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Spanish Fiestas and Ferias:
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Starting with Tres Reyes (three Kings) in January, and finishing with Navidad (Christmas) the Spanish calendar is full of ferias and fiestas.
What's the difference between a Spanish feria and a Spanish fiesta?
Well fiestas are feast days, either religious or constitutional. Some of them are celebrated nationally (ie Constitution Day, or Andalucia Day) whilst others are specific to a particular town, village or even profession (San Luis, Virgen del Carmen etc). Quite often these Spanish fiestas coincide with a bank holiday, either national, regional or local.
Ferias, on the other hand, are fairs or celebrations. Every town or village in Spain has an annual fair normally three or four days long, but in the case of some of the bigger ones, like Malaga, they can be one to two weeks. These are traditionally events where everyone can let there hair down, and are marked by funfairs, musical events and, of course, lots of eating and drinking.
Calendar of Spanish Fiestas.
NEW YEARS DAY - 1st January*
THREE KINGS (TRES REYES) - 6th January* details... details.... ANDALUCIA DAY - 28th February*
CARNIVAL - End of February/early March - varies It is similar to halloween in as much as the kids have fancy dress competitions with the main theme being witches, ghosts and goblins.
SEMANA SANTA - Easter.Maundy Thursday and Good Friday*Most towns have processions.
MAY DAY- 1st May*
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL - 9th-15th May, 2005 A chance for the different nationalities and cultures in Manilva to get together and perform different shows from all the varying countries represented. NOCHE DE SAN JUAN - 23rd June Midsummer celebrations on the beach in Sabinillas
details..... ROMERIA IN HONOUR OF THE VIRGIN OF FATIMA - June date varies This is celebrated over different weekends in many towns and villages in and around the Costa del Sol and consists of carrying a statue of the Virgen Mary to a local hermitage or other significant site and then basically camping out and revelling for the weekend.
SUMMER OF CULTURE - 1st July to September Every year the the Ayuntamiento presents an intensive programme of music, exhibitions, theatre etc.
VIRGEN DEL CARMEN - 16th July* The local fishing community's homage to their patron saint details.... MANILVA DAY - Dia de Santa Ana - 26th July*
DAY OF THE TOURIST - August
MANILVA SUMMER FERIA - 16th to 20th August (2005 dates) The highlight of the summer. Instead of the three small fairs held in Manilva, Sabinillas and Castillo, now one big one details...
ASSUMPTION DAY - 15th August*
WINE FESTIVAL (Vendimia) - First weekend in September
details.... Other Spanish Fiestas.
SPAIN DAY - 12th October*
ALL SAINTS DAY - 1st November*
CONSTITUTION DAY - 6th December*
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION - 8th December*
CHRISTMAS DAY - 25th December*
*Bank holidays
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Information on Spanish Fiestas supplied by Manilva Life.
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