Page 49 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Spain

SP AIN THROUGH THE Y EAR  47

Public Holidays
Besides marking the national holidays below, each region
(comunidad autónoma) celebrates its own holiday, and
every town and village has at least one other fiesta each
year. If a holiday falls on a Tuesday or a Thursday, some
people also choose to take holidays on the intervening
Monday or Friday, making a long weekend called a
puente (bridge).
Año Nuevo (New Year’s Day) (1 Jan)
Día de los Tres Reyes (Epiphany) (6 Jan)
Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday) (Mar/Apr)
Viernes Santo (Good Friday) (Mar/Apr)
Día de Pascua (Easter Sunday) (Mar/Apr)
Día del Trabajo (Labour Day) (1 May)
Asunción (Assumption Day) (15 Aug)
Día de la Hispanidad (National Day) (12 Oct)
Todos los Santos (All Saints’ Day) (1 Nov)
Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day) (6 Dec)
Inmaculada Concepción (Immaculate Conception) (8 Dec)
Assumption Day in La Alberca (Salamanca) Navidad (Christmas Day) (25 Dec)

Winter
Winter varies greatly from
region to region. In the
mountains, snowfalls bring
skiers to the slopes; while in
lower areas, olive and orange
picking are in full swing.
The higher parts of Central
Spain can become very cold.
Andalucía, the east coast and
the Balearic Islands have cool
nights but often sunny days.
The winter warmth of the
Canary Islands brings the high Skiers in the Sierra de Guadarrama, north of Madrid (see p333)
tourist season. Christmas is a
special time of celebration – December Canary Islands International
an occasion for families to El Gordo (22 Dec). Spain’s Music Festival (Jan–Feb).
reunite, share food and attend largest lottery prize, “the Fat Classical concerts are held on
religious celebrations. One”, is drawn. La Palma and Tenerife.
Noche Buena (24 Dec) is a
family Christmas Eve, fol lowed February
by Midnight Mass. La Endiablada (2–3 Feb),
Santos Inocentes (28 Dec), Almonacid del Marquesado
Spain’s version of April Fools’ (Cuenca). Townsfolk dress
Day, when people play tricks. as devils in honour of
Noche Vieja (31 Dec). New San Blas.
Year’s Eve is most celebrated ARCO (mid-Feb), Madrid.
in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol. International contemporary
art fair.
January Pasarela Cibeles (Fashion
Día de los Tres Reyes (6 Jan). Week) (mid-Feb), Madrid.
On the eve of the Epiphany, Women’s and men’s fashion
the Three Kings parade through shows in the capital.
town, throwing sweets to Carnival (Feb/Mar). Final
the children. fiesta before Lent, with
La Tamborrada (19–20 Jan), col ourful costumes. Those in
“El Gordo”, the largest Spanish lottery San Sebastián. Drumming en Santa Cruz de Tenerife and
prize, being drawn masse in traditional costume. Cádiz are among the best.

046-047_EW_Spain.indd 47 26/09/17 11:52 am