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Other fiestas celebrated in Spain

Below are the larger fiestas that take place throughout Spain. Please check with the local tourist information office for exact dates.

JANUARY
6th - Epiphany (Día de Reyes Magos) Three Kings Day
Although some children do receive presents on Christmas Day, it is much more traditional in Spain to give and receive on January 6th, "el día de los Reyes Magos". On the previous evening, January 5th, there are large processions in most Spanish towns to celebrate the arrival of the 3 Kings (known in Spain as Melchor, Gaspar & Baltasar ) bringing the children's presents on the backs of camels, which the children receive on the morning of January 6th, a public holiday in Spain.

17th- Mallorca and mainland San Anton - patron saint of domestic animals. Bonfires are lit and demon figures are used. Also celebrated in much of the mainland with bonfires and mounted processions. In Ciudad Real bread rolls are blessed and cockerels auctioned off.

17th -Alicante Porrat de San Anton. A traditional market selling local producs. An animal show and the blessing of the animals in the bullring. Held in the quarter of the city named after the saint.

FEBRUARY
Carnaval (the week preceding Ash Wednesday and Lent) most celebrated in Cádiz (Andalucía), Sitges (Catalunya), and Águilas (Valencia), but also celebrated locally in the Marina Alta region, particularly by children at local schools who dress up and parade through the streets.

2nd-5th -Bocairente, Valencia Reenactment of struggle between Christians and Moors - parades and fireworks, colourful costumes

11th-Mar21st- Cadiz Festival de Cadiz - Oldest festival in Spain - parades and colourful costumes
Various Madrid Carnival - masked ball, fancy dress and the burial of a sardine followed by a concert in Plaza Mayor

MARCH
12th-19th - Las Fallas in Valencia is the biggest of the bonfire festivals held for San José, climaxing on the Night of Fire when enormous caricatures are burnt and firecrackers take over the streets.

Easter (March/April)
Semana Santa (Holy Week) is celebrated across Spain with religious processions, at their most theatrical in the cities of Sevilla, Málaga, Murcia and Valladolid , where pasos - huge floats of religious scenes - are carried down the streets, accompanied by hooded penitents atoning for the year's misdeeds. Good Friday sees the biggest processions. Book your hotel room well in advance of Semana Santa.

APRIL
22nd-24th - Moros y Cristianos - mock battle between Moors and Christians - in Alcoy, Valencia. (Similar events take place throughout the year all around Spain.

23rd - San Jordi - Catalunya's patron saint's day is a big party across the region and is also celebrated on National Book Day throughout Spain.

1st Calatayud, Aragon Sunday of San Lazaro
Thursday following Easter week Alicante Pilgrimage of the Holy Visage. A very important and popular event when 200,000 people holding pilgrimage canes walk to the Monastery of Santa Faz to worship at the shrine. They have picnic lunches and a large arts and crafts market is held.

MAY
Early May - Horse Fair at Jerez (Andalucía).

1st-3rd - Alicante May Crosses (Cruces de Mayo). The Santa Cruz quarter dresses with sweet smelling crosses made from flowers. The finest win awards and dances and games are organised.

7th-22nd- San Isidro - Madrid's patron saint (15th) - is a signal for parades, free concerts, and the start of the bullfight season.

Pentecost (Whitsun:7th Sunday after Easter): the great pilgrimage to El Rocío, near Huelva (Andalucía).

Corpus Christi (Thursday after Trinity; May/June) is a focus for religious processions, accompanied by floats and penitents, notably in Toledo, Granada and Valencia. Many town fiestas also take place, including the spectacular costumed events of the Festa de la Patum (Catalunya).

JUNE
24th - San Juan and the arrival of the summer solstace is celebrated with bonfires all over

Spain

- particularly in San Juan de Alicante, where a local version of Las Fallas takes place.

Celebrated with bonfires on the beach, lasting all night through the night of the 23rd. At midnight everyone rushes into the sea to symbolise the baptisms by John the Baptist. The theary is that you wash your feet in the sea to clense your sins. There is also the tradition of jumping the bonfire, to burn away your sins (or something like that).

29th - San Pedro - patron of fishermen - is honoured by flotillas of boats, and partying all along the coast.

JULY
7th-14th - San Fermin - the famed running of the bulls at Pamplona .

25th - Santiago -

Spain

's patron saint, St James - is honoured at Santiago de Compostela, with fireworks and bonfires.

End July: Torrevieja – international Cuban dance and polyphony (musical) contest. Major choral event for the city including musical extravaganza on the beach.

AUGUST
10th-11th - Elche (Valencia) hosts mock battles between Christians and Moors, ending with a centuries-old mystery play.

First/second week : Mass canoe races down the Río Sella in

Asturias

.

Third week - Toledo's main fiesta, climaxing in amazing fireworks at the weekend.

Last week- Gigantones (giant puppets) are paraded in Alcalá de Henares (Castile).

Last Wed (usually): La Tomatina in Buñol, near Valencia: the country's craziest fiesta, a two-hour tomato fight. Valencia La Tomatina (Battle of the Tomatoes). Tons of fruit thrown between warring towns and villages - followed by music and dancing

SEPTEMBER
First week - Vendimia (grape harvest) celebrations at Valdepeñas (New Castile), Jerez (Andalucía) and other wine towns.

5th-8th - Alicante Virgen del Socorro. The Ravel quarter organises a feast in honour of its patron saint. The fiesta includes cooking competitions, a procession, games and dances.

21ST - Rioja wine harvest celebrated in Logroño (Old Castile).

Segorbe (Costa Azahar): bull and horse run fiesta.

OCTOBER
9th - the Valencia Dia de Comunidad Valenciana

12th - Zaragoza Day of El Pilar, procession of giant figures

NOVEMBER
1st - National All Saints Day - relatives lay flowers on graves of the dead

DECEMBER

25th - National Christmas Day

26th - National Saint Stephen
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