Spain
has an incredible amount of popular and traditional fiestas
also called ferias. Some of them have become famous all over
the world such as The Running
of the Bulls (Los San Fermines), The
Tomato Battle (La Tomatina in Buñol) and Feria
in Sevilla. Most fiestas are based on religious events such
as Semana Santa (Holy Week) or various Saints like San Juan,
San Fermin etc. However over time the typical ferias have evolved
from something only regious into popular and excessive celebration
events. Some of them can last up to a week, others usually last
at least 2 days. Most towns shut completely down during feria,
that means shops and stores are closed and everybody, young
and old, participates in the festivities. Usually fireworks,
heavy drinking and eating go along with most ferias. If you
want to experience Spanish culture at its finest you have to
participate in one of the many fiestas.
San
Fermines - Running of the Bulls
Origins of the Fiesta
The current San Fermines can be traced back to the Middle Ages.
Three different events converged at approximately the same time
to form the present day fiesta.
1) San Fermin religious celebrations honoring San Fermin were
held on October 10th
2) Trade fairs, the Feria del Toro, and bullfights which took
place in July since the 14th century .
3) the Fiesta of San Juan on June 24th which lasted 20 days.
These events led the Town Hall to ask the bishop to change the
date of the San Fermin celebration to July 7th. This was done
in the year 1590.
The Running
of the Bulls
Or the "Encierro" as it is known in Spain,
was born out of a necessity to transfer the bulls from outside
the town to the bullring. Before the bullring was built, the
Plaza del Castillo was used for the bullfights. Although the
"encierro" has changed over the centuries, the spirit
remains the same.
At 7:55am, the runners some 70 meters beyond the bulls corrals,
sing to a statue of San Fermin in a niche, asking him to protect
them. The Running of the Bulls begins when the San Saturnino
church clock strikes 8am. Then 2 rockets are shot off announcing
the exit of the bulls from their corrals. The first rocket announces
that the gate to the corral is opened. The second rocket announces
that the bulls preceded by eight oxen are now in the streets
running towards the runners. The "encierro" usually
lasts about 2 minutes. The entire route of the bullrun is about
790 meters long.
Tips
for Running
Access: If you want to participate
in the running, you should enter the track before 7:30am through
the gates in the Plaza Consistorial and stay there until the
municipal barriers in the stretch between the Square and the
Old Military hospital. After 7:30 the accesses are closed
and you are not allowed to leave the track.
Most dangerous stretches: Callejon-Plaza
de Toros. (eight deaths) and the end of the Cuesta de Santo
Domingo (three deaths).
Garments: Use comfortable clothes and sneakers
or sport shoes. Do not carry any other items (backpacks, cameras,
etc.)with you.
Ask experts runners for advice: The running
is neither a joke nor an opportunity for media coverage. The
risks are enormous, and the mass attendance of runners makes
it even more dangerous. It takes many years of practice to
become a good runner.
Getting in and out of the flow: Getting
into the flow of runners is as important as getting out of
the way. Get in gradually, as the other runners get out. Or
get straight in, from a standing start.
Beware of falling:
Bulls are not the only danger. Mainly, it's the number of runners.
The chances of stumbling and falling are very high. In fact,
most of the people who are injured during the run have fallen
and been trampled over by other runners. You have to look in
front of you, behind you and on the ground. Once you are in
the herd, it's safest to remain close to the bulls because there
will be no runners in front of you. If you fall, just curl up
and do not move until someone taps you on the shoulder. If you're
near a bull and you fall, do not try to get up. If you curl
up in a ball, the bull will evade you and continue running.
Getting up will cause the bull to attack you. This is the most
common mistake made by runners
The
Running Rules:
An edict issued by the mayors office details the following
rules concerning the running of the bulls:
Those who are less than 18 years old are forbidden to
run.
Crowding the fence is not allowed.
All doors along the runway must be closed.
No one can remain in the runway who is drunk or drugged
or who in any other way represents a danger to the rest.
One cannot carry things into the runway.
Runners must be dressed correctly.
It is forbidden to call to the bulls or in any way attract
their attention either in the runway or in the ring.
Taking photos from inside the runway or from the fences
during the encierro is not allowed without permission from
the authorities.
