5 Spanish festivals not to miss in 2011

Spanish culture is one of the biggest draws for visitors to the country, and there are plenty of opportunities to observe or participate in local customs during Spanish holidays - especially if you're visiting during festival season. The good news for those keen to get involved in the celebrations is that it's always festival season in Spain, with fiestas and other events taking place throughout the year.



One of the first festivals of the year is La Fiesta de la Reconquista, which takes place in Granada and celebrates the reclaiming of the city by the Spanish in 1492. Other festivities are celebrated nationwide, such as the procession of the Three Kings on 5 January, which precedes Epiphany Day as an important religious occasion in Spain.



Festival season really kicks off in February though, when Madrid and many other cities stage elaborate carnivals. The biggest and grandest of these can be found in Barcelona, Cadiz, Jerez and Stiges, where you can enjoy everything from traditional Spanish food to dancing.

Wherever you're travelling in Spain, you're sure to find that each locality has its own unique celebrations at various points of the year. Some of these are comparable to occasions we celebrate at home, but on a larger scale, such as the festival of Las Fallas in Valencia in March, which culminates in a Night of Fire. However, others are more distinctive and even downright weird, like the famous La Tomatina tomato fighting festival of Bunol, which takes place on the last Wednesday of August and involves thousands of tomatoes being hurled around the region.



Not all of Spain's festivals are so wacky in nature, of course, especially with religious traditions playing such a central role in many of the country's festivities. Easter is celebrated here with a level of passion and dedication seen in few other countries, with the Spanish Holy Week lasting 10 days in the lead-up to Easter Sunday (Domingo de la Ressurrecction). April also sees the colourful festival Feria de Abril taking place in Sevilla, which includes everything from flamenco dancing to bullfighting.



The country's most famous bull festival takes place each July with the 'running of the bulls' (Fiesta de San Fermin) in Pamplona - a festival that nowadays attracts as much controversy as it does support. Even if you're not looking to soak up the local culture during your Spain holidays, the country is also a hotspot for summer music festivals, so you'll have the chance to see some of the world's biggest acts when visiting between May and September.



Isla Campbell writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.