Torrevieja InformationGiving information for Torrevieja since 1998 |
Fiestas in Torrevieja and local holidays in Torrevieja - 2008 |
|
Fiestas are official holidays, which often coincide with religious festivals and can last for several days. Spain has
Local Fiestas in Torrevieja
The local fiestas in Torrevieja are listed below, not forgetting that, on most local fiestas, everything will probably be shut! Having said that, if you need to buy something urgently, you may consider travelling to a neighbouring town, where this particular fiesta may not be celebrated!
The annual May fair in Torrevieja is a week of Andalusian style festivities, and is an event that attracts thousand of visitors from far and wide. This year the main festival start on Wednesday the 30th of April and the May fiesta closes on Sunday the 4th of May. There are small marquees with bars and a dance floor area (casetas) set up in the area next to the fair ground, within the port area, where people, some in traditional Andalusian costume, dance the famous "Sevillanas". Anyone can join in with the drinking, eating, dancing and general fun of the occasion, or simply sit back and soak up the typical party atmosphere of a Spanish fiesta. Listed below are some of the set events:
Wednesday 30th of April
Thursday 1st of May
Friday 2nd of May
Saturday 3rd of May
Sunday 4th of May
|
|
In Easter there are many processions including Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday, which illustrate the story of the events leading up to the crucifixion and subsequent resurrection. These processions make up an important part of Spanish religious traditions. Music plays an important part of the processions and sets the mood of the tale being told. Everyone takes great pride in playing in their band in the street parades, and the music can be very stirring.
A Spanish Christmas is celebrated in a slightly different way to the British version. In the Plaza (town square) you will often see a model of Bethlehem and other parts of the Holy Land - this is known as the Belen (meaning Bethlehem) and is well worth a look. It is tradition in most Spanish families to have a family celebration meal on Christmas Eve night (Nochebuena). The meal consists of many courses including meat, cheese, prawns and other shell fish, a fish course, meat (often lamb) etc. and then they would have gateaux and other cakes (postres), coffee and liqueurs, plus chocolates and champagnes (cava) or cider (sidra)etc. As the meal only begins at about 10.30 pm, the food and drink continues until Christmas day arrives and then families often choose to exchange presents. Christmas day is a national fiesta but not celebrated with a family meal like the UK as they have done this the night before. Father Christmas in Spain is called Papa Noel, and, although this is not a real Spanish tradition, modern western influences have bought with them the 'Santa concept' and children expect Papa Noel to deliver them the latest toys etc. on Christmas night, just the same as children in the UK. Boxing Day is not a Spanish tradition and is a special day only to the British, however some businesses may still be closed until after the festive season.
The Three Kings parade, which features 3 wise men on camels or horses, is held on the 5th of January. It's normally an evening event and tends to be scheduled to begin between 20:00 and 21:00. Its traditional route takes it down a street called Ramon Gallud, which is the main shopping street in Torrevieja, and, it travels past the main town square. The Town Hall square, being that it is stepped, can be a good place to stand as you can get a height advantage on other locations, however, everyone else thinks this too, so you may need to get your position nice and early so as not to be disappointed. If you prefer you can sit at the very edge of the parade on the chairs that line the street, but the town hall do charge approximately 4 euros for the privilege. Having said all that, things do change, so please keep an eye on this page for any updates on the information.
Just as Santa brings the presents on Christmas Eve, the three wise men deliver presents to all the good boys and girls in Spain that night. To show the Three Kings (3 magicians) that they have been good, children polish their shoes till they shine and leave them outside for the Kings to see. They also leave food and drink for the three wise men and their camels, just as you would for Santa and the reindeer. On the 6th of January, the excited children open their presents and eat the sweets that the three wise men have left in their shoes. As you can see, the 5th and 6th of January follow a similar concept to the 24th and 25th of December which is why the British quaintly refer to this fiesta as 'the Spanish Christmas'. It is a national Fiesta on the 6th of January and one of the most important days on the Spanish calendar.
On New Years eve, at midnight, you will usually find a large crowd of people in the town hall square, in front of the large church. As the church bells strike 12 and the New Year beginnings there is a party atmosphere and the joining of a multitude of nationalities as everyone celebrates the same thing. The mood is buoyant with much hugging and kissing as another year starts. The Spanish 'good luck' tradition at New Year is to eat a grape on every strike of midnight. In the days running up to New Year look out in the local supermarkets for tins of seedless grapes, which makes it much easier than the fresh type that normally have pips!
The dates below are for 2008
|
|
Add to favorites
All contents of this website are copyright ©
1998 - 2008 TorreviejaInformation.com
When contacting anyone you see featured on this website, Site Map for Torrevieja Information Helping people with their websites since 1996 - Website helpers |