|
|
August
Romeria Vikinga 
August 3. Pontevedra, Galicia.
A splendid simulation of the Viking invasion of the "Torres de Oeste," which are defended by the Christian natives. After the 'battle,' everybody drinks red wine from the Ulla River and eats seafood, all for free. The feast is followed by folkloric dancing, in which everyone participates.
San Ciriacois Day
August 8 , Ibiza, Balearic Islands
Patron Saint's day of Nuestra Senora de las Nieves of the cathedral in Ibiza Town. This spectacular festival continues until 8 August, with floats, parades and fireworks. The Patron Saint of the island, San Ciriacois, ishonoured with a communal meal in Puig des Molins on th 8th.
Misterio de Elche/The Elche Mystery Play
August. Alicante, Valencia.
"El Misteri d'Elx" is a beautiful mystery play performed inside the Basilica of Santa Maria in Elche to celebrate Assumption Day, during the evenings of the 14th (Vespra, or first act of the drama) and the 15th (Festa, or second act, which reaches its climax with the emotional coronation by the Holy Trinity). Perhaps the most faithful reproduction, certainly the most beautiful, of what tradition has given us regarding this event, called Mary's "dormicion."
El Coso
August. Felanitx, Balearic Islands.
Assumption Day
15 Aug (La Asunción, also called Virgen de Agosto) The Assumption is a Roman Catholic feast. It celebrates the death of the Virgin Mary and the Assumption of her body into heaven. Pope Pius XII, in Munificentissimus Deus (1950), defined that Mary, "after the completion of her earthly life" (note the silence regarding her death), "was assumed body and soul into the glory of heaven."
A belief in the Assumption can be traced back to the 6th century, but there is nothing in the Bible about it. |
Felanitx celebrates its local fiesta on August 28th, Saint Augustine's day. To tell the truth, it's a bit of an exotic patron saint, given that most Majorcan towns and villages celebrate Saint John, Saint Anthony, Saint Joseph or Saint Sebastian. The Town Hall organizes a whole week of activities: sports, theatre, a children's festival. There are also four or five outdoors music and dance night festivals, called "verbenes."
Dia de Asturias/Day of Asturias
August. Asturias.
Festivities in relation with the Autonomous community of Asturias, where the Principado is the title of the heir to the Spanish Throne.
'Cante de las Minas' Flamenco Festival
La Unión [Murica]
The world's most important flamenco song festival, known as the Festival del Cante de las Minas (Song of the Mines Festival). The town's historic, modernist market building brings together some of Spain's best-known flamenco singers, as well as young
artists, all vying to take away the coveted awards for the best flamenco singer, dancer or guitarist.
La Festa Major de Gràcia
Barcelona, Catalonia
Around the 15th of August, celebrations take place in the Gràcia quarter. Many streets are decorated by the neighbours, and the all-night party features live music and food.
Festes de Sants
Barcelona, Catalonia
Similar to Gracia's, but smaller and a bit later in August.
Fiesta de Verano
August. Malaga, Andalucia.
This festival usually starts the second Friday of August with spectacular fireworks. The feria takes place in the centre of Malaga during the afternoon. People wear traditional Spanish costumes and dance "sevillanas" and "malaguenas" in the street, eat fish, cheese and ham, and drink a delicious, sweet, red wine. The fair takes place during bullfighting season, so one can see a magnificent contest in the afternoon.
La Fiesta de La Borbolla
Mid-August to September. La Borbolla, Asturias.
A colorful display of dancers and musicians sing the "ramo" in tribute to the Virgin. Then they parade around the picturesque town and dance traditional dances of Asturias.
La Tomatina - The World's Biggest Food Fight
On the last Wednesday of August, Bunol Valencia
At the peak of tomato season, the village of Bunol stages a tomato war. For two hours, the otherwise sober citizenry happily pelt each other with ripe, red fruit and the streets turn into rivers of tomato juice. La Tomatina begins at the 10:00 am. More than 20,00 people participate in throwing more than 240,000 pounds of tomatoes at each other as part of the La Tomatina festival. The standard uniform is an old T-shirt, old shorts and eye goggles. For visiting tourists, be aware that anyone with a camera or a baseball cap will be considered a prime target.
The end of the festival is announced with the firing of a rocket and the clean up of the tomato-slimed streets begin. After much laughter, spirited mischief and camaraderie, friends and neighbors gather in the town square for the food and wine festivities.
This party is the highlight of a 10 day festival of Buñol held at the end of August. For a week leading up to the epic battle, the 20,000-strong town of Buñol is filled with parades, fireworks, food and street parties. The night before La Tomatina, the narrow streets beneath the town's imposing Medieval bell tower are filled with tomatoes, in a much more palatable form than they will be the next day! Cauldrons of delectable paella, simmered traditionally over wood-burning fires, line the Concurso des Paellas, near the Plaza del Pueblo, site of the imminent skirmishes.
|
|
)
The Bonfires of St. John is one of the many fiestas celebrated during the summer solstice. There is a series of ancient rituals which were followed on this, the shortest night of the year, when light triumphs over darkness. In these rituals, the essential features are the sun, fire and water. Before Sunday, 20 June, the Fire Beauty is elected from among the beauties representing each Bonfire Commission. Around the feast of San Juan the streets are often decorated with branches and leaves, especially the balconies of young girls in love, who are serenaded. Also, pines and poplars are planted, pilgrimages ('romerias') are undertaken, straw effigies are burnt, the herb thyme is blessed, and 'sanjuanera' songs are sung.
Festival Internacional de Música y Danza de Granada
