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January 1st 2009 (January 1st 2010)
New Years Day
As in the UK this is a day of recovery and planning for the year ahead.
January 5th 2009 (January 5th 2010)
Reyes Magos (Procession of the 3 Wise Men)
Epiphany (Epifania del señor), which is celebrated on the night of the 5th of
January and during the 6th of January, and is also known as Reyes Magos (the 3
wise men or 3 Kings), is time when Spanish traditionally exchange presents. This
is in celebration of the presents given to the baby Jesus by the Three Kings -
Melchior, Casper and Balthazar. Traditionally Spanish children polish their
shoes well and leave them outside the front door on the night of the 5th of
January to show the Three Wise Men that they have been good, and then the Wise
Men will leave them presents (in a similar way to Father Christmas leaving gifts
under the Christmas tree). In the morning the presents are waiting for all of
the good boys and girls.
January 6th 2009 (January 6th 2010)
Día de los Reyes
The 6th of January is a national Fiesta and is referred to, by the British, as
'the Spanish Christmas day'. March 19th 2009 (March 19th 2010)
Fathers day / Día del padre
On the 19th of March it’s Día del padre (Father’s day in Spain).This is a
national fiesta and, unlike the UK where the actual date for Fathers Day changes
each year, in Spain it’s always celebrated on the 19th of March. The saint of
fathers is San José (Saint Joseph), and so all of the Josés in Spain also regard
it as ‘their saint’s day’. The day is traditionally a day to spend with your
father and so the whole country has a day off. April 9th to 13th 2009 (April 1st to 5th 2010)
Easter / Semana Santa
During the Easter period there are some religious parades to commemorate the
crucifixion of Jesus and his subsequent resurrection. Mass is held in the church
on the main square in La Mata.
April 13th 2009 (April 5th 2010)
Easter Monday / Lunes Santo
Although the 13th of April isn't a national fiesta, La Mata also takes this date
as a local holiday. May 1st 2009 (May 1st 2010)
Labour day / Fiesta del Trabajo
A day off work is the perfect way to commemorate the day of ‘workers’. It is a
national holiday so everything shuts for the day. May 3rd 2009 (May 2nd 2010)
Mothers day / Día del Madre
Día del Madre is always remembered on the first Sunday in May, and so the date
changes each year. In 2009, Mother’s day in Spain is celebrated on the 3rd of
May. July 16th 2009 (July 16th 2010)
Festival of the Virgin Carmen (Patron saint)/ Virgen del Carmen
Mass is held in the church on the main square to commemorate the day of the Virgen del Carmen. As this is a local fiesta in La Mata the town will close
businesses etc. for the day.
August 15th 2009 (August 15th 2010)
Asunción de la Virgen
Holy mass, in the church on the main square in La Mata town centre,
commemorates this national fiesta. October 7th 2009 (October 7th 2010)
Fiestas of la Virgen del Rosario
In October, there are celebrations for the fiesta of la Virgen del Rosario in La
Mata. Rosario is one of the local saints of La Mata and so it’s a special time
for the town. The celebrations include a bicycle race, a paella contest (held in
the Plaza del Encarnación Puchol), a street parade, a night festival (held in
the Plaza del Encarnación Puchol), Holy Mass and then a procession and fireworks
after mass.
October 9th 2009 (October 9th 2010)
Day of the Valencia region / Día de la Comunidad Valenciana
Each area in Spain has a special day to celebrate the identity of their
region, and so the Día de la Comunidad Valenciana is the community of Valencia’s
turn. And what better way to celebrate then to have a day off! October 12th 2009 (October 12th 2010)
Spain day / Día Nacional de España
This a special day for the Spanish as they remember and celebrate their
nationally. It is a national holiday and warrants a day off work. October 31st 2009 (October 31st 2010)
Halloween
Halloween is not a Spanish fiesta as such, and it is celebrated in a more
‘low key’ way than the UK. You will, however, find that the British bars and
restaurants make the most of the event and often there are fancy dress
competitions at some of the bars in La Mata. 'Trick or treat' has caught on with
the Spanish children, but is more an occasion to collect a bag full of sweets as
the children stand at the door shouting “caramelos caramelos” (meaning sweets,
sweets). November 1st 2009 (November 1st 2010)
All Saints day
In Spain it is traditionally a day to think about your family past and
present. It’s a day when you should lay flowers at the grave of your relatives
to show that they are remembered and then to celebrate the memories with a big
family meal. This is also a national holiday and is celebrated with a day off.
