Semana Santa (Holy Week) processions begin throughout Spain, tomorrow. Here’s a taste of what to expect if you are heading to Málaga:
Category Archives: Fiestas and Festivals
10 Spanish words to help you through Christmas: Las palabras navideñas
1. Merry Christmas – Feliz Navidad
2. Christmas Eve – La Nochebuena
3. Angels – Los ángeles
4. Christmas wreath – La corona de Navidad
5. Star – La estrella
6. The Wise Men – Los Reyes Magos
7. Gift or present – El regalo
8. Christmas tree – El árbol de Navidad
9. Candle – La vela
10. Snow – La nieve
Which Spanish word do you most associate with Christmas?
Image credit: (Flickr cc) Abstract Christmas tree in Málaga Bogdan Migulski
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Day of the Dead: Spanish style
Image credit: Thomas Backa (Flickr: Creative Commons)
I don’t like Halloween. Never have. Never will.
Not for of any particular religious reasons, but simply because it always seemed a pretty pointless exercise to me.
Until I moved to live in Spain.
Although the American-style “ghosts and ghouls” type of Halloween has now started to creep into the Spanish calendar each year, this time of year is celebrated here in a different form, as “El Día de los Muertos” or the “Day of the Dead”.
The festival of Todos los Santos (All Saints´ day) is a national holiday on November 1st each year, when cemeteries are packed with families paying homage to their dead and tending the gravestones of their ancestors by placing fresh flowers and candles.
This is a commemoration for loved ones with nothing ghoulish or scary involved and, thankfully, without commercialism.
Exactly as it should be.
How do you honour loved ones who have passed away, in your part of the world?
Related articles:
Death in the Afternoon: The Round Cemetery of Sayalonga
The Day of the Dead: A Celebration of Life
The heart of Cómpeta: El Paseo de las Tradiciones
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All the fun of the Ferias!
The ferias are in full flow in the Axarquía region with the latest at Torrox pueblo last weekend. By day, unassuming white Andalucían village – but by night, OH BOY is it a feast for the senses!
The bright flashing lights of the fairground rides, beautiful flamenco dresses, dancing, live music, the smell and taste of great food and drink, very late nights and, of course, the fireworks!
If you miss one of the nights, don’t worry there are plenty more, as most ferias take place over several days.
This coming weekend it’s Nerja’s turn, with the Feria held on the land between Carabeo and Los Huertos. Full programme of events, HERE.
See you there!
Do they know how to party, or what? 🙂
You might also enjoy these related articles:
A Celebration of Fried Breadcrumbs: Migas Festival in Torrox Pueblo
Calle Beso (Kiss Street) in Torrox
Balcón de Europa (Balcony of Europe), Nerja
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This year’s Tomatina Festival at Buñol, Spain
Image credit Flickr CC: agsaran
WELCOME TO THE WORLD’S LARGEST FOOD FIGHT!
If you are thinking of heading to the village of Buñol, near Valencia, for this year’s tomato-throwing La Tomatina Festival, be warned that you now need a ticket to take part!
The annual festival, which takes place each year on the last Wednesday in August, has been attracting such huge crowds that a ticketing system has had to be introduced. Only 20,000 tickets will be issued (40,000 people attended last year’s festival) at a cost of 10 euros each – creating a new “sauce” of income for the local council! 15,000 of the tickets will be made available to the general public, with the other 5,000 reserved for local residents. You can buy your tickets at this website (in English)
Happy throwing!
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A weekend away in Santiago de Compostela
How to make the perfect Spanish tortilla
The Buddhist Stupa of the eastern Costa del Sol
East of Málaga 