Spain and the Canary Islands have many holidays and fiestas, almost once a month a small village or town will be celebrating. The holidays match the saint of each village, which most places are named after. There are also national holidays, and labor days, which the whole country celebrate together.

 The culture of the Spanish people is to enjoy life, and celebrate almost everything they can, with a street part they call Fiestas. The villages and towns will trim the streets, and enjoy the celebrations right into the night. Fireworks are then always used to finish the party, with wild displays, lighting up the night sky.

 Below are the main holidays you will find across Spain and the Canary Islands. Followed by a list of holidays and dates celebrated in different regions, towns and villages. There are still other holidays and fiestas held, depending on different Saints, towns and villages.

Jan 1st   Año Nuevo (New Year's Day)

Jan 6th Dia de los tres Reyes (12th night, when Christmas presents are given)

Mar 19th             San Jose (Father's Day)

Variable               Viernes Santo (Good Friday)

Variable               Dia de Pascua (Easter Sunday)

May 1st Dia del Trabajo (Labour Day)

Jun 24th               San Juan (St.John's Day)

Variable (mid June)           Corpus Christi

Jun 29th               San Pedro y San Pablo (St.Peter & St.Paul)

Jul 25th Santiago (St.James, patron saint of Spain)

Aug 15th              Asuncion (Assumption)

Oct 12th              Dia de la Hispanidad (Columbus Day)

Nov 1st Todos los Santos (All Saints Day)

Dec 8th Immaculada Concepcion (Immaculate Conception)

Dec 25th              Navidad (Christmas Day)

2nd        Granada               Reconquest Festival - celebrating the Christian conquest of the Moors in 1492

6th         National              Epiphany - Three Kings Day - children receive Christmas presents and candy.

17th       Mallorca and mainland   San Anton - patron saint of domestic animals. Bonfires are lit and demon figures are used. Also celebrated in much of the mainland with bonfires and mounted processions. In Ciudad Real bread rolls are blessed and cockerels auctioned off.

17th       Alicante               Porrat de San Anton. A traditional market selling local producs. An animal show and the blessing of the animals in the bullring. Held in the quarter of the city named after the saint.

17th       La Puebla, Majorca          St. Anthony - bonfires, dancing and riotous events

29th       Zaragoza, Aragon             St.Valerus

2nd-5th Bocairente, Valencia       Reenactment of struggle between Christians and Moors - parades and fireworks, colourful costumes

11th-Mar21st     Cadiz     Festival de Cadiz - Oldest festival in Spain - parades and colourful costumes

Various Madrid Madrid Carnival - masked ball, fancy dress and the burrial of a sardine followed by a concert in Plaza Mayor

12th-19th            Valencia               Fallas de Valencia - fiesta centering around the burning of effigies of winter demons - bullfights and fireworks

12th       Gibraltar (UK)     Commonwealth Day

23rd       Catalonia             St.George, patron saint of Catalonia

25th       Saucejo, Seville St.Barbara, patroness of miners

25th       Aragon San Jorge

20th-25th            Seville    Feria de Sevilla - all night Flamenco dancing, bullfights, dancing in the streets and horse riding - the most celebrated event in Spain

Varies    Alcoy, near Alicante         Moros y Christians - battle re-enactment with circus-like atmosphere

28th-April 4th     Seville and National         Holy week - processions and floats

26th-29th            Andujar (Jaen)    Romeria - the oldest festival in Spain and of National interest

1st          Calatayud, Aragon           Sunday of San Lazaro

Thursday following Easter week Alicante               Pilgrimage of the Holy Visage. A very important and popular event when 200,000 people holding pilgrimage canes walk to the Monastery of Santa Faz to worship at the shrine. They have picnic lunches and a large arts and crafts market is held.

 11th      Barcelona            Day of Sant Ponc, patron saint of herbalists

2nd        Madrid Dia de Comunidad de Madrid

First two weeks Cordoba              Festival de los Patios - residents decorate their patios with cascades of flowers and visitors wander from patio to patio

12th-21st             Madrid Fiesta de San Isidro - 10 day celebration of the patron saint - parties, parades, bullfights and dances

9th-16th              Jerez de la Frontera         Horse Fair - greatest horses in the world on parade

15th       Estepona, Malaga            San Isidro's Day

1-3rd     Alicante               May Crosses (Cruces de Mayo). The Santa Cruz quarter dresses with sweet smelling crosses made from flowers. The finest win awards and dances and games are organised.

23rd       Catalonia             Dia de Sant Joan

               Carrion de los Cespedes, Seville   Corpus Christi fiesta

9th         Murcia Dia de la Region

All           Madrid Veranos de la Villa - dancing, music and concerts, often free of charge - all summer long

6th         National              Corpus Christi - big parades especially in Toledo, Malaga, Granada and Seville

20th       Alicante               St.John's Bonfires - bonfires through the night signal 5 days of festivities - business in Alicante comes to a standstill

24th       National              San Juan - Celebrated with bonfires on the beach, lasting all night through the night of the 23rd. At midnight everyone rushes into the sea to symbloise the baptisms by John the Baptist. The theory is that you wash your feet in the sea to cleanse your sins. There is also the tradition of jumping the bonfire, to burn away your sins (or something like that).