There exist several interpretations on the origin of this popular
festival. According to some historians, its origin goes back
to a "practical joke" that some friends wanted to
play on a man who was crossing the town square singing and playing
a musical instrument but, apparently, he was doing it so badly
that some of the people around decided to take some tomatoes
from a fruit and vegetables stall and throw them at him. Everybody
else joined in to end up in a tomato battle. However, the most
reliable and historical version says that everything started
in 1945. The town square (where the "tomatina" is
traditionally held nowadays) was crowded with young people of
that time to witness a "Gigantes y Cabezudos" parade
(giant carnival figures with a grotesque head). Some of them
decided to join the authority commitee and music band leading
the parade and to do so they pushed the ones who were wearing
the giant disguises.
One of the participants fell down
and when he stood up he started beating everyone around so everybody
got caught up in a fight.
Fate or chance, there was a vegetable stall nearby with open
crates showing the goods for sale. The young people involved
in the fight took the tomatoes from the crates and started throwing
them at each other until the police broke up "the battle", and
those responsible for the riot paid for the damages.
This riot was not forgotten and the next year on the same Wednesday
of August the youths of the town met again at the square, but
this time with their own tomatoes. This is how another battle
started and once again was stopped by the local police. In fact,
in the following years the authorities forbade the celebration
of what was already popularly known as the "day of the tomatina".
Nevertheless, this celebration has been held every year since
them.
If
you come and participate, you must respect the following rules:
These small civic duty tips are necessary so that the
festival will go on like every year, that is without any incidents:
You mustn't bring in any bottles or any kind of objects
which could provoke an accident.
You mustn't tear t-shirts.
Tomatoes must be crushed before being thrown so they can't
hurt anybody.
You must be careful with the lorries which carry the tomatoes.
As soon as the second banger is fired, you must stop throwing
tomatoes.
Try to enjoy yourself as much as possible but respect
these rules and the people. In the "tomatina"
festival there has never been a mishap and we would like
it to stay that way so everybody around the world can have
a good time.
Religous Festivity
that cannot be missed. Please be aware that it is also the most
popular time to be in Sevilla and early bookings are recommended
for either Spanish programs or Flamenco courses.
Two weeks after the Semana Santa, Feria de Sevilla continues
the festivity time in Sevilla. But here the fun and "getting
drunk" part is much more emphasized rather than any religous
aspects. Make sure to catch both of these events by spending
April in Sevilla
The Spanish calendar
is packed with fascinating and diverse cultural events, both
local and national, and the following is intended as a guideline
only. As dates for specific festivals or celebrations often
change from year to year it's best to check details with a local
tourist office closer to the time.
Whereas national and regional public holidays are set by the
Spanish government during the last term of the preceding year,
and therefore readily available, local events calendars and
programmes are established by the cultural departments of the
relevant councils and not usually published until just before
the actual celebrations.
Here is an alphabetical list of all events in Spain throughout
the year:
ALICANTE Hogueras de San Juan (mid summer day bonfires). Always
around June 24.
ALCOY (Alicante) Moros y Cristianos (Moors and Christians), traditional
festival, Apr 22-24. Same dates every year.
BENALMADENA Benalmadena Fair, June 24-31. Feast of the True Cross,
Aug 16. Both are celebrated on the same dates every year.
BENIDORM Las Fallas, Mar 15-19. Same dates every year.
Moors and Christians festival, last weekend in Sept and the
first weekend in Oct.
November Festival, from the Sat before the second Sun in Nov
to the following Wed. Same every year.
BILBAO Aste Nagusia. Popular eight-day-long festival starting
on the Sat following Aug 15.
The city´s opera season runs Sept-March. For more information
contact: ABAO, Rodriguez Arias 3,48008 Bilbao, tel: 94 415 5490/fax:
94 415 2200).
BOCAIRENTE (Valencia) Moors and Christians festival, Feb 2-5. Same dates
every year.
BUÑOL (Valencia) The popular La Tomatina festival is normally celebrated
on the last Wed of Aug.
CADIZ Carnaval. Held 40 days before Easter.
CAMBADOS (Pontevedra) Albariño Wine Festival takese place on the first
Sun in Aug every year.
CASTRO URDIALES (Cantabria) El Coso Blanco flower festival takes place on the first
Fri of July every year.
CONSUEGRA (Toledo) The Saffron Festival takes place over the last weekend
in Oct every year.
CORDOBA Festival de los Patios Cordobeses (The Courtyard Festival)
takes place in May.
May Fair. Guitar Festival, normally held during the first two
weeks of July. For more information contact the Gran Teatro
Fundación Publica Municipal on tel: 957 480644.
