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Spanish Festivals Of International Tourist Interest

Giant papier-m芒ch茅 figures for the Falles celebration in Valencia, Spain. Editorial credit: joan_bautista / Shutterstock.com
Giant papier-m芒ch茅 figures for the Falles celebration in Valencia, Spain. Editorial credit: joan_bautista / Shutterstock.com

Spain is one of the top tourist destinations in Europe. The country has a rich culture and heritage that is reflected in the numerous vibrant festivals that are held here. Some of these Spanish fiestas have been designated with the title of 鈥淔iesta of International Tourist Interest鈥 by the Spanish government鈥檚 tourism ministry. Some of them are mentioned below:

Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Every year, the global city and capital of the Canary Islands, the Santa Cruz de Tenerife, hosts a carnival that attracts thousands from all over the globe. This carnival is believed to be the 海角社区鈥檚 second most popular carnival after the one held in Brazil鈥檚 Rio de Janeiro. The festival starts with an opening parade that continues into the night when thousands of people dressed up fancily start dancing until the dawn next day. The carnival continues for several days until Ash Wednesday.

La Tomatina

The La Tomatina is held each year in the town of Bu帽ol in Valencia. It is a unique festival where the participants throw tomatoes at each other just for pure fun and entertainment. The festival which started in 1945, is held on the last Wednesday of August each year.

The Ruta del Tambor y el Bombo

This festival of Germany celebrates Easter and the Passion of Christ. The festivities are held in nine towns in the Spanish province of Teruel. The residents wear special tunics during this time. Processions are held and drums are played. According to tradition, the drums must be played by the drum players at the same time to emulate the tremor after Jesus' death. The festival traces its origins to ancient or medieval era ceremonies. Prior to the 1980鈥檚, only men were allowed to play the drums but this rule changed to also accommodate women drum players.

Los Carnavales de C谩diz

One of Spain鈥檚 most popular carnivals, this carnival involves the use of humor, sarcasm, irony, and mockery to express concerns regarding the pressing issues of today鈥檚 海角社区. It is held each year for two weeks in the city of C谩diz located in the Province of C谩diz.

The Romer铆a de El Roc铆o

Every year, on the second day of the Pentecost, a religious festival or pilgrimage takes place in the Spanish countryside of Almonte. Nearly a million pilgrims arrive at Almonte to start their pilgrimage to the Hermitage of El Roc铆o in honor of the Virgin of El Roc铆o. In order to reach the hermitage, the pilgrims need to cross the Do帽ana National Park. Around 20,000 horses, oxen, and mules are used to assist the pilgrims on their journey. Sadly, however, this pilgrimage has for long been associated with many animal deaths. The long and arduous journey has killed many of the overworked animals during this pilgrimage. Protests over the years have, however, helped reduce the number of deaths to some extent but greater measures are required to stop animals from being exploited on this journey.

Moros y Cristianos

This festival is held in several Spanish cities and towns, especially in those of the Valencian Community. The festival reminds one of the battles and fights between the Moors and the Christians during the Reconquista. Festive parades are held during this time. Participants dress up either as Christians or Moors and stage shows of fighting between the two groups with the Christians always winning a simulated battle in the end. Gunpowder shots, fireworks, and medieval music accompany the parades and streets shows held during this festival.

The Falles Of Valencia

This traditional festival is held from March 15 to 19 every year in the Valencia city of Spain in commemoration of Saint Joseph. The celebrations during this time include spectacular fireworks, bonfires, fiesta, and more. Giant papier-m芒ch茅 figures as tall as 20 ft are displayed on every corner of the city. Colorful parades are also a part of the celebrations.