December 6th 2009 (December 6th 2010)
Spanish constitution day / Día de la Constitución España
The 6th of December 1978 is the day that the draft of the national
constitution was accepted, in a national referendum, by the Spanish public.
This marked the beginning of a new and democratic turn in history for Spain.
Although, at the time, in general, the occasion only involved the people who
were in top ministerial positions, it is now remembered with pride by the
majority of the nation. This defiantly justifies a national day of celebration
and of course a day off!
December 8th 2009 (December 8th 2010)
Inmaculada concepción
Holy mass, in the church on the main square in La Mata town centre
commemorates this national fiesta. As it is a national fiesta everything is
closed.
The Belen
A Spanish Christmas is celebrated in a slightly different way to that of the
Brits, so it may be useful to know a little more. The majority of towns and
pueblos (villages) have beautiful street lights, and in the town square (plaza)
there is often a 'Belen' (meaning Bethlehem), which is an elaborate model
village that depicts the tale of Christmas and the birth of Jesus. It's a real
must!
December 24th 2009 (December 24th 2010)
Christmas Eve / Noche Buena
On Christmas Eve (known as Nochebuena) it is the Spanish custom to ‘see in’
Christmas day with a family meal. The menu has many courses: parma ham (cured)
and cheese, fresh seafood, meat (normally lamb) etc. and then to finish there
would be sweet cakes (postres), coffee, chocolates, liqueurs, champagnes (cava)
and cider (sidra) etc. Considering that they don't start eating till about 10.30
pm, they are still going strong when Christmas day arrives, and beyond into the
small hours. Families usually give and receive small gifts at this meal.
December 25th 2009 (December 25th 2010)
Christmas Day/ Natividad del Señor (Birth of Christ)
Papa Noel (Father Christmas) still comes to Spain, even though this is not a
true Spanish tradition.
The 25th of December is a national fiesta however it is the night of Christmas
Eve (24th of December) when the Spanish actually celebrate.
December 26th 2009 (December 26th 2010)
Boxing Day
The British invented, and keep the tradition of, Boxing Day, but, in
general, it is seen as just an ordinary working day in Spain. You may, however,
find that some offices and services are still closed. December 31st 2009 (December 31st 2010)
New Years Eve
On New Years Eve in La Mata, everyone heads to the Town Square (Plaza) where
there is a great atmosphere as the church bells ring in another year. On New
Years Eve, tradition in Spain is to eat a grape on every strike of midnight. The
story goes that this will bring you good luck. Tins of seedless grapes can be
bought from most large supermarkets in the days running up to New Year's Eve and
this certainly makes it easier to eat so many grapes (as the fresh grapes almost
always have seeds). Try it out if you get the chance, it's quite a challenge!!!
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and/or the UK equal. Unlike the UK, where it has become usual to open
businesses etc on a bank holiday, in Spain a National Fiesta is time for the
whole nation to take time out to celebrate, even the majority of cafes and bars
are closed for the day. It makes no difference if the fiesta falls in the middle
of the week (which is more often then not). If fiestas fall on Tuesdays or
Thursdays, or when 2 fiestas are celebrated in the same week separated by one
day, some businesses decide to take an extra day i.e. the Monday or Friday or
the middle day to link them together - this is called a bridge day or in Spanish
a 'puente'.