Holidays Celebrated in Spain: Guide to Spanish Fiestas Time and Feasts in Andalucia

There are many holidays celebrated in Spain and in particular, Andalucía! Fiestas and celebrations are very important to their culture and we recommend planning your Spain Vacation Holiday around one of these fiesta holidays to experience “true Spain”

Holidays Celebrated in Spain: Please note: If a Fiesta Holiday time has been posted to begin ata certain time, this does NOT mean it actually starts at this time. Fiestas and holiday celebrations in Spain are celebrated in the same way life is lived,,,, relaxed! Should you hear the procession for a particular fiesta begins at 8:00 PM (20:00) that could mean 8:00 - 8:30 or 8:45,, or 9:00 etc!

Holidays celebrated in Spain are often religious in nature. Most of this holiday celebrations involve taking one of the statues from the church out and parading around the streets in an ornately decorated antique float with candles and carried on the shoulders of young men from the pueblo.

Fiestas time and Feasts in Spain Andalucia Torrox and surrounding areas:

1. Universal Feasts – fixed dates (+ public holidays)

a) Life of Christ: Annunciation (Anunciación) 25 March Nativity (Navidad) 25 December Epiphany – Three Kings (Los Reyes) 6 January

b) Life of Mary: Immaculate Conception (Inmaculada Concepción) 8 December Birthday (Navidad) 8 September Assumption (Asunción) 15 August

c) Major Saints: St. Joseph (San José) 19 March St. John the Baptist (Juan Bautista) 24 June St. Peter & Paul (SS Pedro y Pablo) 29 JuneSt. Michael (San Miguel) 29 SeptemberOur Lady of Anguish (Nuestra Señora de las Angustias) 10 OctoberAll Saints (Todos los Santos) 1 NovemberAll Souls (Los Difuntos) 2 November

d) National Patrons: St. James – Santiago 25 July Nuestra Señora del Pilar 10 October

UK/USA: St. George 23 April St. Patrick 17 March St. Andrew 30 November St. David 1 March

e) Local Feasts: San Isidro 15 May Our Lady of Mount Carmel (N.S. del Carmen) 16 June

2. Moveable Feasts

Lent: Dates based on Easter and the Jewish Passover. Ash Wednesday (Miercoles de Ceniza): Marks the beginning of Lent (Cuaresma), 40 days before Easter. Holy Week (Semana Santa): including Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday (Jewish Passover), Good Friday and Holy Saturday, with Easter ending at midnight Easter Vigil. Easter Sunday: Day of the Resurrection. Ascension Thursday*: 30 days after Easter. Whit Sunday: 6 weeks after Easter. Corpus Christi Thursday*: 10 days after Whitsun. (NB * often celebrated on the following Sunday).Advent: 4 Sundays before 25 December, includes Christmas Eve.

Spain Fiesta Comprehensive List by Pueblo in the Axarquia Region of Andalucia

Spain Fiesta Music Books Gifts and Guides

Spain, feasts and fiestas in Andalucia, Torrox and surrounding area

January 5th – evening procession of the Three Kings from El Morche to Torrox (free sweeties) This fiesta holiday celebration is when the Three Kings come and give children gifts.

February sometime – Carnival (usually the last weekend before lent), very noisy but fun. This is a wild and crazy fun Fiesta celebration!

May 3rd – Day of the Crosses, lots of flowers everywhere (they prepare on 2nd) This Fiesta and holiday celebration in Spain is deeply rooted in the culture. There are both quiet displays of flowers or in Nerja there are lively streets competition for the prize of the best display. Offering free wine and food!

June 15th – San Anton (Torrox equivalent of San Isidro)

June (ish) – Corpus Christi procession. Depends on Easter. This is more of a Feast than a fiesta celebration in Spain. This is a procession from the church with an ornate encasing of the Eucharist Host which is displayed through the pueblo.

August 5th – Procession through the village for our patron saints ; San Roque and Virgin de las Nieves (Virgen of the Snows)

September 8th – Candeleria (The campo houses light bonfires and fireworks, the village kids let off fireworks and everyone makes a lot of noise all night long)

October around 4th – 10th - normally the first Friday in October - Feria for 4 days (Nerja Feria normally the week after Torrox)

Migas day – second Sunday before Christmas

Holidays Celebrated in Spain: As you can see, there are several fiesta holidays celebrated in Spain. It is very easy to plan your Spain Vacation Holiday around Fiesta time in Spain! Be sure to view the comprehensive list of Fiestas celebrated in Spain by pueblo link on this site. TO LISTEN TO PODCASTS ON THE FEASTS AND FIESTAS OF SPAIN CLICK HERE AND ENJOY THE SERIES BY NICK BUTCHER

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