FIESTAS, FUN & CULTURE IN SPAIN

		Spain's fiestas are famous. So famous in fact that we accept their existence assuming it's some sort of, er...... party? Well, yes, but much more besides. It's a party, a celebration, a thanksgiving. To a Spaniard, it symbolises the town in which they were born: its patron saint; its culture. Therefore fiestas are important to places, to individuals and to families, and so they're celebrated! If you are using OPI Rentals for your holiday partner then why not contact the local office and ask about the fiestas in your area.

An example is Benidorm and it celebrates 55+ fiestas each and every year. Why? As its popularity as a holiday destination grew, so people were attracted from all parts of Spain looking for employment and prosperity. Now then, Spain is a large country and the different regions vary widely. Migrant workers brought their own festivals, celebrations and traditions - to preserve their cultural heritage, to celebrate their Saints' Days, and to feel 'at home'.

Here's just a selection of Benidorm's Fiestas

December & January

• No surprises here - it's Christmas and New Year. The festivities run from 20 December - 6 January.
• See in the New Year in the 'Triangle Square'
• And look out for the procession of the Three Kings on 5 January
• San Antonio and the Hermita de Sanz 17 January

February

• Carnival! Processions, fancy dress competitions and the intriguingly titled, 'Burial of the Sardine'. (que?)

March

• On 5 March, the discovery of a ship on Poniente Beach in 1740 is re-enacted. Back then, locals were afraid of the plague, so set the ship alight. A wooden statue, the 'Virgen del Sufragio' was discovered amongst the cinders, undamaged by the flames.... Celebrations are staged in fancy dress and present a fabulous spectacle.
• Now the Fallas is a b-i-g one! It's the Valencian festival that's evolved from days of yore, when carpenters would light pieces of wood they'd thrown in the street, to welcome spring. Like you do. And they still do, but now Benidorm's three 'Falla' are highly decorated, fabulous, satirical sculptures: there's Centre Falla; Rincon Falla and Els Tolls Falla, all in different districts. Celebrations comprising processions, street entertainment and fireworks (loud, banger-ish ones!) run from the 16 March, culminating on the 19th, when the 'Falla' are ceremoniously burned in the 'crema'. Wow..

April

• Holy week. Dignified and beautiful religious services and processions

May

• Fiesta de la Creu. 1 May, Foietes District

June

• Bonfires of St John, papier mache and wooden figures are displayed for a few days then burned on the 'nit del foc', 24 June. See them in the La Cala, Central Market and Old Town areas.
• Romeria del Corpus, traditional Andalucian fiesta with a procession of horses and a fairground.

July

• 6 and 7 July San Fermin
• First weekend in July St Christopher
• 16 July Fiestas of the Carmen
• 25 July Benidorm's patron saint St James

August

• Just thirty miles from the sunny Mediterranean city of Valencia away is Buñol, another town just as famous for its produce. But its notoriety comes from the locals' habit of wearing the produce as well as tasting it: every year, Buñol hosts La Tomatina, the world's largest vegetable fight. Situated only 30 kilometers inland from the Mediterranean Sea, and well-connected by motorway and rail to Madrid and Valencia, this charming town erupts into a fiery blaze of tomato-hurling on the last Wednesday of every August.
• The "batalla" takes place during a week-long celebration filled with on-going festivities and with even greater anticipation for the monstrous tomato battle that serves as the culmination of the week's events.
• Without question the biggest tomato fight in the world, La Tomatina started with a good laugh. During the forties, in Buñol's main town square, a number of friends started a tomato fight for unknown reasons. It's unclear whether the initial volley was aimed at city officials or simply pedestrians unlucky enough to be in the line of fire. Soon enough, however, with their rowdy hooliganism drawing passers-by into the fray, everyone was having a great time. They had so much fun, in fact, that from that day forward, the fiesta has been celebrated annually and has grown ever bigger each year.

September

• 6 and 7 September Fiesta of Asturias
• Harvest Festival throughout the month
• Last week of September, Moors and Christians - 'get thee behind us Moors!' The festival commemorates 1492 when the Christians banished those pesky Moors from the Iberian Peninsula. Now this, reader, is worth seeing. For three days feasts and fun abound, until, finally, the 'filaes' (ranks of trooping Moors and Christians) parade through the town in a dazzling spectacle. The Christians in stalwart rows, strong and resplendent, wearing armourery of shiny helmets and breastplates. The swarthy, bearded Moors follow, exotic and dark in their feathered headwear and silk robes. The slow and insistent rhythm of the accompanying music sets an hypnotic scene. Fantastico! But, don't make the mistake of thinking this opulent extravaganza is simply a draw for the tourists because it ain't. It seems that each year a Christian King and a Moor King are elected! (query - how would you decide which side you wanted to be on? Would you choose the best music? Best costumes?...or best wine?

October

• First weekend of October Fiestas of Imalsa II
• Valencia Day exhibitions and stalls to promote and celebrate Valencian produce

November

• The Fiestas of the Town (Las Fiestas Patronales), celebrating Benidorm's patron saints, El Virgen del Suffrage and Jaime Apostle. It runs from the second Friday of the month until the following Wednesday. HOWEVER, PLEASE NOTE - the festival is preceeded by all sorts of sporting and cultural events including things like football, concerts, fishing contests etc