Spain, with over 46 million people, is made up of autonomous communities (left image) and all together there are 52 provinces (right image). As a result, an awesome variety of landscapes, climate, gastronomy, history, traditions, festivals and many more awaits to welcome you.
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Provinces |
Learn SpanishYour au pair experience is a full inmersion in Spanish life, you can learn and improve in many different ways: with your host family, new friends, attending a language course, media, cultural visits, etc.
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Looking for la "fiesta"
You may not know much Spanish yet, but surely you know the word "fiesta" ... Once in Spain, you will have the opportunity of inmersing in our culture and traditions, enjoying our popular festivities, which are different and particular in each community.
All year round there will be some kind of celebration, most of them happen in summer time and are related to both pagan and religious traditions like celebrating harvesting, carnivals, summer soltices, holy days and so. Some of these examples you may have heard of, some will surprise you ...
Welcoming host families await for you, if you spend some of your free time with them, they may well take you places you would not know and enjoy without their help.
All year round there will be some kind of celebration, most of them happen in summer time and are related to both pagan and religious traditions like celebrating harvesting, carnivals, summer soltices, holy days and so. Some of these examples you may have heard of, some will surprise you ...
Welcoming host families await for you, if you spend some of your free time with them, they may well take you places you would not know and enjoy without their help.
Image - Getaferadio.com
January - 3 wise kings paradeIn the evening of the 5th of January, there is a parade in every main city, town in Spain. Sweets, candys and confetti fill the air! Children love it and so will you as their au pair!.
And that night magic will take place, they visit all children at their homes while they are sleeping and leave presents to them. Official end of Christmas season in Spain. |
Image - Wikipedia
February - CarnivalsCarnival is celebrated 40 days before Easter week, so there is no fixed date, but it usually falls mid February. The most popular ones are:
Cadiz and their "chirigotas", gangs of friends singing satiric songs on social and political issues. Canarias and their parades with fantasy dresses. Verín (Galicia) and their "Pantallas" following ancestral pagan European roots. Laza (Galicia) and it is popular fight of flour, soil and live ants. Wild, isn't it? |
Image - Max pixel
March - FallasThis festival of spectacular cardboard sculptures which will end up burnt down to ashes is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity since 2016 and Valencia is the place.
They will be displayed in town the days before the 20th of March, on the night of the 19th, they will all be burnt in a show of light, music and fireworks. |
Imagen Diario La Comarca.net
April - EasternIn Calanda (Aragón) you can experience its famous "Rompida de la Hora".
12 pm Holy Friday an indeterminate number of different size drums are played for about 15 minutes. The sound is so powerful that pavement and buildings vibrate representing the tremour on Earth when Jesus died. Other world know destinations for Eastern religious celebrations are Seville or Ávila. But there are many other popular ones. |
Imagen Elpais.com
May - San IsidroSt. Isidro is the city's patron saint for the people of Madrid.
On 15th of May, San Isidro's festivity, there is a procession/pilgrimage and a picnic in the open space of St. Isidro's meadow. People dress up in traditional customes, and the most traditional streets come alive with concerts, performances, competitions, street entertainment and open-air parties. |
Image Andy Pérez
June - Summer SolsticeSummer begins! The night of the 23rd of June almost everywhere in Spain will celebrate summer solstice, specially on sea side villages, towns and cities, following ancestral rituals.
It is time to purify your soul and get rid off your "burdens" jumping over bonfires after midnight. On the image, Orzán beach - La Coruña (Galicia). |
Image Navarra.com
July - San Fermin"1 de Enero, 2 de Febrero, 3 de Marzo, 4 de Abril, 5 de Mayo, 6 de Junio, 7 de Julio ¡San Fermín!" ... says the popular tune.
Pamplona (Navarra) turns into a non stop fiesta for a whole week. Running in front of the bulls is the main attraction, but it is extremely dangerous, specially for foreigners, so leave it to local runners and just enjoy the fiesta. |
July - Fiestas de Santiago ApostolWhenever the 25th of July falls on a Sunday, it is "Holy Year" in Santiago de Compostela (Galicia).
As an exception (due to Covid), 2021 + 2022 are going to be "Holy Year". 25th of July is the big day, and the night before a spectacular display of light, sound and fireworks will be hosted in Plaza del Obradoiro square, fully packed with pilgrims, tourists and locals. Santiago is the final destination for pilgrims who walk the "Camino" ( UNESCO Cultural Heritage of Humanity). |
July- Rapa das BestasSabucedo (Pontevedra). For early birds, horse and fotography lovers. A truly vibrant and wild experience.
The first saturday of July a group of young men from the village and surroundings go to the mountains to gather all wild horses and bring them down to the village where they will cut the horses' manes in a brave and complicated horse - man, body to body confrontation. At the end of the day, the whole village celebrates with food and music. There are camp sites arranged should you want to camp the night before. |
August
Vilagarcía de Arousa - Fiesta del Agua - 16th August
Cambados - "Virgen del Carmen - sailors' patron" - 16th August - Former au pair and host fam
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Catoira - Viking battle recreation - 1st Sunday
Which one would you choose?so many "fiestas" all over Spain to name them all... Let me give you just a hint of what goes on in Galicia every summer, "gastro fests", "patron fests" "crazy fests" ... ;-)
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Ribadavia - Medieval Fest - End of August
Cambados - Albariño's wine fest - 1st sunday - Former au pair and host fam
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Background - Ancoradoiro beach - Muros (Galicia)
Galicia
Quite an unknown destination!
Ancoradoiro Beach - Muros (A Coruña)
Ribeira Sacra & River Sil Canyon - Ourense
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Las Catedrales Beach - Lugo
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Playa América - Nigrán (Pontevedra)
Playa del Vilar - Ribeira (A Coruña)
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Background - Cies Islands - Galicia
I live and work in Galicia. I am aware that it is not so well known abroad,
I would like to share with you some links so you can discover that
Galicia is rich in culture, gastronomy, tradition, wild landscapes,
awesome beaches and welcoming people.
Galicia may well be your lifetime memory if you give it a chance.
Find out more about Galicia here and here
Find out more about Santiago de Compostela here.
Some reviews on Santiago de Compostela at The NY Times, The Telegraph, LonelyPlanet
Find out more about A Coruña here.
Some reviews on A Coruña at The Guardian, Business&Finance, The Telegraph, Express.com
Some reviews on Vigo at Independent
Some reviews on Pontevedra at The Guardian
I would like to share with you some links so you can discover that
Galicia is rich in culture, gastronomy, tradition, wild landscapes,
awesome beaches and welcoming people.
Galicia may well be your lifetime memory if you give it a chance.
Find out more about Galicia here and here
Find out more about Santiago de Compostela here.
Some reviews on Santiago de Compostela at The NY Times, The Telegraph, LonelyPlanet
Find out more about A Coruña here.
Some reviews on A Coruña at The Guardian, Business&Finance, The Telegraph, Express.com
Some reviews on Vigo at Independent
Some reviews on Pontevedra at The Guardian
