La Mata Information

La Mata fiestas and holidays in La Mata

Fiestas are official holidays, which are often at the same time as religious based festivals, and they can last for many days. Spain celebrates fiestas for patron saints (local Saints) and the Virgin Mary, as well as festivals for regional communities. Not all fiestas are celebrated with a carnival, but most of them include, for example - religious processions, street parades, bullfights or flamenco dancing etc. These fiestas and colourful parades are very typical of Spain, and the majority of them are worth a look.

The Local Fiestas in La Mata for 2008 are listed in the table below. It's worth bearing in mind that on most local fiestas everything will probably be shut for the day! Nevertheless, if you need to shop for something urgently you may wish to travel to a nearby town, where this particular festival possibly isn't being celebrated!

Local Fiestas in La Mata for 2008
 

In October, there's celebrations for the fiestas of la Virgen del Rosario in La Mata. The celebrations include:

A bicycle race

Paella contest (held in the Plaza del Encarnación Puchol)

A street parade

Night festival (held in the Plaza del Encarnación Puchol)

Procession and fireworks after the mass.

National Fiestas

Below is a list of the Spanish National Fiestas for 2008, including the English version 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'.

Spanish National Fiestas for 2008
 

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!
 

On Christmas Eve (known as Nochebuena) it is the Spanish custom to welcome Christmas day in 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. The family usually give and receive gifts at this meal.

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.

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.

Epiphany (Epifania del señor), which is celebrated on the night of the 5th of January and during the 6th of January, also known as Reyes Magos (the 3 wise men or 3 Kings) is the day 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 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. The 6th of January is a national Fiesta and is referred to, by the British, as 'the Spanish Christmas day'.

On New Years Eve everyone heads to the Town Square (Plaza) where there is a great atmosphere as the church bells ring in another year. At New Year the 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!!!