Festivals in Spain

We have provided a selection of enthralling Spanish holidays to help you to pick the best date for a learning language holiday in Spain. Here you can find all Spanish festivals like the “tomate” feria in Buñol near Valencia, the feria in Seville or in Malaga. A festival in Spain is not complete without the beautiful flamenco dancing, bull fights, midsummer night swimming or a wonderful Christmas celebration.

January
Los Reyes Magos de Oriente (three wise men or three kings)
All places

On the 5th of January the three wise men arrive. All of the children in Spain have been waiting for them all year long (and for the presents). The kids traditionally leave some water on the balconies for the camels and cookies for the three wise men. The next morning the kids will find the presents that the three wise men left behind for them. Adults can also enjoy this celebration, as it's tradition to eat Roscón de reyes (kings' ring), a Spanish pastry traditionally eaten to celebrate Epiphany. Take the possibility to learn Spanish in Spain during the celebration of the “Reyes Magos” and book a language course in January!

Carnival
All places

Spanish carnival is an interesting festival where people dress up, sing, dance and use their freedom of speech to express their political views. Carnival was prohibited for 40 years during the Franco regime, but nowadays it is a big fiesta for all. Carnival is a Catholic celebration and it is a preparation for the Lenten Fast (period of eating in moderation for religion reasons). Carnival is celebrated all over Spain, but the party in Cadiz is the biggest carnival in the world after the carnival of Rio the Janeiro.

March

Fallas de Valencia (fires of Valencia)

Valencia
19th March

On the night of the 19th March, the people of Valencia celebrate Saint Joseph's day (patron of carpenters). The 5 day festival is a loud, smokey rowdy celebration to welcome the spring. The week before poeple make tall puppets called 'Ninots' to make comments on life in a good humoured or sarcastic way. At the end of the week the ninots are burned in high fires burning all over the city who burn away the winter.

I. Semana Santa (holy week, eastern)
All cities in Spain

The holy week is the most important religious celebration in Spain. The streets are very busy with hoards of people and processions taking place every day. On the Sunday the churches and streets are full of people celebrating the resurrection of Christ.

II. La feria de abril de Sevilla (April festival of Seville)
Sevilla

The ferias of Seville is a week-long celebration of happiness and dance. Typical amusement during the festival are watching bull fights, eating and drinking typical food and wine in the streets, and dancing sevillanas (form of flamenco dance). Seville is  historically known as the centre of flamenco, and so what better place to enjoy it!

May
Cruzes de mayo
Córdoba

During this festival the inhabitants of Cordoba decorate the streets and their houses with crosses and flowers to celebrate the springtime.

Noche de San Juan (mid -summer night)
All places

The night of San Juan is the longest day of the year with the most hours of sunlight. In Spain this day is celebrated in different ways. In places near the beach people bathe in the sea when it is twelve o’clock and warm themselves afterwards by the fires on the beach. Midsummernight is celebrated in many Spanish cities such as Alicante, Madrid, Málaga, Marbella, Vejer, Nerja, and Granada.

July
 

Santiago Apóstol
Where: Santiago de Compostela

This Spanish city celebrates the 25th of July in honour of Santiago Apóstol, patrón Saint of Spain and Galicia (one of the autonomous communities of Spain). People celebrate the 24st with fireworks at Obradoiro square. And the 25th of July, a holy Mass will be held in the cathedral of Santiago.

I. Feria de Malaga (Malaga summer fair)
Malaga
The feria of Malaga attracts people from all over the world. Bands play all varieties of music, people are dance sevillanas and other forms and watch bull fights all under the bright and sunny Mediterranean sky.Participate in the craziness of the Malaga summer fair and pick up some Spanish? Book your course with StudyTravel!

II. Tomatina
Buñol (Valencia)
End of August

The origins of this event are not totally clear. Some say that it started coincidental when some boys threw rotten tomatoes through the air. Nowadays people repeat this action on this day, and have a tomato fight in the village of Buñol.  Study Spanish in the city of Valencia and celbrate tomatine in Buñol (Valencia)!

III: Feria de San Miquel (festival of Torremolinos)
Torremolinos-Malaga

The feria of Torremolinos is an authentic festival with flamenco, concerts and typical food eaten on the streets. The festival is held in honor of the patron of this seaside resort San Miquel. Book your language course in Malaga, from which you can easily visit Torremolinos!

Dia Hispanico (Hispanic day)
all cities in Spain

The 12th of October is Hispanic Day to celebrate Colon's discovery of America in 1492; nowadays it is an offical holiday for Spain and for countries as well as in Latin America. This day you will find military parades passing through the streets and many more events to celebrate!

November
Dia de todos los santos (All Saints day)
All places
1st of November

On this day the Spanish people think about their beloved who have passed away. In the old days, people used to spend this day with their family and go to the cemetery or church. Nowadays, most of the people in Spain are also familiar with the name "Halloween" and they celebrate this day by putting on funny costumes.

December
Navidad en España (Christmas in Spain)
All places
24th, 25th, 31st December

The 24th of December is celebrated as the holy night with a meal in the evening with the whole family or friends.

Christmas (25th December) is celebrated with a family dinner and presents who Papa Noel brings for the kids.

The last day of the year (31st December) is the most celebrated day of the year worldwide. Also in Spain the 31st of Decemebr is fully celebrated. A typical Spanish custom is to eat one grape every time the clock chimes when it is twelve o’clock. For all 12 grapes you may do a wish for every month of the new year.