Festivals and Culture of Spain: Calendar of Holidays, Unique Traditions and Gastronomy
10 November
Spain is a country with a rich cultural heritage, known for its colorful kaleidoscope of holidays and traditions that attract tourists from all over the world. Here, every region, city and even village has its own unique festivals that reflect centuries-old traditions, religious customs and love of life of the Spanish people. In this article, we will tell you about the most important holidays in Spain, their features and associated gastronomic pleasures.
January: Festival of the Three Kings (Día de los Reyes Magos)
- When: January 6
- Where: All of Spain
The Festival of the Three Kings concludes the Christmas and New Year holidays in Spain. It is believed that it was the Magi (Three Kings) who brought gifts to the baby Jesus, so on this day Spanish children receive gifts. On the evening of January 5th, colourful parades (Cabalgata de los Reyes) take place in the cities, with characters dressed as the Magi throwing candies to children. The traditional pie, roscón de reyes, decorated with fruit and filled with cream, appears on the tables on this day.
March-April: Holy Week (Semana Santa)
- When: Week before Easter
- Where: All of Spain, especially in Andalusia and Castilla y León
Semana Santa or Holy Week is one of the most important and solemn holidays in Catholic Spain. It is a time of processions that recreate scenes from the life of Jesus Christ. Some of the most famous processions take place in Seville, Malaga, Valladolid and Toledo, where the participants wear costumes and hoods, play music and carry sculptures of saints. After the ceremonies, the Spanish gather around the table, where it is customary to eat torrijas (a type of toast with honey and cinnamon) and bacalao (cod) as Lenten dishes.
July: Pamplona Fiesta (Canfermines) and Encierro
- When: July 6-14
- Where: Pamplona, Navarre
Also known as San Fermin, this festival includes the famous running of the bulls through the streets of Pamplona. Thousands of daredevils from all over the world participate in the race, pursued by bulls, making it one of the most exciting spectacles in Spain. In addition to the running, the festival includes concerts, fireworks and ceremonies. The region's gastronomy is also not left out, and during the days of San Fermin you can try Navarrese dishes such as cod roe and fritos made from vegetables and seafood.
August: La Tomatina
- When: Last Wednesday of August
- Where: Buñol, Valencia
La Tomatina is a festival where participants have a huge tomato fight. This colorful and fun event attracts many tourists who happily throw ripe tomatoes at each other. After the “fight”, the city organizes a general cleanup and the participants go to a celebration where they can try traditional Valencian dishes such as paella, tapas and local wine.
September: Mercè Day
- When: September 24
- Where: Barcelona, Catalonia
Merce Day is celebrated in Barcelona and is dedicated to the patron saint of the city, the Virgin of Merced. The festival includes parades of giant dolls, fire dances (correfocs), performances by artists and concerts. One of the unique features of the festival is the construction of “human towers” (castells), where festival-goers stand on top of each other to form towers of people. The festival also offers local dishes such as fuet, botifarra and fresh seafood.
October: Rioja Wine Festival
- When: September 21 – October 5
- Where: Logroño, La Rioja
This festival takes place in the wine region of La Rioja and is dedicated to the grape harvest. Here you can see traditional ceremonies of picking and pressing grapes, taste different types of wine and dishes that perfectly match the region’s wines, such as tapas and famous Spanish cheeses. The wine festival attracts wine lovers and gourmets, creating an atmosphere full of fun and taste discoveries.
November: All Saints' Day (Día de Todos los Santos)
- When: November 1
- Where: All over Spain
All Saints' Day is a day when Spaniards honor the dead by visiting cemeteries and laying flowers on their graves. On this day, you can see sweets associated with the memory of ancestors, such as "huesos de santo" (almond rolls filled with cream) and "buñuelos de viento" (small doughnuts with filling). The holiday is a reminder of respect for traditions and cultural roots.
December: Christmas and New Year
- When: December 24-31
- Where: All of Spain
Christmas in Spain is a family affair, with delicacies such as jamón, seafood and traditional sweets (turrón, polvorón) often on the table. New Year is celebrated with joy, music and dancing, and at midnight the Spanish eat 12 grapes, one for each stroke of the clock, to bring good luck in the new year.
Spanish festivals are not only unique traditions and costumes, but also a rich gastronomic diversity. Coming to Spain for one of the festivals, you will be able to get acquainted with the culture of the country and try dishes that preserve and pass on the taste memory of generations.