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Fiestas and festivals in Madrid and the rest of Spain

Fiestas & Festivals

Alongside the sun and sangria, Spain is famous for its frolic and fun during its myriad fiestas. Here’s a glimpse into national and locals ones you should try not to miss!

NATIONAL FESTIVALS:

January 5 -- Cabalgata del Reyes: This is the much awaited ‘Procession of the Three Wise Kings’ through the city center which happens before giving out gifts. Gift exchange is more common on this day at midnight in Spain than on December 25.

January 6 -- Los Reyes Magos: This is the ‘Day of the Three Wise Kings’, traditionally the day Christmas gifts are given.

March/April -- Semana Santa: This is Easter Week in Spain that is celebrated with much fervor throughout the country with endless parades and fiestas. Most people get a week off where they travel, be with family or enjoy the holiday spirit of the city.

June 23/24 -- Festival of San Juan: This is a Catholic celebration where symbols of water and fire play an important part; celebrations involve bonfires and fireworks. This day is also the longest of the year.

December 6 -- Constitution Day: This day celebrates the approval of the Spanish Constitution by the Royal Court.

December 8 – Immaculate Conception: This day celebrates the Conception of Mary and is a national holiday in Spain. On this day people get together in cities all over Spain to party in the street!

December 24 – Noche Buena: This is a quiet family affair for most Spaniards.

December 31 – Noche Vieja: This is celebrated in Spain with great fervor like all over the world. It usually starts off with a dinner with family after which people eat 12 grapes in tune with the 12 chimes that mark the entry of the new year. After that, Spaniards hit the town to party till the wee hours of the morning,

January 17 -- San Antón: San Anton is the Patron of Animals, on this day Madrileños go to the church of San Antón (in Calle de Hortaleza) to have their pets blessed.

March – October – Sunday Bullfights: This is the only time in the year you can see regular bull fights every Sunday at Madrid’s main Las Ventas bull ring.

May 2 -- Fiesta Dos de Mayo: This is the ‘Day of the Community of Madrid” that is a commemoration of Madrid’s uprising against the French troops and the ousting of Napoleon, hence ending the French rule in 1808.

May 15 -- San Isidro / bull-fighting season Madrid: This day is that of Saint Isidore the Laborer, patron saint of Madrid. On this day there are concerts, fairs, dances and the ‘romeria’, a traditional pilgrimage to the ‘ermita de San Isidro’ where you can drink ‘miraculous water’. This day also marks the beginning of a 2-week bullfighting season in Madrid.

May-July (Annual) – Photo España: This is one Europe’s largest photography forum that attracts over a million visitors who come to see the latest trends in visual art. 2008 is its 11^th year running.

June (Annual) – MTV Day: This is a popular youth annual festival held in Madrid every June that brings together a large number of Spanish rock and pop stars and the event is broadcast live on MTV.

June-July (Annual) – Madrid Pride: Madrid plays host to Spain's biggest Gay Pride celebration. The city is brimming with festivities, the hot and happening carnival-style parade through the city is the most awaited; every night is party night during this festival!

June (Annual) – Madrid Metro Rock Festival: This annual festival brings an extensive line-up of international and national rock bands along side DJ’s and huge dance floors where you can dance all night long.

June/July (Annual) – Summer Case Madrid: 3-days, 5 stages, 50 musicians – this festival switches between Madrid and Barcelona (2008 will be in Madrid) and is huge musical show with rock, pop, indie, and electronic bands from all over the globe.

July-August (Annual) – Villas De Verano: This is one of the biggest summer festivals of Madrid that encompasses two months of music, dance, zarzuelas (Spanish musicals), theatre and bullfights.

11-15 August -- La Paloma: These days are those of the Virgen De La Paloma during which Madrid turns into a session of barrio fiestas. Also, the statue of the Virgin is carried through Madrid’s Plaza De La Vistillas bythe cities fire-fighters as the crowd shouts out “guapa!” (gorgeous).

