The Experience
Spain’s colourful history is only matched by its yellow and red flag. It was a powerful nation during the 16th and 17th century along with Britain and Portugal. During ancient times, it was ruled by Muslims, Romans and Germans. Bur after a long struggle for freedom, Spain dominated the high seas with its experienced navy fleet. It rivalled with Portugal and Britain in discovering new lands across the globe. Everywhere they went, they carried the flag of Catholicism, promoting their religious beliefs to the natives of the countries they were able to conquer.
The Spanish people believed in festivities and celebrations. It probably came from their religious way of giving thanks to their patron saints. Running with the bulls, Tomato Festival, Sao Joao Festival and a lot more, Spain is indeed an country that knows how to celebrate and be festive the whole year round. This is simply because the Spanish people find something to celebrate about anything. Because of the Catholic influence in their way of life, Spain celebrates so many fiestas in honour of the Catholic’s many patron saints.
One of Spain’s many famous festivities is the El Colacho Festival or otherwise known as the Baby-jumping Festival in Castrillo de Murcia. Visitors and tourist agreed that this is something very unusual but it was being done in as part of their celebration of Corpus Christi in the month of June.
A lot of people, all with mixed emotions watched as a man, dressed in yellow and red with wooden things on his hand, leapt over babies dressed in fine clothes. The babies lied in the streets on a mattress while a man, suppose to be representing the devil ran to get a good head start and jumped over the unsuspecting (sometimes already sleeping) babies. Loud gasps from tourists who were watching especially from concerned women in the crowd. It was an unusual event that sent the heart of those who had only seen it for the first time with fear and anticipation. The act was supposed to cleanse the little innocent babies of their original sin.
Because it was also the celebration of the annual Corpus Christi Festival, there were huge crowd to witness the elaborate procession in the town plaza. It is celebrated all throughout Spain including Andalucia and Granada. It was also a good time to do your shopping in small markets set up just for the festival. Colourful keepsakes and other religious items can be bought from these small stalls. There were also food carts full of different types of food and native delicacies. At night, the streets were filled with small different coloured light and little flags known as banderitas which are typical of Spanish fiestas.
The Spanish people believed in festivities and celebrations. It probably came from their religious way of giving thanks to their patron saints. Running with the bulls, Tomato Festival, Sao Joao Festival and a lot more, Spain is indeed an country that knows how to celebrate and be festive the whole year round. This is simply because the Spanish people find something to celebrate about anything. Because of the Catholic influence in their way of life, Spain celebrates so many fiestas in honour of the Catholic’s many patron saints.
One of Spain’s many famous festivities is the El Colacho Festival or otherwise known as the Baby-jumping Festival in Castrillo de Murcia. Visitors and tourist agreed that this is something very unusual but it was being done in as part of their celebration of Corpus Christi in the month of June.
A lot of people, all with mixed emotions watched as a man, dressed in yellow and red with wooden things on his hand, leapt over babies dressed in fine clothes. The babies lied in the streets on a mattress while a man, suppose to be representing the devil ran to get a good head start and jumped over the unsuspecting (sometimes already sleeping) babies. Loud gasps from tourists who were watching especially from concerned women in the crowd. It was an unusual event that sent the heart of those who had only seen it for the first time with fear and anticipation. The act was supposed to cleanse the little innocent babies of their original sin.
Because it was also the celebration of the annual Corpus Christi Festival, there were huge crowd to witness the elaborate procession in the town plaza. It is celebrated all throughout Spain including Andalucia and Granada. It was also a good time to do your shopping in small markets set up just for the festival. Colourful keepsakes and other religious items can be bought from these small stalls. There were also food carts full of different types of food and native delicacies. At night, the streets were filled with small different coloured light and little flags known as banderitas which are typical of Spanish fiestas.
When to Go
The El Colacho and Corpus Christi Festivals are both celebrated during May or June depending on the when Easter Sunday will fall. Summer is a very popular time to visit most other countries. It is the same with Spain. These are during the months of July and August. You might also want to try visiting on much cooler seasons like spring or fall which are from September to November.
Odds n' Ends
As mentioned, Spain is a country of festivities. One very interesting event you might want to participate in is the La Tomatina Festival in Valencia. If you like tomato juice, then this is certainly for you. Tourists and locals alike flock the streets of Bunol where truckloads of tomatoes arrive to be used for what it seems like a huge tomato fight! A piece of advice, don’t bother to wear something nice to go this celebration. And who doesn’t know about the Running with the Bulls in Pamplona. Also known as the Festival of San Fermin, this is not for the faint at heart. This is probably one of the most famous festivals in Spain.
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Language Guides
Portugese 
,
Spanish
are some of the languages spoken in Spain. If you know of a freely available phrase book or podcast for one of the missing languages, let us know!
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