OUR CELEBRATIONS

Spain

Camino de Santiago

During more than a thousand years, the Way of St. James has led pilgrims as far as the sanctuary of one of Christendom’s apostles: St. James the Greater.

In the way to Santiago we can find this symbol.

This is St. James Cathedral in Santiago de Compostela.

The way to Santiago means the journey to Salvation.

And, at the same time, they are immersed in the profoundly human experience of the discovery.

There are several ways to reach to Santiago.

The pilgrimage to Compostela became the most profoundly experience

religious for all Christendom.

THE CARNIVAL

PASSACAGLIA, PARADE AND PARTIES ARE CELEBRATED IN ALMOST ALL THE TOWNS AND

CITIES OF THE COUNTRY.PEOPLE GO OUT WITH FANCY DRESSES AT

NIGHT TILL EARLY MORNING.

THE MOST WELL-KNOWN ARE THE CARNIVAL FROM TENERIFE FOR ITS DRESSES AND THE ELECTION

EACH YEAR OF THE CARNIVAL’S QUEEN

AND THE CARNIVAL FROM CADIZ DUE TO ITS “CHIRIGOTAS” THAT ARE SATIRICAL SONGS

RELATED TO PRESENT POLITICAL, RELIGION OR SOCIAL SUBJECTS.

CARNIVAL STARTS EVERY YEAR WITH THE “FATTY THURSDAY”

THE SARDINE’S BURIAL MEANS THE END OF THE CARNIVAL AND THE BEGINNING OF THE LENT

FALLAS

It is a tribute to St. Joseph. In a display of art, though also of irony and humour, they are exhibited in the streets.

On the last day, at midnight, they are set on fire and burn in immense, spectacularly beautiful pyres.

Streets are alive with fireworks displays, music bands, artistic lighting, street performances, parades...

LA MAGDALENA

The “Fiestas de la Magdalena” (Magdalena's Holidays) are the official annual festival of the city of Castellón.

It starts with the “Calvalcada del pregó”

Everybody goes then to the Romería, a pilgrimage to the settlement where the old city was founded.

In the afternoon, the parade of the “gaiates” takes place.

The citizens of Castellón make an incredible tapestry of flowers in honor of “la mare de Déu del Lledó” (God's Mother of Lledó).

HOLY WEEK

It's one of the most traditional religious events in Spain.

It's celebrated all over the country but each city has its own peculiarities.

We must insist on the greatness of the sculptures of Christ Passion and Virgins, which are authentic art objects.

THE FESTIVITY OF SANTA FAZ

The pilgrimage to the Monastery of Santa Faz in Alicante is more than five centuries old.

It is a great festival where the pilgrims cover the around 8 km that separates St. Nicholas of Bari's Co-Cathedral – its departure point – and the Monastery of Santa Faz.

In order to worship the cloth where, it is believed, Christ's face (Faz) was impressed.

It is celebrated always on the second Thursday after Holy Week. Pilgrims traditionally wear a black blouse, a white and blue neck-scarf and use a cane crowned with a small bunch of rosemary.

In the immediacy of the Monastery, many stalls are put up, where pilgrims and visitors can buy traditional craft-work.

Besides, it is also usual for pilgrims to take their lunch in the nearby fields.

FERIA DE ABRIL

The Seville Spring Fair, La Feria de abril de Sevilla, is held in the Andalusian capital of Seville, Spain.

For the duration of the fair, the fairgrounds and a vast area on the far bank of the Guadalquivir River are totally covered in rows of casetas (Booths)

You can find crowds partying and dancing "Sevillanas", drinking Jerez sherry, or manzanilla wine, and eating tapas.

San Jordi´s Day

It is a popular feast related to the books and roses. Everyone gives someone else a present.- a book and a rose.

All people goes out to the streets to walk and buy books and roses for their friends and partners as a sign of love.

This day is the international day of the book. It began in 1923 to commemorate the nearly simultaneous deaths of Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare on the 23rd of April of 1616.