First weekend     San Lorenzo, Galicia        A Rapa das Bestas - capture and branding of wild horses from the hills attracts equestrian lovers from all over Europe

Pamplona            Running of the bulls - most popular event in Spain where bulls are released into the streets - also features other events - known as Fiesta de San Fermin

13th-22nd           LaLinea Annual feria week based on Virgen del Carmen. Town's anniversary on the 20th.

16th       Estepona             Virgen del Carmen: Annual feast of the fishermen when the waters are blessed and the Virgen is carried to sea in a procession. See more about it here.

3rd-8th Estepona             Annual feria with large fun fair. See more about it here.

16th       Alicante               Virgen del Carmen: Annual celebration when the fishing port comes alive to mark their patron saint. Events spread to the Island of Tabarca.

 15th      National              Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Middle   Malaga, Andalucia           Feria de Malaga - 10 day long fair - fireworks, horses and gallons of wine

Last Wednesday               Bunol, Valencia La Tomatina (Battle of the Tomatoes). Tons of fruit thrown between warring towns and villages - followed by music and dancing

18-25th Antequera, Andalucia      Fiesta de la Recoleccion - bullfights, shows, parties and cattle market

11-15th Benahavis, Andalucia       Virgen del Rosario - Sevillian mass and procession

4-5th     Benalauria           Moors and Christians - Bonfires are lit and a castle is built

All           Ojen, Andalucia Festival of Flamenco singing

July & August      Antequera, Andalucia      Flamenco

16th       Calatayud, Aragon           San Roque

10-12th Colmenar, Andalucia       Annual Feria

 17th      Melilla   Dia de Malilla

11th       Catalonia             Dia Nacional de Cataluna - flagwaving and demonstrations celebrating the region's independence

3rd         Navarra               Dia de Navarra

24th       Barcelona            Festival Setmana Cran - patron saint's day - evening mass followed by a procession to the cathedral then finishing at the harbour

5-8th     Alicante               Virgen del Socorro. The Ravel quarter organises a feast in honour of its patron saint. The fiesta includes cooking competitions, a procession, games and dances.

12th       Zaragoza             Day of El Pilar, procession of giant figures

1st          National              All Saints Day - relatives lay flowers on graves of the dead

28th       National              Dia de los Santos Inocentes - similar to Fools Day which is just an excuse to do silly things

 

 

Jan 1st   Año Nuevo (New Year's Day)

Jan 6th  Dia de los tres Reyes (12th night, when Christmas presents are given)

Mar 19th             San Jose (Father's Day)

Variable               Viernes Santo (Good Friday)

Variable               Dia de Pascua (Easter Sunday)

May 1st Dia del Trabajo (Labour Day)

Jun 24th               San Juan (St.John's Day)

Variable (mid June)           Corpus Christi

Jun 29th               San Pedro y San Pablo (St.Peter & St.Paul)

Jul 25th Santiago (St.James, patron saint of Spain)

Aug 15th              Asuncion (Assumption)

Oct 12th              Dia de la Hispanidad (Columbus Day)

Nov 1st Todos los Santos (All Saints Day)

Dec 6th Dia de la Constitucion (Constitution Day)

Dec 8th Immaculada Concepcion (Immaculate Conception)

Dec 25th              Navidad (Christmas Day)

 

January              

1st          National              New Year's Day

2nd        Granada               Reconquest Festival - celebrating the Christian conquest of the Moors in 1492

6th         National              Epiphany - Three Kings Day - children receive Christmas presents and candy.

17th       Mallorca and mainland   San Anton - patron saint of domestic animals. Bonfires are lit and demon figures are used. Also celebrated in much of the mainland with bonfires and mounted processions. In Ciudad Real bread rolls are blessed and cockerels auctioned off.

17th       Alicante               Porrat de San Anton. A traditional market selling local producs. An animal show and the blessing of the animals in the bullring. Held in the quarter of the city named after the saint.

17th       La Puebla, Majorca          St. Anthony - bonfires, dancing and riotous events

29th       Zaragoza, Aragon             St.Valerus

20th       national               San Sebastian (Saint Stephen)

 

February            

28th       Andalucia            Dia de Andalucia

2nd-5th Bocairente, Valencia       Reenactment of struggle between Christians and Moors - parades and fireworks, colourful costumes

11th-Mar21st     Cadiz     Festival de Cadiz - Oldest festival in Spain - parades and colourful costumes

Various Madrid  Madrid Carnival - masked ball, fancy dress and the burrial of a sardine followed by a concert in Plaza Mayor

1st-2nd Antequera           Candelaria (Night)

 

March  

31st       Pais Vasco (Basque Country)         Dia de Patria Vasco

3rd         Islas Baleares     Dia de Baleares

12th-19th            Valencia               Fallas de Valencia - fiesta centering around the burning of effigies of winter demons - bullfights and fireworks

