fiesta. Today, it’s a major tourist attraction, drawing visitors from around the world.
San Fermín in Pamplona is best known for its encierro (running of the bulls), which takes place every morning from July 7 to 14. During the encierro, a group of bulls is released into the streets, and thousands of people run ahead of them, trying to avoid being gored. The event is broadcast live on Spanish television and attracts huge crowds. But San Fermín is much more than just the encierro. The fiesta lasts for nine days and includes concerts, fireworks, religious processions, and street parties.
Pamplona’s streets are filled with people wearing white clothes and red scarves, the traditional attire for the fiesta. The atmosphere is electric, and the city comes alive with music, dancing, and laughter. Carnaval in Cádiz is one of Spain’s most famous carnivals, and it’s known for its irreverent humour and satirical songs. The city’s streets are filled with people in fancy dress, and the air is filled with the sound of music and laughter. The highlight of the carnival is the singing groups, known as chirigotas, who perform satirical songs about current events, politics, and local issues.
The chirigotas compete for prizes, and the best groups go on to perform at the Gran Teatro Falla, the city’s main theatre. Carnaval in Cádiz is a fiesta for all the senses, with colourful costumes, lively music, and delicious food and drink. It’s a chance to experience the warmth and hospitality of the people of Cádiz, who welcome visitors with open arms. Las Hogueras de San Juan in Alicante is a celebration of the summer solstice, when the city’s beaches are lit up by bonfires. The fiesta takes place on the night of June 23, and it’s a time for families and friends to gather on the beach, light bonfires, and enjoy a picnic.
At midnight, people jump over the flames for good luck. The next day, there’s a parade of floats through the city, followed by a fireworks display. The highlight of the fiesta is the burning of the hogueras (huge wooden structures) on the night of June 24. The hogueras are built by local groups, who compete for prizes. Each hoguera is a work of art, decorated with figures and scenes made of papier-mâché. As the hogueras burn, the sky is filled with the sound of fireworks, and the crowd cheers as the flames rise higher and higher.