ELS CASTELLS

These are Castells (catalan for castles), a tradition of making human towers during the religious festivities all around Catalonia and Balear Isles also.

The "enxaneta" (the last one) raising his hand, fingers apart, said to symbolize the stripes of the Catalan flag.

The motto of Castellers is "Força, equilibri, valor i seny" (Strength, balance, courage and reason).

On November 16, 2010, castells were declared by UNESCO to be amongst the Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Types of castells, according to the number of people in each floor.

La torre o dos. El pilar. El tres. El cuatro.(The tower or two). (The Column). (The three). (The four).

LA FIESTA DE SAN ISIDRO

“Las Fiestas de San Isidro” is a festival held in the city of Madrid.

People go on pilgrimage to the hermitage of San Isidro and end up having lunch in the “Pradera de San Isidro” (San Isidro's Meadow): Spanish omelets, different kind of pies, wine (usually in wineskin), “cocido madrileño” (Stew from Madrid)...

The meadow is also plenty of small stands and funfairs. It is also very traditional to dance a “Chotis” dressed as a “chulapo” or “chulapa”.

FOGUERES DE SANT JOAN

Are the official holidays of Alicante (Spain).

A “Foguera” is an artistic monument made of wood, cardboard, cork and paint with a deep satyric charge, that can measure up to twenty meters.

Each committee works in their “Foguera” during the whole year.

They are burned the night of the 24th of June after an impressive firework launch visible from almost every corner in the city.

Every day at 2 p.m., the traditional “mascletà” is fired (firecracker and fireworks barrages)

LOS “SANFERMINES”

The festival of San Fermín in the city of Pamplona. The opening of the fiesta is marked by setting off the pyrotechnic chupinazo.

The most famous event is the encierro, or the running of the bulls (Its events were central to the plot of The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway)

Over 1,000,000 people come to watch this festival.

MYSTERY PLAY OF ELCHE

The mystery play of Elche is a sacred musical drama of the death, assumption and crowning of the Virgin.

Its text is written in Valencian language and its music includes melodies derived from the Gregorian repertoire.

The event (the Mystery Play) was declared in 2001 the UNESCO included it on its list of Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

“COLUMBUS DAY”

THE ARE TWO FESTIVITIES RELATED WITH OUR HISTORY THAT ARE CELEBRATED EVERY YEAR IN MADRID.

ON OCTOBER THE 12TH “COLUMBUS DAY” WHERE THERE ARE MILITAR EXHIBITIONS AND A MARCH – PAST IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PRESIDENT AND THE ROYAL FAMILY…

THE CONSTITUTION DAY

ON DECEMBER THE 6TH “THE CONSTITUTION DAY”. AFTER MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF A DICTATORSHIP, IN 1978 THE PARLAMIENT APPROVE IT.

SO THAT, DURING THIS DAY PEOPLE ARE ALLOWED TO ENTER AND VISIT THE DEPUTIES CONGRESS

LA FIESTA DE MOROS Y CRISTIANOS

“La fiesta de Moros y Cristianos” is a tribute to the coexistence of cultures, and the battles that alternated power between Muslims and Christians.

It takes place in different Spanish cities and towns, but especially in the province of Alicante.During the feast days, each of the sides (the Moors and the Christians) seizes the city one day symbolically. This is called either the Christian Entry or the Moor Entry.

The last day the Christians take the castle of the town or a reproduction of one.

CABALGATA DE LOS REYES MAGOS

The one in Alcoy is considered to be the oldest of the world. This day the three kings walk along the streets of Alcoy riding camels with a company of more than a thousand of people.

The pages go up to the children's houses with long ladders and give them their presents for Christmas.

During the last part of the party takes places the adoration of the Three Wise Men to the new born Jesus.

All people eat the typical sweet of this day.- A sort of circular cake inside of which there are two little figures hidden.

Thank you.