UK and SpainProviding information for the UK and Spain since 1998 |
Bank holidays in the UK, (public holidays in the UK), national fiestas in Spain
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To get to a particular section more quickly, just click on the relevant link below. 2010 Bank Holidays in the UK / Public Holidays in the UK for 2010 National Holidays in Spain and National Fiestas in Spain for 2010 Local Fiestas in Alicante for 2010 Local Fiestas in Barcelona for 2010 Local Fiestas in Bilbao for 2010 Local Fiestas in Gerona / Girona for 2010 Local Fiestas in Granada for 2010 Local Fiestas in Madrid for 2010 Local Fiestas in Murcia for 2010 Local Fiestas in Seville for 2010 Local Fiestas in Valencia for 2010 Local Fiestas in Zaragoza for 2010
2011 Bank Holidays in the UK / Public Holidays in the UK for 2011 National Holidays in Spain and National Fiestas in Spain for 2011 Local Fiestas in Alicante for 2011 Local Fiestas in Barcelona for 2011 Local Fiestas in Bilbao for 2011 Local Fiestas in Gerona / Girona for 2011 Local Fiestas in Granada for 2011 Local Fiestas in Madrid for 2011 Local Fiestas in Murcia for 2011 Local Fiestas in Seville for 2011 Local Fiestas in Valencia for 2011 Local Fiestas in Zaragoza for 2011
Please note that Boxing Day is always on the 26th of December, the day after Christmas Day, however, if the 26th of December falls on a Saturday or Sunday, which it does in 2010, an extra holiday day is given on the following Monday. Therefore above you can see that the holiday given for Boxing Day 2010 is Monday the 28th of December.
Please find listed below, in alphabetical order, the local fiestas and festivals in some of the larger cities in Spain. Don’t forget that a local fiesta also means that some businesses will be shut! However, if you need some shopping etc. urgently you may be able to travel to another town, out of the immediate area, where this particular fiesta is not celebrated. Some local festivals last over several days and include parades, music, paella contests and many other fun activities. The Spanish love to eat and have fun together, and fiestas and festivals are ideal times where families and the community in general strengthen their bond of friendship by joining together in some of the above mentioned activities. Carnival time
One of the most popular explanations for the origin of the name ‘carnival’ is that the word comes from the Italian words “carne levare”, which in turn comes from the Latin words “caro” meaning flesh or meat, and “vale” meaning goodbye or farewell. So "Carnival" literally means "Goodbye to meat". This makes sense as the carnival always falls just before Lent, which is, in Catholic tradition, a period of 40 days and nights when eating meat is forbidden. Easter
At Easter time there are a selection of processions including Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. These parades portray the events that preceded the crucifixion of Jesus, and subsequent resurrection. The Easter parades are an important tradition in Spanish life and the majority of the local people are involved in one way or another. Musical bands play an important role in the parades and set the atmosphere of the story that is being told. Children and adults take great pride in representing their band by playing in the street processions, and the music is of a high standard. Moors and Christians
The Moors and Christians festival is a very historical but fun event which includes something for everyone, and it’s not to be missed! The following are local holidays in their respective provinces:
February 11th to 17th 2010 February 11th 2010 February 13th 2010 February 16th 2010
February 17th 2010 April 15th 2010
During the festival, certain streets are blocked off from traffic, and there’s open air dancing areas and children’s toys (e.g. bouncy castles etc.).
February 11th to 17th 2010
February 11th 2010
February 13th 2010 One of the traditions of the carnival season is eating eggs, usually in the form of tortillas (omelettes), with cooking and tasting competitions. Another tradition is a “botifarrada,” where everyone eats as much botifarra (Catalan sausage) as they desire. There are also sardine tasting events, as this is another traditional ingredient to a Catalan carnival. It is also customary that each district award prizes for the best decorated stalls in their food market. The main award is called the "Pebrot d'Or" or “Pimiento de Oro”, which translates to the “Golden Pepper”. Most of the activities during the Barcelona carnival take place in and around the centre of the community and/or the food markets in each district of this vast city.
