The first few things that come to one’s mind after hearing about ‘Spain’ are its gorgeous beaches, the delicious food, and the lively people. And that fits perfectly, the country has got an everlasting charm. But what you might not have heard about is that Spain is also a great winter destination and even a better winter festival destination. Continue reading to learn more about the top 4 festivals in Spain that takes place in the second half of the year.

December – Els Enfarinats

Flying Eggs, tons of flour and a lot of fun describes the Els Enfarinats festival the best. In the little town Ibi, Alicante every year at the 28^th of December all inhabitants and a bunch of visitors celebrate the Day of the innocents by recreating a historical story. The Enfarinats against the opposite site. It is all playful fun, as the weapons used are merely flour and eggs, and occasional firecrackers. At the end of the day everybody is covered in a thick batter, no matter if it is a member from the one or the other side. All come together and have a lot of fun. If you want to read more about this bizarre fiesta check out our last news.

January – Tamborrada 

When you not just want to hear but also feel the music, then Tamborrada is the perfect choice for you. The magnificent drum festival is celebrated every year on the 20^th of January in the city of San Sebastian. The celebration starts at midnight at the Constitution square with the raising of the city flag and lasts 24 hours. During the celebration, different costumed groups and corporations play melodies that will be heard in the whole city throughout the day. The origins of the festival date back to the Independence War around 1813, when some local women started to play music with their jugs to make fun of Napoleons troops that had invaded the city. This music parade developed to a yearly tradition and nowadays over 125 clubs and organizations participate in the event, dressed as a cook, in a soldier’s uniform or in the typical Basque women clothing.

January – Jarramplas at Piornal

The Jarramplas, where your main enemy is a devil-like figure and your weapons are turnips, is a crazy festival that takes place every 19 and 20 January in Piornal in the province of Caceres, Extremadura. During this festival, one person is dressed up as the Jarramplas, wearing a costume with lots of colourful ribbons and a conical fiberglass mask with horns. This festival is an old tradition of which its history is still doubtful. But there is one myth, which is most commonly believed, it tells the story of a devil-looking character, who stole and killed cattle of the inhabitants and got punished for that by the villagers, who were throwing vegetables at him. Tradition, excitement and joy flood Piornal every January inviting the visitor to delve into the rites, stories and legends of this ancient and curious festival now turned into a Festival of National Tourist Interest.

February – Carnival

In the end of February and the beginning of March, when it is still chilly in the rest of Spain, islanders of the Canaries are dressed in colourful and tight outfits because it is carnival time again.  The Carnival on Tenerife is traditionally celebrated in the capital of the island, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. During the time, Santa Cruz is not to be recognized, the streets are full of locals and visitors from all around the world. This carnival is considered to be the second most internationally known carnival, after the one in Rio de Janeiro. It is loved for its colourful street parades and flamboyant costumes.

In Gran Canaria, the most exciting carnival takes place in Las Palmas, the capital of the island. Next year’s theme “Once upon a time…” encourages the participants to dress in their most fairy tale-like costume. Popular events during the carnival are the Queen Gala and the Drag Queen Gala. The Queen Gala features amazing dresses that are displayed by the candidates for the queen of the festival. The Drag Queen Gala is another high-profile carnival event with a lot of candidates and always a joyful audience.

The carnival celebration on both islands is ended with the traditional entierro de la sardina, the burial of the sardine, celebrated with a big parade through the cities. At the end of this parade, a huge sardine is burnt that symbolises the spirit of carnival.

If you have now the wish to listen to the sounds of drums, to throw some eggs or turnips or dance with costumed islanders at one of the amazing festival we wrote about, do not hesitate to write us a message to info@across-spain.es. With our festival packages you will experience the flair and fun of the unique festivals Spain has to offer and discover the beauty and culture of the country as well.