12th       Gibraltar (UK)     Commonwealth Day

 

April

 9th - 16th           National              Semana Santa

14th       National              Good Friday 2006

17th       National              Easter Monday 2006

27th       Barcelona            Virgin of Montserrat

23rd       Catalonia             St.George, patron saint of Catalonia

25th       Saucejo, Seville  St.Barbara, patroness of miners

25th       Aragon  San Jorge

23rd       Castilla y Leon    Fiesta de la Castilla y Leon

20th-25th            Seville    Feria de Sevilla - all night Flamenco dancing, bullfights, dancing in the streets and horse riding - the most celebrated event in Spain

Varies    Alcoy, near Alicante         Moros y Christians - battle re-enactment with circus-like atmosphere

28th-April 4th     Seville and National         Holy week - processions and floats

26th-29th            Andujar (Jaen)    Romeria - the oldest festival in Spain and of National interest

1st          Calatayud, Aragon           Sunday of San Lazaro

Thursday following Easter week  Alicante               Pilgrimage of the Holy Visage. A very important and popular event when 200,000 people holding pilgrimage canes walk to the Monastery of Santa Faz to worship at the shrine. They have picnic lunches and a large arts and crafts market is held.

 

 

May

 11th      Barcelona            Day of Sant Ponc, patron saint of herbalists

1st          National              Labour Day

2nd        Madrid  Dia de Comunidad de Madrid

31st       Castilla-La-Mancha          Dia de Comunidad de Castilla-La-Mancha

30th       Canarias              Dia de Canarias

First two weeks  Cordoba              Festival de los Patios - residents decorate their patios with cascades of flowers and visitors wander from patio to patio

12th-21st             Madrid  Fiesta de San Isidro - 10 day celebration of the patron saint - parties, parades, bullfights and dances

9th-16th              Jerez de la Frontera         Horse Fair - greatest horses in the world on parade

15th       Estepona, Malaga            San Isidro's Day

2nd Sunday         Antequera           Romeria day

1-3rd     Alicante               May Crosses (Cruces de Mayo). The Santa Cruz quarter dresses with sweet smelling crosses made from flowers. The finest win awards and dances and games are organised.

 

 

June

24th       National              Saint John (San Juan) see below

23rd       Catalonia             Dia de Sant Joan

               Carrion de los Cespedes, Seville   Corpus Christi fiesta

9th         La Rioja Dia de La Rioja

9th         Murcia  Dia de la Region

All           Madrid  Veranos de la Villa - dancing, music and concerts, often free of charge - all summer long

6th         National              Corpus Christi - big parades especially in Toledo, Malaga, Granada and Seville

20th       Alicante               St.John's Bonfires - bonfires through the night signal 5 days of festivities - business in Alicante comes to a standstill

24th       National              San Juan - Celebrated with bonfires on the beach, lasting all night through the night of the 23rd. At midnight everyone rushes into the sea to symbloise the baptisms by John the Baptist. The theory is that you wash your feet in the sea to cleanse your sins. There is also the tradition of jumping the bonfire, to burn away your sins (or something like that).

 

 

July

 29th      Los Morales, Seville         St.Marta, local patron saint

28th       Cantabria            Dia de Cantabria

25th       Galicia   Santiago Apostle

First weekend     San Lorenzo, Galicia        A Rapa das Bestas - capture and branding of wild horses from the hills attracts equestrian lovers from all over Europe

 

 

Early July

Pamplona            Running of the bulls - most popular event in Spain where bulls are released into the streets - also features other events - known as Fiesta de San Fermin

22nd-25th           Antequera           Feria de Santiago

 Benidorm           Song Festival

13th-22nd           LaLinea Annual feria week based on Virgen del Carmen. Town's anniversary on the 20th.

16th       Estepona             Virgen del Carmen: Annual feast of the fishermen when the waters are blessed and the Virgen is carried to sea in a procession. See more about it here.

14th Aprox          Sotogrande         Polo season begins.

3rd-8th  Estepona             Annual feria with large fun fair. See more about it here.

13th       Fuengirola           Annual feria at the Sohail Castle.

16th       Alicante               Virgen del Carmen: Annual celebration when the fishing port comes alive to mark their patron saint. Events spread to the Island of Tabarca.

 

 

August

 15th      National              Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Middle   Malaga, Andalucia           Feria de Malaga - 10 day long fair - fireworks, horses and gallons of wine

Last Wednesday               Bunol, Valencia  La Tomatina (Battle of the Tomatoes). Tons of fruit thrown between warring towns and villages - followed by music and dancing

18-25th Antequera, Andalucia      Fiesta de la Recoleccion - bullfights, shows, parties and cattle market

11-15th Benahavis, Andalucia       Virgen del Rosario - Sevillian mass and procession

4-5th     Benalauria           Moors and Christians - Bonfires are lit and a castle is built

All           Ojen, Andalucia  Festival of Flamenco singing

July & August      Antequera, Andalucia      Flamenco

16th       Calatayud, Aragon      

Article submitted on 2009-12-07