SEMANA SANTA

Easter week in Spain is something to behold. Processions take place every day across the country, culminating with 'the big one' on Good Friday, when members of the various brotherhoods carry huge floats through the streets until the early hours of the morning. The most impressive ones are to be found in Cordoba, Granada, Malaga and Seville.

THE RUNNING OF THE BULLS

Known locally as San Fermin, the patron saint of Pamplona, this week long celebration begins on July 7th. Each morning the runners gather at 8am at the start of the route named 'Cuesta de Santo Domingo' and through song, ask San Fermin to protect them during the Bull Run. A rocket signals the release of the first bull, followed by another one when the last bull has left the corral and entered the streets of Pamplona. A third rocket tells us that the bulls have reached the 'Plaza de Toros and a fourth indicates that the bulls are in their pens and the run is over.

LA TOMATINA

Surely the craziest fiesta on the planet. On the last Wednesday of each August in Bunol near Valencia, thirty thousand visitors join the nine thousand residents for a food fight, or to be more precise, a squashed tomato fight. The event begins when someone has successfully retrieved a ham from atop a large greasy pole. More than one hundred thousand tomatoes are thrown in just over one hour. Those taking part in the event are advised to wear safety goggles. The fiesta was banned under Franco but returned during the 70's after his death. Don't forget to take a change of clothes.

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

For the Spanish, Christmas is a time to be spent with the family. New Year's Eve however is celebrated across Spain with huge parties organised by the various town councils. At midnight, a grape eaten with each stroke of the clock will bring good luck for the coming year. After that you can enjoy music and dancing until the early hours of the morning.

THE FALLAS FESTIVAL

Valencia hosts the Fallas Festival in mid March. This week long extravaganza of bonfires and fireworks is quite possibly one of the loudest in Spain and that's saying a lot. Over two million tourists make their way to the city to watch the giant papier-mache Fallas, which are made in the image of famous people and characters from all walks of life, burnt at the end of the festivities, whilst worried fire-fighters stand by. The figures, which are made during the previous twelve months, are displayed in the city during the week, before they are burned amid a frenzy of noise and heat.

THE BABY JUMPING FESTIVAL

Yes, you read that properly. The El Colacho baby jumping festival takes place in Castrillo de Murcia in the foothills of the Cantabrian Mountains every May. All newborns from the previous twelve months are eligible to be leapt over by a man dressed as the Devil, and consequently purged of evil. If you get to the town during the week before the Baby Jumping, you may have the dubious pleasure of being terrorised by one of the two individuals who go around with their truncheons and whips at ready. Then on the Sunday, the babies are laid out on the ground ready for the Devil, who has been hiding in the church, to leap forth and hurdle the infants before disappearing into the distance.

Hopefully, this will have whetted your appetite for a visit to a Spanish fiesta. Whether you opt for a large fiesta or the more intimate village celebration, the common denominator is fun. This is just a small sample of the fiestas that take place around Spain. It's up to you; do you fancy being chased by a bull, being pelted by a soggy tomato or seeing the Devil himself leaping over innocent babies. You must admit, there's quite a choice, and every one promises be a memorable experience. Buen Viaje! and hasta pronto.