If someone ask
about celebrations in Spain, two words appear: Flamenco
and Bulls. The bullfights are all over the country, being
the most popular and known spectacles the San Fermin confinements
in Pamplona. But the bullfights are something that will
appear in any Spanish celebration.
The flamenco is the folkloric tradition of the south,
specially Andalusia. It’s in this region where the
visitor will have to move in order to know the cante jondo
and the flamenco guitar and dance roots. In April, are
celebrated the April Fair in Seville, a week filled with
songs and dances where Sherry wine and other delicious
beverages are drinked, accompanied by ham and cheese among
other zone delicacies and also the Moors and Christians
Celebration in Alcoy, Alicante, a party celebrated for
more than two hundred and fifty years, beginning with
the flashy parade of Alardos and remembering what happened
in the battle between Moors and Christians during the
Recovering.
Easter is another important celebration of this country.
They are distinguished by its traditional religious processions
of exceptional beauty. The best are those of Seville,
Malaga, Murcia and Cuenca.
Another event that attracts millions of tourists to the
province of Huelva is El Rocío, a romería
in the town of the same name, where is venerated La Virgen
del Rocío. In traditional and simple decorated
carts within the most authentic and typical flamenco culture,
multitudes will come not only local but also from far
away towns, on foot, horse or cart, celebrating an unique
spectacle, where folklore and joy are mixed with religion
in a peculiar and colorful combination.
Another exceptional celebration are the Valencian Fallas
of San Jose celebrated in March, when all the city becomes
an enormous stage for celebration and art, with immense
amounts of the most extraordinary pyrotechnics. One wild
week is in San Sebastián during February, when
the Tamburrada is celebrated.
The most typical celebrations of Madrid are those of San
Isidro, in May. In these dates are celebrated the most
important bullfights of the year. The night of San Juan
in June is also an emblematic celebration, with the fire
passage that takes place in San Pedro Manrique (Soria),
the Caragols de Ciutadella in Menorca, and the San Juan
Bonfires in Alicante, declared Celebrations of Tourist
Interest. They are celebrated from the 20 to the 29 and
include parades and flowers offering.
The Carnival is popular in very diverse points of the
country, being the most popular the ones in Santa Cruz
of Tenerife, Sitges and Cadiz. Nougat and candies are
the typical Christmas celebrations food. In all the cities
these holidays are celebrated with Belenes, floats parades
and carols. On December 31, New Year’s Eve, the
12 bells ringing is relayed to all Spain from the Puerta
del Sol in Madrid.
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