https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Spain in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed It wouldn't be carnival in Spain without a bit of controversy over chosen themes. But one town in Spain has really taken it too far. https://www.thelocal.es/20200225/antisemitism-row-breaks-out-after-spanish-town-stages-holocaust-parade-for-carnival Tue, 25 Feb 2020 20:22:46 +0100 antisemitism-row-breaks-out-after-spanish-town-stages-holocaust-parade-for-carnival It’s carnival time in Spain which means a whole host of costumes that push the boundaries of good taste and political correctness. https://www.thelocal.es/20200220/in-pics-a-look-at-spains-favourite-carnival-costumes-for-2020 Thu, 20 Feb 2020 15:01:32 +0100 in-pics-a-look-at-spains-favourite-carnival-costumes-for-2020 Some costumes weigh more than 80 kg, stand more than five metres high and are wheeled onto stage in the battle to be crowned 2019 Santa Cruz de Tenerife Carnival Queen. https://www.thelocal.es/20190228/in-pics-drag-queens-compete-for-santa-cruz-carnival-crown Thu, 28 Feb 2019 13:40:57 +0100 in-pics-drag-queens-compete-for-santa-cruz-carnival-crown February is the month to shake off the winter blues with Carnival! Or head to a celebration of the most tragic of star-crossed lovers. That doesn't sound like your scene? Then how about a gastro festval? https://www.thelocal.es/20190201/whats-on-in-spain-things-to-do-in-february Fri, 01 Feb 2019 10:48:38 +0100 whats-on-in-spain-things-to-do-in-february The parish priest from the Galician town of Cuntis has apologised for his “misguided” carnival costume which saw him posing on a float as the Playboy founder along with men dressed as Playboy bunnies. https://www.thelocal.es/20170310/priest-who-dressed-up-as-hugh-hefner-flanked-and-simulated-sex-with-male-playboy-bunnies-seeks-forgiveness Fri, 10 Mar 2017 11:42:56 +0100 priest-who-dressed-up-as-hugh-hefner-flanked-and-simulated-sex-with-male-playboy-bunnies-seeks-forgiveness A bishop in the Canary Islands said the drag queen performing as the Virgin Mary and Jesus on the cross was “even more upsetting” than the Spanair plane crash in which 154 people died. https://www.thelocal.es/20170302/carnival-drag-queen-causes-outrage-with-blasphemous-performance-as-virgin-mary Thu, 02 Mar 2017 12:00:01 +0100 carnival-drag-queen-causes-outrage-with-blasphemous-performance-as-virgin-mary Spain's wacky and whimsical traditions were on display across the nation as the carnival season kicked into full gear at the weekend. https://www.thelocal.es/20160208/spain-kicks-into-full-carnival-craze-with-wacky-traditions Mon, 08 Feb 2016 13:05:28 +0100 spain-kicks-into-full-carnival-craze-with-wacky-traditions La Vijanera carnival took place in Spain on the first Sunday of January as thousands of people gathered in the Cantabrian town of Silió to bid farewell to winter. https://www.thelocal.es/20160104/spains-first-carnival-of-the-year-kicks-off-with-crazy-costumes Mon, 04 Jan 2016 16:09:18 +0100 spains-first-carnival-of-the-year-kicks-off-with-crazy-costumes The ruling Popular Party (PP) in the Basque Country has apologized after one of its councillors wore a Nazi costume to Tenerife’s carnival. https://www.thelocal.es/20150224/pp-councilor-apologizes-for-nazi-carnival-costume Tue, 24 Feb 2015 12:31:00 +0100 pp-councilor-apologizes-for-nazi-carnival-costume They may not have pancake day, but Spaniards know how to let their hair down before the frugality of Lent. As Carnival fever sweeps across the nation, we take a look at some of the more unusual celebrations. https://www.thelocal.es/20150217/the-craziest-carnivals-in-spain Tue, 17 Feb 2015 13:49:00 +0100 the-craziest-carnivals-in-spain Tenerife is swimming in sequins as the annual Santa Cruz carnival comes to town, bringing the spirit of Rio to the Canary Island during six weeks of festivities. https://www.thelocal.es/20150209/santa-cruz-carnival-brings-rio-spirit-to-tenerife Mon, 09 Feb 2015 14:24:00 +0100 santa-cruz-carnival-brings-rio-spirit-to-tenerife A company offering trips to the annual carnival in the southern Spanish city of Cadiz has been criticized for including alcohol and 'happy condoms' alongside transport and food in its €18 ($21) package deal. https://www.thelocal.es/20150115/critics-slam-happy-condom-cadiz-carnival-deal Thu, 15 Jan 2015 13:17:00 +0100 critics-slam-happy-condom-cadiz-carnival-deal Europe’s first carnival of the year, La Vijanera, kicked off in Spain on the first Sunday of January as thousands of people gathered in the Cantabrian town of Silió to bid farewell to winter. https://www.thelocal.es/20150105/in-pics-spains-wacky-la-vijanera-carnival Mon, 05 Jan 2015 13:10:00 +0100 in-pics-spains-wacky-la-vijanera-carnival With Spain's crazy carnival period already upon us, The Local has put together a list of politically questionable costumes that are bound to get people's tongues wagging. https://www.thelocal.es/20140219/top-ten-politically-incorrect-carnival-costumes Wed, 19 Feb 2014 19:02:00 +0100 top-ten-politically-incorrect-carnival-costumes Spain's government has pre-emptively pooped the party during the run-up to Carnival, a pre-Lent national celebration which typically features fancy dress parades, by banning the popular practice of wearing comedy 'Civil Guard' attire. https://www.thelocal.es/20140212/spain-bans-civil-guard-fancy-dress-costumes Wed, 12 Feb 2014 14:10:00 +0100 spain-bans-civil-guard-fancy-dress-costumes