Spain, with its rich history and cultural diversity, offers a multitude of festivities throughout the year. Each celebration has its unique traditions and activities that vary by region.
January: New Year and Three Wise Men
New Year 1st of January)
The New Year in Spain is celebrated with various traditions and activities:
Take the 12 lucky grapes: At midnight on December 31, it is traditional to eat a grape with each strike of the clock to attract good luck for the next 12 months.
Parties and dinners: Many families gather for special dinners and all-night parties.
San Silvestre: Participating in the San Silvestre race, a popular marathon held in several cities, is a fun and healthy way to close out the year.
Three Wise Men (January 6)
Three Kings Day is a long-awaited holiday, especially for children:
Three Kings Parade: On January 5, in almost all cities and towns parades are held with floats where the Three Wise Men distribute candy and gifts.
Rosco de Reyes: Enjoy a Rosco de Reyes, a typical cake that contains small surprises inside.
Gift Exchange: Similar to Christmas, it is common to exchange gifts on the morning of January 6th.
February: Carnival
Carnival is a festival full of color and joy that is celebrated on different dates depending on the region, but generally falls in February:
Parades and troupes: The streets are filled with parades with floats and troupes of costumed people, as in the famous Carnival of Tenerife and the Carnival of Cádiz.
Costume contests: Many towns organize costume contests for adults and children.
Dance and music: Music and dance are essential in Carnival celebrations, with rhythms that invite partying and fun.
March/April: Easter
Holy Week is one of the most important and solemn festivities in Spain, celebrated in March or April depending on the liturgical calendar:
Processions: Religious processions are the heart of Holy Week. Cities like Seville and Malaga are famous for their impressive Easter parades.
Saetas: During the processions, it is common to hear saetas, a traditional flamenco song that expresses devotion and emotion.
Gastronomy: Enjoy typical Lenten dishes such as torrijas, vigil stew and cod.
May: Labor Day and San Isidro
Labor Day (May 1)
Labor Day is a global holiday that is celebrated with various activities in Spain:
Demonstrations and rallies: Many cities organize marches and rallies in support of labor rights.
Outdoor Activities: It is a perfect day to enjoy outdoor activities such as picnics, walks and community events.
San Isidro (May 15)
San Isidro is the patron saint of Madrid, and his festival is one of the most loved by Madrid residents:
Pilgrimage in the Pradera de San Isidro: Madrid residents dress in traditional costumes and head to the Pradera de San Isidro to spend a picnic with music, food and dancing.
Verbenas: Verbenas, or popular festivals, are celebrated in various neighborhoods with live music, chotis (a typical Madrid dance) and attractions.
San Isidro Fair: It is also the time of the famous San Isidro Fair, the most important bullfighting fair in the world.
June: San Juan
The Night of San Juan, celebrated on June 23, is a holiday that marks the beginning of summer with traditions that vary by region:
Bonfires: In many cities, especially on the Mediterranean coast, bonfires are lit on the beach. Jumping over bonfires is a tradition that symbolizes purification and good luck.
Bathing in the sea: It is customary to bathe in the sea at midnight to attract good luck.
Parties and fireworks: The night is filled with parties, music and fireworks shows.
July: San Fermin
San Fermín is one of the most international festivals in Spain, celebrated in Pamplona from July 6 to 14:
Running of the Bulls: The running of the bulls, in which participants run in front of bulls through the streets of Pamplona, are the most famous event. They require courage and agility.
Troupes and giants: Parades with giants and big heads, large figures that represent historical and traditional figures.
Riau-Riau: A parade in which citizens accompany the authorities from the Town Hall to the church of San Lorenzo.
August: The Assumption
On August 15, the Assumption of the Virgin is celebrated, a religious festival with various cultural manifestations:
Patron saint festivities: In many localities, this date coincides with the patron saint festivities, which include masses, processions and festivals.
Malaga Fair: One of the largest fairs in Spain, where you can enjoy booths, flamenco, and much more.
Pilgrimage: It is common to participate in pilgrimages, pilgrimages to hermitages and sanctuaries in honor of the Virgin.
September: La Mercè and San Mateo
La Mercè (September 24)
La Mercè is Barcelona's main festival, celebrated in honor of the city's patron saint:
Castellers: Construction of human towers, a spectacular Catalan tradition.
Correfocs: Parades with demons and fireworks that run through the streets.
Concerts and cultural activities: The entire city is filled with music, dance and open-air theater.
Saint Matthew (September 21)
San Mateo is the main festival of Logroño and a celebration of the grape harvest in La Rioja:
Grape stomping: In the Plaza del Espolón, the traditional grape stomping is carried out to extract the first must of the year.
Wine Tastings: Wine-related tastings and events are organized throughout the city.
Float parade: A colorful parade with floats decorated by the city's clubs.
October: Columbus Day
On October 12, Hispanic Heritage Day and Virgen del Pilar Day are celebrated:
Military parade: In Madrid, an impressive military parade presided over by the King takes place.
Offering of flowers to the Virgin of Pilar: In Zaragoza, thousands of people participate in the offering of flowers to the Virgin.
Cultural events: Concerts, exhibitions and cultural events are organized throughout Spain to commemorate the date.
November: All Saints
November 1, All Saints' Day, is a solemn holiday in which the deceased are honored:
Cemetery Visits: Families visit cemeteries to clean and decorate the graves of their loved ones with flowers.
Traditional sweets: It is common to eat holy bones, wind buñuelos and panellets.
Theater and culture: In some regions, plays related to the Day of the Dead, such as Don Juan Tenorio, are performed.
December: Christmas and New Year's Eve
Christmas is on the 25th of December)
Christmas in Spain is a time full of family and religious traditions:
Nativity Scene: Setting up the nativity scene, a representation of the birth of Jesus, is a widespread tradition.
Christmas Eve: The night of December 24 is celebrated with a special family dinner.
Midnight Mass: Attending midnight Midnight Mass is a tradition for many Catholics.
New Year's Eve (December 31)
The farewell to the year is celebrated with joy and unique traditions:
Dinners and parties: Families and friends gather to dine and celebrate.
Take the 12 grapes: Like the New Year, 12 grapes are taken with each strike of the clock at midnight.
Fireworks: Cities are filled with fireworks to welcome the new year.
Each holiday in Spain has its own charm and offers a variety of activities that reflect the cultural richness of the country. From religious solemnities to parties full of color and joy, there is something for everyone. Whether you are interested in gastronomy, popular traditions or outdoor events, Spanish festivities will provide you with unforgettable experiences.