Enjoying Quirky Spanish Festivals

There is no need to invite the Spanish to any celebration; it will be like teaching a duck to swim. The Spaniards are renowned for throwing up fiesta after fiesta, no matter what occasion it might be.

There are many festivities in Spain; many may not even have a true occasion but nevertheless, the Spaniards enjoy all of them. The visitor will certainly not be bored in Spain as there will be some form of merrymaking happening.

Starting from Bunol, which lies east in Valencia, there is a week long celebration in honor of San Luis Bertran, who is considered a local saint. Then, you also have the infamous “Tomatina” which is a tomato fight that can last 2 hours with truckloads of tomatoes; as many as 120,000 kg are brought in for the locals’ pleasure in pelting each other. There aren’t really many rules for this festivity but the opposite genders tend to pelt against each other from 11am to 1pm.

This is a really messy festival if you are planning to participate in it. A change of clothes would be wise with old red clothing on to participate; that would be easier with the stains. Besides “Tomatina”, there will be lots of fireworks and parades to captivate your attention and occupy your time. You can even participate in a paella cooking competition that can prove to be most interesting.

Many of the Valencian festivals are long – about a week. “Las Fallas” comes on in March where larger than life papier-mâché figures fill the airspace. They can be as high as 60 feet. The figures are built in the streets with some satirical edge; Effigies of famous politicians have not been spared at every year’s festival.

The peak of the celebration is the “Night of Fire” with as many as 700 “Las Fallas” burnt; the city streets turn into large bonfires. Catalonia and Valls celebrate “Calcotada”, a legendary celebration of foods, especially the “calcot” at roadside barbeques with a big dipping hot sauce pot to tantalize your taste buds.

You will enjoy watching burly locals chomping down these barbequed onions as many as 300 bulbs in under an hour! Others can try the calcots with grilled meats and red wine with a little fee.

Next is Haro, the medieval town which celebrates the infamous “Batalla de Vino” or the Wine Battle. This town is located in Spain’s rich wine producing land, the La Rioja. This festival happened when Haro had a dispute with its neighbors but today’s fights are all good natured with the hurling of wine by the gallons. Again, this is another messy festivity for which you should come prepared.