Page 39 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide 2017 - Northern Spain

NOR THERN SP AIN THROUGH THE Y EAR  37

Average Temperature Temperature
Chart
°C °F The warmest months
30 86 are July, August and
September, although
25 77 the heat is less
ferocious on the
20 68 northern coast than
inland. In mountain
areas it can be cold
15 58
even in summer,
0 32 and the weather can
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec change very rapidly.
January
Winter Fiesta del
Mountainous Northern Spain Aguinaldo (Guirria)
has fairly harsh winters. The (1 Jan), San Juan de
mountain passes close to Beleño (Asturias).
traffic, the skiing season starts, This small town is
and Christmas brings family visited by Guirria –
gatherings and religious ref- a mysteri ous
lections, before carnival starts. masked figure who,
accompanied by
December 40 young horse
Santo Tomás (21 Dec), Bilbao, riders, asks people
San Sebastián and other Basque for presents.
towns. Pre-Christmas fairs in La Vijanera en Silió
celebration of St Thomas, with (1st Sun), Cantabria.
food and tradi tional products The Zarramacos
for Christmas. dressed in furs and
El Gordo (22 Dec). Televised with blackened
draw of the top prize in the faces parade
Spanish lottery, “the Fat One”. through the
Noche Buena (24 Dec). streets noisily
Christmas Eve is spent within with big bells
the family circle in Spain. to frighten away
Santos Inocentes (28 Dec). the evil spirits of Os Peliqueiros Carnival in Laza
Spanish April Fool’s Day. the past year.
Noche Vieja (31 Dec). New Epiphany – Tres Reyes (6 Jan). Os Peliqueiros Carnival
Year’s Eve is an exuberant Arrival of the “Three Kings” (last Sun of Carnival, Feb–
farewell to the passing year. (wise men) celebrated Mar), Laza (Galicia). Os
everywhere with parades, Peliqueiros wearing comical
presents and children’s events. masks stroll along the town
La Tamborrada (19–20 Jan), streets, beating passers-by
San Sebastián (Basque Country). with birch sticks.
The feast of St Sebastian is
celebrated with ear-splitting Public Holidays
parades of pipe-and-drum
bands and fireworks, New Year’s Day (1 Jan)
commemorating the fire Epiphany (6 Jan)
that swept the town during Good Friday, Easter Sunday
the Napoleonic Wars. (Mar/Apr)
Labour Day (1 May)
February Assumption (15 Aug)
Carnival Procession (late Feb
or Mar), Lantz (Navarra). Virgen del Pilar (12 Oct)
Parade of large figures made All Saints’ Day (1 Nov)
of hay, burned ceremoniously Constitution Day (6 Dec)
afterwards. Famous and Immaculate Conception
popular carnival celebrations (8 Dec)
Women banging pots during a fiesta in take place in many towns Christmas Day (25 Dec)
honour of Santo Tomás through out Spain.

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