CUENCA Religious Music week, normally held over the Easter
period.
ELCHE (Alicante) Traditional Palm Procession, always on Palm Sunday.
August Festival, Aug 11-15. Same dates every year.
FUENGIROLA (Malaga) Sea Festival, July 16. Same date every year.
Fuengirola Fair, Oct 6-12. Same dates every year.
FUERTEVENTURA Carnaval Puerto Rosario, 40 days before Easter.
GANDIA (Valencia) Fallas, Mar 16-19. Same dates every year.
Local festival, Sept 29. Same date every year.
GRANADA The popular festival of Cruces de Mayo, May 3. Same
date every year.
Summer Fair/Corpus Christi celebrations, usually start on the
Monday of Corpus Christi week.
The International Music Festival takes place over the summer
months, contact Internacional de Musica y Danza, tel: 958 276
200/fax: 958 286 868 for further information.
JAVEA (Alicante) San Juán, June 14-24. Same dates every year.
Harbour Festival, Sept 1-8. Same dates every year.
A Moors and Christians festival takes place around the end of
Sept.
JEREZ 2000 The Feria del Caballo of Horse Fair usually takes place
in May.
The Autumn Festival, in Sept/Oct, includes various sub-festivals
such as the flamenco and wine harvest festivals, plus horse
jumping events. For further information contact the local council
on tel: 956 318 829.
LA ESTRADA (Pontevedra) The traditional A Rapa das Bestas festival takes place
on the first Saturday in July every year.
LLORET DE MAR (Gerona) The town´s traditional Santa Cristina festival
takes place on July 24. Same date every year.
NAVA (Asturias) The Cider Festival takes place on the second Sat of
July every year.
NERJA (Malaga) Nerja Fair, Oct 8-12. Same date every year.
PONTEVEDRA San Beneitiño de Leire, traditional festival.
On July 11 every year.
PAMPLONA San Fermín, or the running of the bulls. July
6-14. Same dates every year.
PUERTO DE LA CRUZ Carnaval (Mardi Gras), 40 days before Easter.
RIBADAVIA (Orense) The Ribeiro Wine Festival, usually around end of April.
RIBADESELLA (Asturias) Ribadesella Festival, always on the first Sat of Aug.
RONDA (MALAGA) Goyesca Fair, runs for a week starting the first Mon
in Sept.
SAN SEBASTIAN Tamborrada festival takes place Jan 19-20. Same date
every year.
Aste Nagusia festival, takes place during the week of Aug 15.
Jazz Festival, usually July; International Film Festival, usually
Sept for more information contact: Apartado Correos 979, 280080
San Sebastian, tel: 943 481212/fax: 943 285779.
SANTANDER International Festival. Cultural activities throughout
Aug. Same dates every year. Organisers: Festival Internacional
Avda Calvo Sotelo 15, 39002 Santander, tel: 942 314819/fax:
942 314767.
SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA St James, traditional religious festival takes place
July 25 every year.
SEVILLA Holy Week, religious celebrations, processions in the
street, a week to spend in family, a time to think.Feria de
Abril, a worldwide known festival, normally take places by the
end of April, Flamenco, horses, sherry and fiesta until early
morning.
SITGES (Barcelona) Vintage car rally, usually takes place on the first
Sun in March.
TORREVIEJA (Alicante) May Fair, first week in May. St John's Festival, with
bonfires and fireworks, usually June.
The Habaneras International Music Festival, usually held around
the first week in Aug.
Local festival takes place every year from around Dec 1-14,
and always includes the 8th.
TORREMOLINOS (Malaga) Festival of San Miguel, Sept.
TORROX (MALAGA) The Migas Festival: always on the Sun before Christmas
Day.
TOLEDO Corpus Christi religious celebrations. Religious festival
eight weeks after Easter.
VILLA DE MAZO (La Palma, Tenerife) Corpus Christi. Religious festival eight weeks after
Easter.
VILLAJOYOSA (Alicante) Moors and Christians Festival, July 24-31. Same dates
every year.
VITORIA La Virgen Blanca, popular festival, Aug 4-9. Same dates
every year.
ZARAGOZA El Pilar Festival, Oct 12. Same date every year.
CARNIVAL Carnaval is celebrated throughout Spain, 40 days before
Easter.
HOLY WEEK Religious celebrations throughout Spain. Good Friday
is April 13.
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