Ferias
and Fiestas
Starting with Tres Reyes (three
Kings) in January, and finishing with Navidad (Christmas) the
Spanish calendar is full of ferias and fiestas.
What's the difference between
a feria and a fiesta?
Well fiestas are feast days,
either religious or constitutional. Some of them are celebrated
nationally (ie Constitution Day, or Andalucia Day) whilst others
are specific to a particular town, village or even profession
(San Luis, Virgen del Carmen etc). Quite often the fiestas coincide
with a bank holiday, either national, regional or local.
Ferias, on the other hand,
are fairs or celebrations. Every town or village in Spain has
an annual fair normally three or four days long, but in the case
of some of the bigger ones, like Malaga, they can be one to two
weeks. These are traditionally events where everyone can let there
hair down, and are marked by funfairs, musical events and, of
course, lots of eating and drinking. They can also be cultural
events, Manilva's annual International Festival being a good example.
Calendar
NEW
YEARS DAY - 1st January*
THREE
KINGS (TRES REYES) - 6th January* details...
ANDALUCIA
DAY - 28th February*
CARNAVAL
- End of February/early March - varies
SEMANA
SANTA - Easter
MAY
DAY - 1st May*
INTERNATIONAL
FESTIVAL - 14th -19th May, 2007
A chance for the different nationalities and cultures in Manilva
to get together details...
NOCHE
DE SAN JUAN - 23rd June
Midsummer celebrations on the beach in Sabinillas details...
ROMERIA
IN HONOUR OF THE VIRGIN OF FATIMA - May/June date varies
SUMMER
OF CULTURE - 1st July to September
Every year the the Ayuntamiento presents an intensive programme
of music, exhibitions, theatre etc. details...
VIRGEN
DEL CARMEN - 16th July*
The local fishing community's homage to their patron saint details...
MANILVA
DAY - Dia de Santa Ana - 26th July*
DAY
OF THE TOURIST - August
SUMMER
FAIR - 10th to 15th August (2005 dates)
The highlight of the summer. Instead of the three small fairs
held in Manilva, Sabinillas and Castillo, now one big one details...
ASSUMPTION
DAY - 15th August*
WINE
FESTIVAL (Vendimia) - First weekend in September details...
SPAIN
DAY - 12th October*
ALL
SAINTS DAY - 1st November*
CONSTITUTION
DAY - 6th December*
IMMACULATE
CONCEPTION - 8th December*
CHRISTMAS
DAY - 25th December*
*Bank Holidays
Other ferias and fiestas
For information on other ferias
and fiestas nearby see the Feria
List or check the 'Events' section in the Forums.
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