Events in Spain

The Festival of La Merce is devoted to the memory of the patron saint of Barcelona, the Virgin of Mercy. This involves a fabulous arrangement of popular Catalan traditions and mythology. The city holds one of the biggest parties to celebrate, with music, dancing, fairs, theatre, concerts and parades. Firework shows light up figures of dragons and devils, and huge folklore icons of Catalonia 'gegants' are paraded through the city centre, while traditional teams of 'Castellers' build human pyramids in St. Haume Plaza.

The streets and squares come alive in the town of Nerja during this celebration. Casetas (tents) are set up all over the city, decorated with crepe-paper and fairy lights. During this event you will see numerous parades, one of which ends in the crowning of the feria queen, along with street theatre performances. If you look into on of the tents you will find women in traditional Spanish dresses dancing to the clink of castanets, while gentlemen in grey suits and carnations in their lapels drink from large glasses of manzanilla sherry which is the traditional feria drink.

All Saints Day, or Tosantos, is a very large affair in Cadiz, with celebrations for a few days leading up to November 1st. The streets are lined with beautifully decorated market stalls often depicting current events and selling all types of local food and wine. Throughout the festival period there are street processions, children's activities and magic shows. All Saints day is a feast to honor all of the saints, known and unknown.

Retiro Park is home to Madrid's Christmas Wish Tree, a decoration with a very nice twist. A 30 meter hollow cone is erected in the park and is gradually filed with balloons, and attached to each balloon people put a New Year's wish. Then on January 6th they are released into the sky.