The Importance Of Fiestas In Spain

Spain is famous for its fiestas and religious celebrations. There are big fiestas celebrated in all Spain or very local ones, celebrated only in one village.

1. Las Fallas

Valencia is the city were Las Fallas takes place from 15 March to 19 March. Officially it begins at the last Sunday in February with the opening ceremony La Crida. And it ends with La Crema where they burn more than 600 statues (los ninots) which are monuments of wood and polystyrene. Although, the celebration takes place the whole 19 days, the biggest party begins at 15 March.

Each neighbourhood of Valencia has its own group of people who works on fundraising the parties and dinners and its own Falla which is burnt as the end of the fiesta. These fallas consist of statues

In English, it is called the Sevilla Fair. It is held two weeks after de Semana Santa, Easter. The duration of the fair is six days. Begins on Monday and ends on the Sunday that week. The fiesta begins official with ‘El alumbrado’’. The fiesta begins official with ‘El alumbrado’. This is the lighting of half a million lights. This takes place on the midnight of the Monday. A parade of riders carry important citizens of Sevilla through the bullring. This is the beginning of each day. The fair takes place on the far bank of the river Guadalquivir which is covered with rows of tents (casetas). These tents belong most of time to groups such as friends, families and/or clubs. The Sevillanas are drinking, partying and dancing on the streets from nine at night until six in the morning. They also eat tapas and drink manzanilla and sherry. This happens first on the street and later on within their own

To be more precise, to 1653. On this date, the Virign of Las Rocinas became the patron saint of Almonste.

(Pilgrimage of El Rocio, n.d.).

6. Sanfermines

Sanfermines is a festival in Pamplona, Spain. From 12:00 on the 6th of July to midnight 14 July, the festival is celebrated. The opening of the party is featured by a ceremony (chupinazo). This ceremony is not that old, it started in the beginning of the 20th century. At this moment, it is being broadcast all over the world. From 7 July to 14 July the running of the bulls (encierro) takes places. Moreover, there are many other traditional events celebrated during this week. The event is closed with the singing of Pobre de Mí which is a ceremony too.

The origin of Sanfermines is of a combination of two different events which were celebrated in the Middle ages. The first event was held at the beginning of the summer. Fairs were held at this event and ultimately bullfighting’s were organized after the cattle merchants brought their animals with them to the fairs. The second event were the religious ceremonies which took place on the 10th of October. In the 16th centuries, this event was transferred to July the 7th at the same times as the fairs due to the good weather.

(San Fermín,