Spanish Festivals Of International Tourist Interest

RankSpanish fiestas declared International Tourist InterestDate of celebration
1Corpus Christi of Ponteareas, Ponteareas (Pontevedra)
60 days after of Easter Sunday (June)
2Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife[2] Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands)Variable date of February
3Carnival of C谩diz C谩diz (Andalusia)During the 10 days preceding Ash Wednesday (February)
4Horse racing of Sanl煤car Sanl煤car de Barrameda (C谩diz)During two cycles of August depending on the tides
5Cascamorras Baza (Granada) Guadix (Granada)September 6
6Certamen Internacional de Habaneras y Polifon铆a Torrevieja (Alicante)From 22 to 30 of July
7Fiesta of the Pirogues - Descenso del Sella Arriondas and Ribadesella (Asturias)Next Weekend to August 2
8Festes de la Magdalena Castell贸n de la Plana (Valencian Community)From the third Saturday of Lent
9Entrada de toros y caballos Segorbe (Castell贸n)Second week of September
10Falles of Valencia Valencia (Valencian Community)From 15 to 19 of March
11Feria de Abril Seville (Andalusia)Two weeks after Holy week (April)
12Feria de AlbaceteAlbacete (Castile-La Mancha)From 7 to 17 of September
13Feria del Caballo of Jerez, Jerez de la Frontera (C谩diz)Three weeks after Holy week (May)
14Festival Internacional del Cante de las Minas, La Uni贸n (Region of Murcia)Eleven days after first Wednesday of August
15Fiestas of Spring of Murcia, Murcia (Region of Murcia)Next Saturday after Holy Week
16Fiestas de San Juan o de la Madre de Dios, Soria (Castile and Le贸n)June 23 and 24
17Festas do Ap贸stolo Santiago, Santiago de Compostela (A Coru帽a)July 25
18Bonfires of Saint John, Alicante (Valencian Community)20 to 24 June
19Fiestas Patronales de la Sant铆sima y Vera Cruz de Caravaca, Caravaca de la Cruz (Murcia)From 1 to 5 of May
20Moros y Cristianos of Alcoy, Alcoy (Alicante)From 22 to 24 of April
21Moros y Cristianos of Villajoyosa, Villajoyosa (Alicante)From 24 to 31 of July
22Misteri d'Elx, Elche (Alicante)14 and 15 of August
23Paso del Fuego San Pedro Manrique (Soria)June 24
24Procession of the Corpus Christi of Toledo, Toledo (Castile-La Mancha)60 days after of Easter Sunday (June)
25Procession of the Palm Sunday of Elx, Elche (Alicante)Palm Sunday
26Pilgrimage of El Roc铆o, Almonte (Huelva)Weekend of Pentecost Sunday
27Viking Pilgrimage of Catoira, Catoira (Pontevedra)First Sunday of August
28Fiestas de San Ferm铆n (Sanfermines), Pamplona (Navarre)From 6 to 14 of July
29Holy Week in Cartagena, Cartagena (Region of Murcia)Holy Week
30Holy Week in Cuenca, Cuenca (Castile-La Mancha)Holy Week
31Holy Week in Hell铆n, Hell铆n (Albacete)Holy Week
32Holy Week in Le贸n, Le贸n (Castile and Le贸n)Holy Week
33Holy Week in Lorca, Lorca (Region of Murcia)Holy Week
34Holy Week in M谩laga, M谩laga (Andalusia)Holy Week
35Holy Week in Medina de Rioseco, Medina de Rioseco (Valladolid)Holy Week
36Holy Week in Salamanca, Salamanca (Castile and Le贸n)Holy Week
37Holy Week in Seville, Seville (Andalusia)Holy Week
38Holy Week in Granada, Granada (Andalusia)Holy Week
39Holy Week in Valladolid, Valladolid (Castile and Le贸n)Holy Week
40Holy Week in Zamora, Zamora (Castile and Le贸n)Holy Week
41Holy Week in Zaragoza Zaragoza (Aragon)Holy Week
42Ruta del tambor y el bombo AragonHoly Week
43La Tomatina, Bu帽ol (Valencia)Last Wednesday of August
44Holy Week in Viveiro, Viveiro (Lugo)
Holy Week
45Holy Week in Orihuela, Orihuela (Alicante)Holy Week
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