February The traditional “Enterrament de la Sardina”, is literally “burying the sardine”, which, signifies the end of the carnival.
February 3rd 2010 The history of Saint Blaise says that he was a bishop of Sebastea in Armenia, and was martyred in the early fourth century under the reign of Licinius. It is said that he was born into a rich and noble family who raised him as a Christian, and, through his Christian training and beliefs, became a bishop. In later years, when the Christians were being persecuted, it is said that he received a message from God telling him to go into the hills to escape capture. Hunters were out in the hills and saw a man curing sick wild animals. They recognised Blaise as being a man of the church, and so captured him and took him back for trial. On the way back to the town, he talked a wolf into releasing a pig that belonged to a poor woman. Blaise was sentenced to be starved to death. In gratitude, for releasing the pig, the poor woman sneaked into the prison with food and candles. In the end the governor had Blaise killed. Saint Blasé was made one of the ‘Fourteen Holy Helpers’, and is highly respected throughout Central Europe. In holy painting he is depicted with a metal comb and a tall candle. Saint Blase is also a patron saint of physicians, sick cattle, wild animals, and of those with throat problems. In Catholic tradition, Saint Blaise's feast day, February 3, is the day of the ‘Blessing of the Throats’, when two candles are blessed, held slightly open, and pressed against the throat as the blessing is said.
February 4th 2010
February 12th to 15th 2010
February 12th (Friday)
February 13th (Saturday)
February 14th (Sunday)
February 15th (Monday)
Girona or Gerona, depending on which map you're looking at, is one of the largest cities in the Catalonian region. It’s worth noting that the reason for the difference in the spelling of Girona and Gerona is that Girona is the name in Catalan, and Gerona is the Spanish (Castellano) equivalent. During the summer months there’s a programme of theatre, music, dance and street fairs for every weekend. The weekly markets are held on Tuesday and Saturday mornings on the banks of the River Ter.
October 1st and October 29th 2010
February 14th 2010 |
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2011
Please note that Christmas Day is always on the 25th of December and Boxing Day is always on the 26th of December, however, if they fall on a Saturday and Sunday, extra holiday days are given on the following Monday and Tuesday. Therefore above you can see that the real Christmas Day and Boxing Day fall on Sunday the 25th of December and Monday the 26th of December, but the holiday days given are Monday 26th and Tuesday the 27th of December. Fiestas in
Spain
Please find listed below, in alphabetical order, the local fiestas and festivals in some of the larger cities in Spain. Don’t forget that a local fiesta also means that some businesses will be shut! However, if you need some shopping etc. urgently you may be able to travel to another town, out of the immediate area, where this particular fiesta is not celebrated. Some local festivals last over several days and include parades, music, paella contests and many other fun activities. The Spanish love to eat and have fun together, and fiestas and festivals are ideal times where families and the community in general strengthen their bond of friendship by joining together in some of the above mentioned activities. Carnival time Easter At Easter time there are a selection of processions including Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. These parades portray the events that preceded the crucifixion of Jesus, and subsequent resurrection. The Easter parades are an important tradition in Spanish life and the majority of the local people are involved in one way or another. Musical bands play an important role in the parades and set the atmosphere of the story that is being told. Children and adults take great pride in representing their band by playing in the street processions, and the music is of a high standard. Moors and Christians The Moors and Christians festival is a very historical but fun event which includes something for everyone, and it’s not to be missed! The following are local holidays in their respective provinces:
March 3rd to 9th (dates to be confirmed) March 3rd (date to be confirmed) March 5th 2011 (date to be confirmed) March 8th 2011 (date to be confirmed) March 9th 2011 April 15th 2011 (date to be confirmed) During the festival, certain streets are blocked off from traffic, and there’s open air dancing areas and children’s toys (e.g. bouncy castles etc.).
March 3rd to 9th 2011 (dates to be confirmed) March 3rd 2011 (date to be confirmed) March 5th 2011 (date to be confirmed) One of the traditions of the carnival season
is eating eggs, usually in the form of tortillas (omelettes), with cooking and
tasting competitions. Another tradition is a “botifarrada,” where everyone eats
as much botifarra (Catalan sausage) as they desire. There are also sardine
tasting events, as this is another traditional ingredient to a Catalan carnival.
