Top 10 Traditional Festivals in Spain
Semana Santa is the Spanish name for Easter. A series of processions are organized throughout the streets, depicting the story of Jesus Christ. This festival is best celebrated in Seville and Malaga which are catholically overgenerous. Each day there is a procession carrying the float from their Church to the Cathedral. Hotel reservations are made months in advance to watch this festival. Most of the processions start in the late evening or night. Before the Easter day, if the procession starts in the evening of Thursday it will not end till Friday evening.
San Fermin festival which is the Pamplona Bull Run is celebrated in early July for 7 days. It is celebrated in Basque country, North of Spain with much pomp and splendor. Guided tours are conducted across Spain to watch this Bull Run festival. The function starts around 11 p.m. in the night and continues till 8 a.m. the next day. Some brave people run along with the Bulls to prove their heroism.
Tomatina Tomato Fight takes place in August in a small town called Bunol near Valencia during which thousands of people gather in the streets throwing tomatoes on each other. It is one of the best food festivals in Spain.
Las Fallas in Valencia, Costa Blanca is traditionally celebrated every year on the 19th of March. Each locality of the city prepares giant size puppets which are taken on procession, after which they are burnt, except the very best puppet voted by the public which is placed in a museum forever. It is a five day festival and the entire city of Valencia springs with energy during the event.
Feria de Seville is an occasion to celebrate after Easter. It is a fusion of Flamenco, bullfighting, horses and sherry. It brings together the poor and the rich to celebrate the event. Children enjoy rides on animals whereas adults take pleasure in music, dance and fun.
Carnival in Spain is another important event, especially in Cadiz and Tenerife and in some parts of Madrid. Carnival at Tenerife resembles a big event like Rio. Different cities celebrate Carnival in various modes.
Christmas and New Year are always celebrated with great enthusiasm like any other part of the world. Being a Catholic country, Christmas is all about going to mass, eating, drinking and a great deal of family events.
Cristianos Y Moros is another distinctive event in Spain.
Semana Grande is a big attraction; from rock to pop, classical to jazz, a large number of music concerts are organized. Lots of giant puppets, variety of fireworks revamp the event.
Tomborrada is an event celebrated at San Sebastian with mass participation of drums and huge parades taking over the streets during the entire night.
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