Maios Fiesta

The fiesta is of Celtic origin and is related to the appearance of the first spring flowers. It is a deep-rooted celebration throughout Galicia and especially so in the cities of Pontevedra and Ourense. The "maios" are figures made out of flowers. ...

Botillo (local cured meat) Festival

This fiesta is held in the town of Bembibre (León province). It began its history in 1973 during a procession that is held every seven years known as the Saint’s Outing. Each February (may vary according to Easter date) since then, it has been traditional for all the restaurants in the region to offer “botillo” on their menus for a week. ...

Fiesta of the Cuadrillas in Barranda.

A total of around 15 groups from all over Spain take part in the event. Throughout the morning the groups take up their positions around the squares and streets, where they sing and dance in the midst of the crows of onlookers. ...

Saffron Festival

Consuegra, in Toledo, celebrates the Saffron Festival in late October. Its goal is to introduce the traditonal culture of Castilla-La Mancha through its food, crafts, history and customs. The event includes a very diverse set of activities, beginning with the proclamation of the Dulcinea and her Ladies in Waiting. ...

Festival of San Martín, or the Humanitarians’ Festival

The festival is organised by the San Martín Humanitarian Association, and begins with the traditional sung mass of San Martín, accompanied by the sound of the typical Asturian bagpipes. ...

Feast of the Holy Martyrs of Valdecuna

Hundreds of pilgrims attend the celebration, which consists of arriving at the San Cosme y San Damián Shrine on foot to ask them for good health. After the High Mass at 12 noon, the “Puya del Ramu” (“bid for the branch”) takes place when the local bread, known as “escanada” is auctioned. ...

Natural Cider Festival, Gijón

One of the high points of the festival is when thousands of people gather on the beach, and 30,000 litres of cider and 10,000 glasses decorated with the festival logo are distributed, and a photo is taken to commemorate the event. ...

Festival of the Vaquilla

The event recreates the driving of the cattle (“vaquillas”) through the streets of the town, but in a uniquely distinctive way. The animals are not real, but artificial, and are created out of structures decorated with coloured silk ribbons, silk shawls and horns which are displayed with great gusto by all the participating groups as they ...

Wine-harvesting festival in Cangas del Narcea

The streets are filled with stalls selling crafts and traditional products. Visitors can participate in several of the main festive events, including a dramatisation of the carrying of the grapes in typical carts, the traditional pressing of the grapes by stamping with the feet, and visits to local vineyards.

“Fiestas Juradas” of San Miguel Arcángel

The reenactments of the British disembarking on Gran Tarajal beach and the battle on Mount Tamasite, and the pilgrimage procession in honour of the saint, are the three most important moments in the Fiestas Juradas (sworn festival) of San Miguel Arcángel de Tuineje. ...

Fiesta of Sant Antoni Abat

An enormous bonfire (“la foguera”) is burned in honour of the saint on 16 January, but preparations start on 7 December when the townspeople begin piling up firewood. In fact, the bonfire is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s largest bonfire. The religious celebrations are held on 17 January. ...

Feast day of Our Lady of Rosario de Agüimes

This festival, which takes place in the town of Agüimes in Gran Canaria, attracts a multitude of visitors each year, as it brings one of the oldest Canary Island traditions back to life. ...

Patron festivities of Saint Vicente Ferrer

Some of the most common activities during these festivities include: Religious processions: these are one of the most important events, in which the figure of the saint is carried in a solemn procession around the city, accompanied by devotees wearing the traditional clothes and local music bands. ...

Nuestra Señora de la Barca Pilgrimage

This is one of Galicia’s most famous pilgrimages. It has been held since the 14th century in this fishing village on the Costa de la Muerte coast, and unites fishermen’s devotion to the Virgin Mary and other pre-Christian traditions such as the worship of stones. ...

Pilgrimage of Nuestra Señora de la Cabeza

The Shrine of the Virgin of la Cabeza is found on a hill in Sierra Morena. Thousands of pilgrims from across the region gather in Andújar dressed in Andalusian style and riding various types of steeds and visit the Shrine on the third day of the festivities. During the night, people sing and dance in front of the Shrine. ...

Virgen de Gracia Pilgrimage

The processional events begin in the morning of the second Sunday of September with the image of the Virgen leaving for the hermitage, transported on a 'serrana' cart richly decorated with garlands and accompanied by thousands of pilgrims reciting the Aurora Rosary, culminating with the Ángelus before the Cross of the pilgrims; once the image ...

Pilgrimages to Orreaga-Roncesvalles

The most interesting pilgrimages include the one in the Arce valley, which has been in existence since the 16th century; and the one in the Aezkoa valley, which is the most visually striking and colourful. All over the area in May and June you'll come across pilgrims dressed in dark tunics, or barefoot penitents covered with black veils. ...

Calatrava Route of the Passion

To mark the feast of Easter, this route visits the towns of Aldea del Rey, Almagro, Bolaños, Granátula, Miguelturra, Pozuelo, Torralba, Valenzuela, Moral and Calzada de Calatrava to experience their Easter traditions, from Holy Wednesday to Resurrection Sunday. ...

Fiestas of San Antón and the International “Noche de San Antón” Urban Race in Jaén

Sant Joan

The summer solstice is traditionally a night of magic, spells and portents. Tarragona celebrates this date with street dancing, popular feasts and firecrackers until the early hours of the morning, and of course the rite of the bonfires which are lit symbolically at various points throughout the city with the 'Canigó flame' (the fire which is ...

Easter week in Alcalá de Henares

It is one of the most traditional festivals in the city, which dates back to the 16th century. You can enjoy eight religious processions, visits to the monumental settings along the route, and a cake made at the local pastry shops at this time of year: Penitentes.

Easter Week in Alzira

The Pregón (opening) of the fiesta is signalled by a pistol shot. This sees the start of celebrations that live their most crucial moments during the Palm Sunday procession, a colourful event with a theatrical representation, as well as during the Holy Burial procession on Good Friday, with up to 40,000 people in attendance. ...

Easter Week in Astorga

The cofradías taking part in the Easter week processions in this town in Castile-León carry on their shoulders a series of religious images of outstanding artistic and traditional value. Two images in particular still survive from the original processions: the image of the Crucified Christ, from 1560 and Christ Flagellated. ...

Easter Week in Baena

Among the numerous traditional functions and processions, we should make special mention of the “Judio de Baena” (the Baena Jew). These characters play their drums ceaselessly throughout the procession, dressed in a particularly striking costume (red jacket, gold helmet and black or white plumes). ...