September 24-29, 2008 -- Autumn Fair (Fiestas de Otoño): This is a month celebrated every year by the city by hosting dance, music and theatre from around the world in key theatres of Madrid.

November 1 -- Todos los Santos. All Saints' Day, when families visit the graves of their loved ones to leave flowers.

November 9 -- La Almudena: La Virgen De La Almudena is the female patron saint of Madrid. Legend says that on this day her statue was brought to Madrid by Apostle Santiago and hidden inside a wall, protected by candles to keep it safe from the Moors. Two centuries later when the wall fell, apparently the candles were found still alight. On this day, locals pass by Plaza Almudena to leave flowers.

November – December (Annual) – Madrid Jazz Festival: The Madrid Jazz Festival plays host to top international musicians to perform concerts either in the Centro Cultural de la Villa in Plaza Colón or Circo Price, near Atocha Station.

OTHER IMPORTANT FESTIVALS AND FIESTAS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY:

Basque Country:

January 19 – Tamborrada, San Sebastian: Probably Spain’s largest festival due to mass participation of drums being the main part of the event. There are both, organised processions and “free-drum-bashing” sessions should you be inclined.

Canary Islands:

February -- Santa Cruz de Tenerife: The second week of February every year, the capital of Tenerife on the Canary Islands celebrates Carnaval with great excitement. Fancy dress parades, musicians, and late night partying go on for about a week

Cadiz:

February/March – Cadiz Carnival: You’ll be surprised to hear that the Cadiz Carnival is one of Europe’s largest and most extravagant carnivals. For a week during this carnival all other work and activities are suspended as people hit the streets to party and be merry.

Valencia:

March -- Las Fallas: A fiesta that began in the Middle Ages that normally lasts a week. Valencia is a big party spot during the Fallas as people go there especially for this fiesta. Fireworks, day and night time parades and the burning of larger-than-life size cardboard effigies.

Alicante:

April -- Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians): In this period, the city of Alcoy in Alicante mocks battles between Moors and Christians.

Seville:

April (two weeks after Semana Santa) -- La Feria de Abril: Spain's biggest annual party is held at the Seville April Fair.

Cordoba:

May – Feria de Cordoba: This is a large flamenco festival that takes place every year in Cordoba. Its rising popularity has resulted in it competing with Seville’s April Fair in both fame and size.

July 7-14 – Running of the Bulls in Pamplona (San Fermin): This is a tradition that often represents Spain. In the city of Pamplona during these dates, bulls start running while young men run in front of them to lead them to the bull-ring. They only run about 800-meters full speed, so the whole thing doesn’t last more than a few minutes. People flock from all over the world to watch this crazy tradition, which is often followed by severe drinking at the local bars.

Santiago de Compostela:

July 25 – Dia de Santiago: Thousands of pilgrims gather in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Galicia) after walking the Camino de Santiago.

Buñol:

August -- Last Wednesday of every August (August 27, 2008) --'Tomatina': 30,000 people gather in Buñol to throw more than 240,000 pounds of tomatoes at each other, in what probably is the world’s largest food fight. Apparently its roots are from a fight that erupted among two youngsters during a carnival in 1945, where they began fighting by throwing tomatoes at each other. The fight is only an hour long from 11am-12pm.

Bilbao:

August (3^rd week) – Semana Grande: This is a general though HUGE festival in Bilbao. Not very traditional but famous nonetheless because of its concerts, fireworks, bullfighting and giant puppets.

Jerez De La Frontera:

September (first Saturday of every September) – Sherry Festival: The Sherry Festival in the home of sherry producer Jerez is one of the best times to get an authentic flavor of Spain as it celebrates the local wine harvest with much vigour that includes: drink, food and Flamenco!

Barcelona:

September 24 – La Merce Festival: This is the festival for Barcelona’s patron saint that is celebrated with all kinds of activities including, parades, music, dancing, fire-breathing dragons and pyrotechniques.

Zaragoza: