Spaniards are very cheerful people who love festivities and carnivals. In this country, they are held on a special scale and attract many tourists. The holiday in Spanish is called "fiesta." This word is strongly associated with a firework of joyful emotions, folk festivals, fancy dress. Getting acquainted with the local holidays, you can better understand the culture and mentality of the hot Spaniards.
Interesting features
For celebrations in this country, two weeks of the year are officially allotted. Moreover, the Spanish traditional holidays, common to the whole country, take only 9 days. The rest of the time is reserved for regional festivals and festivities. Their minimum number is legally approved - at least two local holidays in each region. The Spaniards are happy to fulfill and exceed this requirement.
The population of the country is very religious, so most celebrations are associated with the Christian faith. However, church traditions are closely intertwined with the local culture, so they have acquired interesting customs, often accompanied by colorful processions, music, and singing with a guitar.
Official weekend
Let's get acquainted with the list of Spanish holidays celebrated at the state level:
- On January 1, here, as throughout the world, the New Year begins, accompanied by the ringing of bells.
- January 6 is revered as the Day of the Three Kings (the so-called Magi, who brought gifts to the baby Jesus).
- March 19 is considered the Day of Jose (as the locals call St. Joseph, who became the father of Christ on earth).
- Holy Week before Easter is a day off and falls on March or April.
- May 1, the Spaniards celebrate Workers Day.
- July 25 is dedicated to the Apostle James, intercessor of Spain.
- On August 15, the whole country recalls the assumption and ascension of the Virgin, which is revered even more than Jesus himself.
- October 12 became the official Day of Spain and is accompanied by large-scale celebrations.
- November 1, according to tradition, is the Day of All Saints, associated with the veneration of deceased ancestors.
- December 6 is Constitution Day.
- The Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary is celebrated on December 8th.
- December 25, as throughout Europe, Christmas is celebrated in Spain.
January holidays
The calendar year in Spain, as well as throughout the world, begins on January 1. This event is accompanied by colorful illumination, on the streets you can see costume shows, jugglers, mimes. In Barcelona, people flock to Christmas Eve to the Singing Fountains, where an unforgettable performance with water, music and fireworks soaring into the sky takes place. Under the bell, everyone makes a wish and try to eat 12 grapes, because without this ritual the year would not be successful.
Spanish holidays and traditions are closely related to religion. On January 6, people remember the three wise men (here they are called kings) who brought gifts to the newborn Savior. In the cities are processions. Lastly, the carriage with the main characters leaves. They distribute toys and sweets to the kids running after the procession. Little Spaniards receive gifts at home. They put in the shoes exposed on the street.
February holidays
The second month of the year is known for its enchanting carnivals, which take place in many areas. Holidays in the Spanish streets are splendid. The most spectacular are the celebrations on the island of Tenerife. They are only slightly inferior only to the famous carnival in Brazilian Rio de Janeiro. Each year its own theme is chosen (Future, Pirates, Atlantis, etc.), according to which costumes are sewn, streets are decorated.
The carnival begins with the choice of the queen. In honor of her, a procession takes place - Kabalkada - with fireworks and incendiary dances. Two weeks you can enjoy live music, theatrical shows and a variety of entertainment. The final is the solemn "Burial of Sardine" - a huge fish made of papier-mâché. It is burned to the sounds of a mourning march. This tradition is associated with a long-standing event when Carlos III treated the inhabitants of Madrid with free rotten fish.
Also interesting is the holiday in Cadiz, which bears great resemblance to the Venetian carnival. Its feature is a large number of comedy numbers and parodies of famous people during the fiesta.
Spring holidays
José Day is celebrated throughout Spain throughout March. Its other name is Father's Day. Children give dads gifts and show touching performances.
The onset of spring is dedicated to the Fallas Fire Festival, which takes place in Valencia. Huge dolls representing political, fairy-tale or historical characters are created from various materials. On the equinox night they are burned, accompanying this action with marches and beautiful fireworks.
In April, half the country comes to the famous Seville fair, which opens a week after Easter. She is accompanied by walks, dances, rhythmic melodies, booze and traditional bullfights.
Spanish holidays in May begin with demonstrations of workers dedicated to Labor Day. From local celebrations can be identified:
- a horse fair in Jerez de la Frontera, where you can go into the atmosphere of traditional Andalusia and admire the hot horses;
- Cross Day in Granada and Cardoba, when local craftsmen compete in the manufacture of crosses;
- Celebrations in honor of St. Isidro in Madrid, accompanied by carnival and fairs.
Easter
The Spaniards call this holiday Semana Santa. He is one of the most beloved and is celebrated with great variety. Each community tries to outdo the rest, preparing magnificent platforms with images of biblical events, Christ, Virgin Mary. Strong men carry them on their shoulders, with a special gait creating the illusion of mobility of images.
The holiday is celebrated during the week called Passion. Religious processions take place every day, accompanied by a choir and a live orchestra. On Easter Sunday, an atmosphere of happiness reigns around, music plays, drum rolls sound, and snow-white doves are released into the sky.
Summer holidays
On June 23rd, Spain celebrates St. Juan's Day, which is largely similar to the Russian triumph of Ivan Kupala. This night you can be cleansed from sins if you swim in the pond and jump over the fire. People gather on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, sing songs with a guitar, make a fire and make wishes.
On July 25, there is a Spanish holiday dedicated to the Apostle James. It was he who in ancient times made a dangerous pilgrimage to the territory of the country. It is believed that his relics magically appeared in the vicinity of modern Santiago de Compostela. In this city, celebrations are distinguished by a special scale. In addition to dancing and street music, locals admire the magnificent laser show illuminating Obradoiro Square.
In August, the Assumption of the Virgin is considered the most significant holiday. On this day, it is customary to attend solemn masses. In some areas there are walks. In the city of Elche, a traditional theatrical performance is organized, where the burial of the Madonna and her wonderful resurrection to the sounds of the organ and bells are played. It ends with the coronation of the Virgin.
Local celebrations
Summer is a fertile time for holding Spanish national holidays. Many of them are noted in certain regions. We list the most interesting events:
- Music festivals in Granada and Santander, where you can see passionate flamenco, listen to operettas and live concerts.
- Fiesta of San Fermin in Pamplona, which is accompanied by the running of bulls through the narrow streets. To tickle their nerves, many extreme lovers come to the holiday.
- Austrian cider festival, where you can not only taste this drink, but also learn a lot about its production.
- Tomatino holiday in the city of Bunyola, timed to the end of August. Dances and festivities culminate in a grandiose battle, during which those present throw tomatoes at each other. Especially for this, the authorities import 125 tons of ripe tomatoes.
Autumn holidays
This season, in the countryside, celebrations are held to harvest and slaughter cattle. There are few official holidays.
On October 12, the country recalls the discovery of America by the famous Spaniard Christopher Columbus. Since then, Spanish language and culture have spread rapidly in the New World. Parades are timed to a significant event. In Zaragoza these days they lay flowers at the pillar with the image of the Virgin. According to legend, she miraculously appeared on it at the beginning of our era. The celebration is accompanied by fairs, competitions, circus performances and concerts.
The Spanish feast of the dead (November 1) dates back to the Druids, but Christianity gave it a new color and renamed it All Saints Day. Locals gather as a family at the table, visit cemeteries and bring flowers to the graves of loved ones. In rural areas, this day coincided with another holiday - "magosto". It is customary to roast chestnuts on bonfires, drink wine and tell funny horror stories.