It is also customary that each district award prizes for the best decorated
stalls in their food market. The main award is called the "Pebrot d'Or" or
“Pimiento de Oro”, which translates to the “Golden Pepper”. March 9th 2011 (date to be confirmed) The traditional “Enterrament de la Sardina”, is literally “burying the sardine”, which, signifies the end of the carnival.
February 3rd 2011 The history of Saint Blaise says that he was a bishop of Sebastea in Armenia, and was martyred in the early fourth century under the reign of Licinius. It is said that he was born into a rich and noble family who raised him as a Christian, and, through his Christian training and beliefs, became a bishop. In later years, when the Christians were being persecuted, it is said that he received a message from God telling him to go into the hills to escape capture. Hunters were out in the hills and saw a man curing sick wild animals. They recognised Blaise as being a man of the church, and so captured him and took him back for trial. On the way back to the town, he talked a wolf into releasing a pig that belonged to a poor woman. Blaise was sentenced to be starved to death. In gratitude, for releasing the pig, the poor woman sneaked into the prison with food and candles. In the end the governor had Blaise killed. Saint Blasé was made one of the ‘Fourteen Holy Helpers’, and is highly respected throughout Central Europe. In holy painting he is depicted with a metal comb and a tall candle. Saint Blase is also a patron saint of physicians, sick cattle, wild animals, and of those with throat problems. In Catholic tradition, Saint Blaise's feast day, February 3, is the day of the ‘Blessing of the Throats’, when two candles are blessed, held slightly open, and pressed against the throat as the blessing is said. February 4th 2011 March 4th to 7th 2011 (dates to be confirmed) March 4th - Friday (date to be confirmed) March 5th – Saturday (date to be confirmed) March 6th – Sunday (date to be confirmed) March 7th – Monday (date to be confirmed)
Girona or Gerona, depending on which map you're looking at, is one of the largest cities in the Catalonian region. It’s worth noting that the reason for the difference in the spelling of Girona and Gerona is that Girona is the name in Catalan, and Gerona is the Spanish (Castellano) equivalent. During the summer months there’s a programme of theatre, music, dance and
street fairs for every weekend. The weekly markets are held on Tuesday and
Saturday mornings on the banks of the River Ter. There are giant figures in processions and the traditional fire-run, etc. As well as a trade fair and fun fair, with various attractions. This is one of the liveliest fiestas in Girona, and a great occasion for the locals and visitors to enjoy.
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March 2011 (date to be advised) Granada carnival Although the dates of the Granada carnival in 2011 have yet to be advised, please find below a few ideas of what normally happens during this carnival:
Declaration of the carnival including a parade
with the ‘Carnival princesses’ March 2011 (date to be advised)
February 2011(date to be advised) This flamenco festival in Madrid usually begins in the middle of February and goes on for about a week. It normally takes place in the ‘Casa Encendida’ and ‘Teatro Canal de la Comunidad de Madrid’ (theater).
April 2011 (date to be advised) During this fun celebration you’ll find that the city’s parks fill up with young people who congregate to do ‘botelleo’, which is acceptable on this special festival day. ‘Botelleo’ refers to the gathering of large numbers of young people to consume alcohol (and not much food), which is not normally permitted in a public area.
You may notice that Seville (which is pronounced Se-vil) is sometimes called Sevilla (which is pronounced Se-bi-ya). This is because Sevilla is the Spanish name, but in English it is called Seville. April 2011 (dates to be advised) The program of events is not yet published, but is usually full of dance performances which are accompanied by an excellent standard of music from local and visiting orchestras.
January 2011 (dates to be advised) It's the day when people go with their pets to receive a blessing from San Antonio Abad. There is a grand procession, and then the distribution of the blessed bread to all those present. January 22nd 2011 June 2011 (dates to be advised)
March 5th 2011
This fiesta is to remember the invasion of the city of Zaragoza by the Carlist troops on March the 5th, 1838. April 23rd 2011 |
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