No Blog on Spain in August would be ‘worth its salt’ if it did not mention fiestas - because the summer in Spain is replete with them. Seemingly, every village and town is alive with partying, shows, bands and religious processions that dazzle with colour and charm as ancient traditions and modern activities are gloriously intermixed.
Village and town fiestas are something that the holiday tourist visiting Spain rarely sees and yet they are, for me, a constant and reassuring affirmation of Spain’s individuality and the depth of its culture. They are also a demonstration, if ever one was needed, of a nuclear society that is still functioning.
So what is a fiesta? This seems a silly question to ask but few Britons seem to know and some equate a fiesta, wrongly, to a UK village fair.
In fact, strictly speaking the word ‘fiesta’ just means ‘party’. However, when it comes to town and village fiestas that is where the resemblance ends. Perhaps this is best illustrated by looking at the (current) annual fiesta of my beloved pueblo, Barx in Valencia province. However, its fiesta, in one form or another, is replicated everywhere else in Spain mainly (but not exclusively) during the summer months.
The fiesta lasts a full week, to all intents and purposes is free and is fully inclusive of the whole village. Our program, this year, is as follows:
Day 1 Children’s day. Activities of various sorts for children: animation group, children’s theatre, decoration of the streets, aquatic fun etc.
Day 2 General. Swimming championship, bonzai exhibition, festival of traditional dance from Ukrainian band, Brotherhood suppper etc.
Day 3 Young people’s day. Breakfast at an appointed cafe, card games, lunch and disco, fancy dress parade, further disco (starts at midnight!)
Day 4 Pensioner’s day. Band parade through village with pensioners and authorities, Solumn procession, Variety show (12.30 am), Disco (02.00 hrs!)
Day 5 Day of Lady of Carmel and Sacred Heart. Band, village and authorities parade, Holy Mass, Mascaleta (special fireworks), lunch at nominated restaurant, solumn procession, fireworks, big band (13.00 hrs!)
Day 6 Day of Sam Miguel (village patron saint). Band, village and authorities parade, Holy Mass, mascaleta, solumn procession, fireworks, big band (midnight!)
Day 7 Day of the Divine Shepherdess. Wake up call (07.00 hrs!), bell ringling, parade of the authorities, solumn Mass, mascaleta, inaugauration of new building, parade with band and village, floral tributes, solumn procession, fireworks, big band (13.00 hrs).
Day 8 Andalusian show at the open air theatre.
Village and town fiestas are something that the holiday tourist visiting Spain rarely sees and yet they are, for me, a constant and reassuring affirmation of Spain’s individuality and the depth of its culture. They are also a demonstration, if ever one was needed, of a nuclear society that is still functioning.
So what is a fiesta? This seems a silly question to ask but few Britons seem to know and some equate a fiesta, wrongly, to a UK village fair.
In fact, strictly speaking the word ‘fiesta’ just means ‘party’. However, when it comes to town and village fiestas that is where the resemblance ends. Perhaps this is best illustrated by looking at the (current) annual fiesta of my beloved pueblo, Barx in Valencia province. However, its fiesta, in one form or another, is replicated everywhere else in Spain mainly (but not exclusively) during the summer months.
The fiesta lasts a full week, to all intents and purposes is free and is fully inclusive of the whole village. Our program, this year, is as follows:
Day 1 Children’s day. Activities of various sorts for children: animation group, children’s theatre, decoration of the streets, aquatic fun etc.
Day 2 General. Swimming championship, bonzai exhibition, festival of traditional dance from Ukrainian band, Brotherhood suppper etc.
Day 3 Young people’s day. Breakfast at an appointed cafe, card games, lunch and disco, fancy dress parade, further disco (starts at midnight!)
Day 4 Pensioner’s day. Band parade through village with pensioners and authorities, Solumn procession, Variety show (12.30 am), Disco (02.00 hrs!)
Day 5 Day of Lady of Carmel and Sacred Heart. Band, village and authorities parade, Holy Mass, Mascaleta (special fireworks), lunch at nominated restaurant, solumn procession, fireworks, big band (13.00 hrs!)
Day 6 Day of Sam Miguel (village patron saint). Band, village and authorities parade, Holy Mass, mascaleta, solumn procession, fireworks, big band (midnight!)
Day 7 Day of the Divine Shepherdess. Wake up call (07.00 hrs!), bell ringling, parade of the authorities, solumn Mass, mascaleta, inaugauration of new building, parade with band and village, floral tributes, solumn procession, fireworks, big band (13.00 hrs).
Day 8 Andalusian show at the open air theatre.
Now that is a fiesta!
Every day and throughout each day (except during siesta) there is something going on beyond the on-going private parties and celebrations of the villagers.
It is amazing!
However, the most astonishing thing (for my British eyes) is to see almost every single person in the village participating thoughout the fiesta - whether ancient, middle aged, teenager or baby.
Whatever you do, make sure that you attend a village or small town fiesta if you come to Spain. If you are not enchanted then, without doubt, you are in the wrong country -or you cannot see joie de vivre when it is front of your eyes!
However, be prepared! The constant extent of the partying is incredible with any major bands and shows often not starting until midnight or 1 am. So, have a good sleep in the afternoons, so that you can enjoy yourself to the full. To fiesta - you need to siesta!
Every day and throughout each day (except during siesta) there is something going on beyond the on-going private parties and celebrations of the villagers.
It is amazing!
However, the most astonishing thing (for my British eyes) is to see almost every single person in the village participating thoughout the fiesta - whether ancient, middle aged, teenager or baby.
Whatever you do, make sure that you attend a village or small town fiesta if you come to Spain. If you are not enchanted then, without doubt, you are in the wrong country -or you cannot see joie de vivre when it is front of your eyes!
However, be prepared! The constant extent of the partying is incredible with any major bands and shows often not starting until midnight or 1 am. So, have a good sleep in the afternoons, so that you can enjoy yourself to the full. To fiesta - you need to siesta!
Obviously, I will be taking full advantage of our fiesta - so expect me to be out of touch this week - and grumpy with exhaustion next week...1
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