Traditional festivals are a fantastic way to see all the aspects of another culture combined in one, breathtaking event. Spain is a country with no lack of festivals, as it takes great pride in its fiestas and spends a number of days celebrating every year. Aside from the traditional Christmas and Easter (which is bigger than Christmas in Spain) festivals, there are a number of stranger festivals that will probably have tourists scratching their heads in confusion as to why these festivals are so popular. However a lot of these festivals are quirky, and that is where they get their allure. We have a look at some of the stranger traditional fetes and festivals present in Spain today.
Fiesta de Santa Marta de Ribarteme
The festival of near death experiences is a day t to celebrate the people who have managed to live through a near death experience that year. It takes place on the 29th of July, and consists of the ‘lucky’ survivors being paraded around in open coffins. The relatives of those who escaped near death experiences will carry their loved ones up to the small church of Ribarteme.
It is a great place to listen to some interesting near death experiences, and the whole festival ends with a fireworks display and a party, to cheer everyone up, if you’re feeling a little down.
Fallas de Valencia
This massive festival occurs over five days, ending on the 19th March on Saint Joseph’s day. It is like an extended version of fireworks night and bonfire night blended into one festival. Over the course of the five days, huge fireworks displays are shown in the morning and evening, and locals build up figures called ninots out of cardboard and paper macher. These figures are burned at La Crema which is the final night of the festival, to show a cleansing of the spirit.
- Fallas de Valenciaj_bb / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA
The burning ninots can generate so much heat that people have to stand a few metres back. During the five days and nights of the festival, the streets are filled with live music, dancing children and firecrackers.
La Tomatina de Bunol
Held annually on the last Wednesday of August, the La Tomatina is a food fight festival held in Bunol near Valencia. The whole festival lasts a week, but the actual fight only takes place on the one day. The night before the fight, residents compete in a paella cooking contest. The fight begins at 11am, and as many as 50,000 people gathered in 2012 into the tiny town to make the World’s Biggest Food Fight.
- La Tomatinaagsaran / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND
It has since become a ticketed event, with a limited number of places available. The beginning of the fight is signalled by water cannons, and then it is every man and woman for himself or herself.
Tamborada de Hellin
One of the most famous celebrations in the region, around 20,000 adults and children take to the streets to create fantastic noise with drums. The drummers normally wear black tunics and a black hood or with a red neckerchief.
- Tamborada de HellinJOSE-MARIA MORENO GARCIA = FOTOGRAFO HUMANISTA / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND
The Tamborada normally occurs during Easter, and can last for an entire week, with over 20,000 booming drums echoing throughout the town. Not the best place to go if you are looking for a bit of peace and quiet!
Tina McArthur is a travel blogger with a passion for all things Spanish and has contributed this article on behalf of the Spanish real estate agents Panorama Properties.
