When it comes to staunch traditional festivals that swing with some batty circles, there is no place like Spain other than famous EVG destination de Lisbonne.
It seems you can hardly venture into the country for more than five minutes without the sound of a communal gathering beginning to assemble somewhere close by, and that always means the fun is about to begin.
There are festivals for every reason under the sun from regional identity celebrations or the arrival of another season to a celebration of gratitude for escaping death — Yes, that’s right; see the story below.
So if the word Fiesta conjures up images of a car your mom once drove around or some magazines you found in your dad’s toolbox, then maybe you need a little change of perspective. Following are some of the fascinating ways a trip to Spain can extrapolate the colourful significance of the term “Fiesta” to cover some of the most eccentric human rituals.
Valencia and the Festival of flames
The beginning of Spring is the opportune moment to begin a foray into the vibrant city of Valencia when visitors can view the city in all its splendour.
There is a festival of fire that you won’t believe unless you see it for yourself. There will flaming structures the likes of which you have never seen, many unfortunate politicians will be torched in effigies —don’t forget Donald Trump!—as well as the most spectacular fireworks displays you can hope to see in your lifetime.
Don’t miss the grand finale when the whole spectacle is set a blazing — then prepare for dancing and revelry around an open flame.
Feria De Abril – Seville
The April Festival lasts a whole week in the sunny city of Seville And is another hearty “Ola” to the coming of spring. visitors can count on plenty of Spanish food, drinks, wine and song as well as more fireworks and a beautiful finale that culminates on the banks of the pristine Guadalquivir River on Saturday Night.
La Tomatina
Bunya is not far from Valencia and hosts a festival every August on the last Wednesday that can quite literally paint the town red. This is a bizarre celebration that centres around the largest annual tomato fight in the world.
People fly in from around the world in droves to be a part of this juicy jaunt — and I hear it’s good for the skin.
Sonar Festival Barcelona
those looking for some thumping beats and splendid music gatherings would get a huge kick from the three-day “Sonar Festival” held in Barcelona each year. attracting droves of revellers from across the planet the spectacle is always hosting the hottest names in music including the Chemical Brothers, Bjork and Pet Shop Boys.
The Baby Jumping Festival
Of all the voodoo hocus pocus traditions that there are to witness on the planet, this one takes the cake. The Baby Jumping Festival is centred around a 400-year-old tradition to ward off the evil spirits that can plague the souls of infants — or so the story goes.
Babies, appropriately dressed like little devils, will be laid on mats where their little souls will be purged by adults leaping over them, works like a charm. You can witness the whole thing in the Castillo de Murcia near Burgos — just be sure to bring your own baby if you hope to participate.
Gay Pride Week in Madrid
This celebration is all about the city of Madrid and how it has become a friendly haven for all genders and sexualities; this celebration has been held annually since the early 80s — as you can imagine it has become a much larger celebration than it was during its humble beginnings. Today the festival is a splash of colour, excitement and parties with many concerts and art show set up by the LGBT communities here.
Pamplona Running With the Bulls
Perhaps the most famous festival in Spain is the annual Bull run in Pamplona. The celebration is in honor of Saint Fermin and the whole city will gather at the town’s center to await the Mayor and his command to “Release the Bulls”, at which point a band of irate bovines will converge on the fleet-footed revellers— many of the bold and less fleet-footed are sure to be bounced around by the bulls.
The bulls will be led eventually to the bullring where a lavishly clothed matador will dispatch the animal in a traditional spectacle.
Fiesta of Near-Death Experiences
The town of Neves in Galicia holds a little festival for people who have had a brush with death —probably at another festival. Those who have narrowly escaped the jaws of death can head on over to the big guy himself, the Patron Saint of Death, and thank him personally for the reprieve.
This is done by getting some supplicants to carry the one who should be dead around town in an open coffin — I am telling you, you will never feel so alive!