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Festivals of Spain

(that we will miss)

The Spanish have a lot of strange festivals. There's the really famous ones, such as the Pamplona Running of the Bulls or the Tomatina Tomato Fight. But there are some less well-known odd events too. Take the News Year's Eve celebration in August, for example. Or the jumping-over-babies-dressed-as-a-devil ritual that is supposedly intended as a blessing for the child (assuming you don't fall on the poor little ones).

One recurring theme in a lot of strange Spanish festivals is that they often center around throwing things at each other. Take a look at this list of odd festivals where the object is to pelt your neighbours with something messy: Throwing Festivals in Spain

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The annual "La Tomatina" tomato fight fiesta is held each year in the village of Bunol, near Valencia, Spain which is south of Barcelona and is held in August.

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Running of the Bulls

The festival of San Fermin, or the Pamplona bull running as it's more commonly known outside Spain officially begins at midday on 6th July every year with the 'chupinazo' which takes place on the balcony of the Casa Consistorial in Pamplona. Thousands of people congregate in the square awaiting the mayor's official announcement that the fiestas have begun, a rocket is launched and the partying begins.
The history of the bullrunning in Pamplona is not clear. There is evidence of the festival from as far back as the 13th century when it seems the events took place in October as this coincided with the festival of San Fermin on October 10th. It seems that the modern day celebration has evolved from this as well as individual commercial and bullfighting fiestas which can be traced back to the 14th century.

Pamplona is about 220 miles west of Barcelona; we will be in Spain about 5 weeks too early to enjoy this crazy festival....I consider this a good thing...and that's no bull!

Cruise along and enjoy....^_~

Karen