A good way to enjoy the holiday is approaching the traditional festivals and cultural site being visited. In the case of Spain, there are a multitude of religious holidays of interest.

Sanfermines

·  Place: Pamplona.

·  Date: 6 to July 13. The day is the big July 7.

·  Story: the Sanfermines arise in the thirteenth century with trade fairs to be held after the night of San Juan. At these meetings merchants and citizens began to organize bullfights.

In XVI appeared early pattern of Sanfermines around Pamplona, San Fermin. Over the years the festivities have been losing its religious component while maintaining the procession of the saint on the morning of 7.

·  Observances: Sanfermines are one of the most attractive holiday of the year globally. The white shirt and trousers, with red scarf, become the main clothing.

The popular chupinazo from the balcony of Pamplona City Council gives the go-ahead to the week's festivities. Since then the streets of Pamplona are filled with giant dance, parade and cabezudos kirikis who beat whom are approaching.

The encierros are also the protagonists of this festivity. Running ahead of bulls through the streets of Pamplona is a tradition for the brave. The less daring enjoy the spectacle from the barrier.

Romería del Rocío

·  Place: Village del Rocío, Huelva.

·  Date: Monday of Pentecost. It is celebrated 55 days after Easter.

·  History: King Alfonso X the Wise commanded to build the chapel for the Virgen del Rocío in the year 1262. The chapel is located on the site where the Virgen de los Remedios, subsequently appointed del Rocío, was found.

According to legend, a shepherd found the Virgin in the middle of an empty forest and caught the people to carry. By the way, weighed while the pastor was stopped to rest and fell asleep. When aroused, the Virgin was not so the man returned to the forest to fetch.

The found in the same place where he had gathered and then became convinced that his desire was to stay there. At the same site was built in the chapel which was renamed the Virgen del Rocio.

·  Observances: Each year, hundreds of pilgrims walk the path from their villages to the Village of Rocío. There, at the dawn of the day of Pentecost, hundreds of faithful jump the fence to get to the Virgin in procession.

It is a very peculiar devotion aroused by and the number of faithful who congregate. After the procession, it is on the road back, thus beginning the countdown to next year's Rocío.

The Pilar

·  Place: Zaragoza.

·  Date: Nuestra Señora del Pilar is celebrated on October 12 throughout Spain as it is the patron of the country. In Zaragoza the holidays last nine days.

·  Story: the feast comes in the year 1613 when Pope Clement XII declares October 12 as a day of El Pilar. In its early celebrations were purely religious.

Since 1718, when it was inaugurated Basilica del Pilar, the Giants, cabezudos, music bands and other popular signs join in the celebrations. Since then the parties have grown to what they are today.

·  Observances: festivities begin with a speech. The highlight is the wreath, where thousands of people ataviadas to suit regional maños make it a blanket of flowers to the Virgen del Pilar.

In the nine days of celebrations, Zaragoza is filled with giants and cabezudos, traditional folk groups, concerts and fireworks, and many other leisure activities.. In addition, the Fair is held in the Beer and traditional Bullfighting Fair of El Pilar.

Feria de San Isidro

·  Place: Madrid.

·  Date: May 15.

·  History: San Isidro lived between the eleventh and twelfth centuries. During his life performed several miracles and was canonized in 1622. Since then both locals celebrate the holidays of your employer. The chulapas, chulapos, barquilleros and bullfighting became, over time, the hallmark of these festivals.

·  Observances: madrileños attend the May 15 to the Prairie San Isidro to spend the day. Many are dressed in traditional costumes and chulapos chulapas. The barquilleros to sell their traditional wafers are chotis and organs amenizan with his music to all those who congregate at the Meadow.

Bullfights are the main attraction of this week's celebrations. Each year the best bullfighters in the national and international scene share cartel in the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas in Madrid.

Feast of Saint-James

·  Place: Santiago de Compostela.

·  Date: is the big day on July 25 although the festivities usually begin about 10 days before.

·  History: The origin of this festival dates back to the founding of the city to be in her mortal remains of St. James the Apostle. This then becomes pattern and Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Originally they were religious festivals.

·  Observances: the ringing of the bells of the cathedral of Santiago announced the start of the holidays. The Obradoiro Square floods of gunpowder, fireworks, light and color. It's time to burn the facade of the cathedral.

The 25th, in the Cathedral, takes place at Holy Offering and the ritual of Botafumeiro. This is a huge incensario that swings inside the cathedral. Hundreds of faithful are gathered inside the cathedral to participate in the celebrations.

During the ten-day festival Santiago de Compostela is filled with gaiteros, folk groups, concerts and other items popular own traditional culture of the area.

Bonfire of San Juan

·  Place: is celebrated in many Spanish cities but especially in areas washed by the Mediterranean. Emphasize the bonfires of Alicante, Barcelona and Tarragona.

·  Date: night of 23 to 24 June.

·  History: This festival has its origins in the cult of fire, which was cristianizó with the evocation of San Juan Bautista. This tradition continued in force even when it was banned by the authorities. Today it has become a big party.. The first bonfires were taken with trastos old each year removed from the houses. Why have evolved into the great popular celebration they are.

·  Observances: in many parts of Spain celebrated tonight with big bonfires made of furniture and trastos old. Around the fire dance, sing, burn wishes and old books:

- In Alicante tonight was named the International Tourist Interest. Unlike other Spanish cities where it takes place the night of San Juan, the fires here are real sculptural sets of cartón-piedra that satirizan characters and aspects of social life.

- In Catalonia tradition mind that the youth of the place must look poplar for plantarlo highest in the plaza of his village and leave there until August, at which time he returned to the owner. This tradition is being replaced by traditional bonfires, which are very important in Barcelona and Tarragona, for instance.

Easter

·  Place: Andalusia, Castilla y Leon and Castilla-La Mancha.

·  Date: begins on Palm Sunday and ends on Sunday. Each year coincides different dates depending on the liturgical year.

·  History: these celebrations, a purely religious character, they recall the life of Jesus from his entry into Jerusalem to his resurrection. Over the week are represented, with images of great value sculptural, major episodes of the passion of Christ.

In Spain held for centuries countless processions in which hundreds of brothers with their faces covered carrying shoulders sculptures that represent different stages of Jesus, from his arrival in Jerusalem to his resurrection. The Manolas, women dressed in mourning head and Spanish, also accompany the images of Jesus and Mary in processions.

·  Celebration: it is one of the best preserved traditions of the Spanish culture.. In many cities this week were still celebrating, even more fervent than before, the last moments of Jesus' life through processions. Hundreds of faithful accompanying images along their routes.

The brothers and manolas persist today and have hardly changed. The images of great artistic value, are preserved throughout the year in their churches to be lifted in the day for the Holy Week. Alongside them, the rhythm of drums and cornets breaks the silence that always accompanies these processions.

Tamborrada

·  Place: Aragon and Albacete.

·  Date: Holy Thursday.

·  History: arose in the eighteenth century in the processions of Jesus Nazareno. With its noise reminiscent of the cataclysm that has suffered the Earth at the moment when Christ died. The Tamborradas continued even when they were being banned during the Second Republic.

·  Observances: Tamborrada oldest is the de Hijar (Aragon).. Each year, minutes before the 12 Holy Thursday creates a great silence in the streets.. Everyone is awaiting expectantly when the mayor makes a sign with his stick and the drums begin to play.. It is the traditional rompida.

The drums resonate throughout the time when Christ was among the dead. There are those who protect hands with scarves or gloves. Others, like penance touch with bare hands until the blood stained patch of drum.