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 Every May, locals in the Andalusian city of Córdoba open up their private courtyards to visitors who are left mesmerised by their dizzying floral displays. Here's everything you need to know about Córdoba's Patios Festival in 2026. https://www.thelocal.es/20200508/why-you-should-go-to-cordobas-mesmerising-patios-festival Fri, 08 May 2020 17:12:43 +0200 why-you-should-go-to-cordobas-mesmerising-patios-festival Here's how and when in May Mother's Day is celebrated in Spain, and why it owes its roots to religion and a Valencian poet. https://www.thelocal.es/20240503/everything-you-need-to-know-about-mothers-day-in-spain Fri, 03 May 2024 13:37:58 +0200 everything-you-need-to-know-about-mothers-day-in-spain Catalonia prepares for its annual Sant Jordi celebrations tomorrow, April 23rd, when roses and books stalls flood the streets, particularly in the capital of Barcelona. https://www.thelocal.es/20200423/why-st-georges-day-is-marked-in-catalonia-with-roses-and-books Thu, 23 Apr 2020 10:51:36 +0200 why-st-georges-day-is-marked-in-catalonia-with-roses-and-books As Seville celebrates its famed April Fair, here's everything you need to know about one of the Andalusian capital's most important festivals. https://www.thelocal.es/20190503/feria-guide-spain-fair-april-fiesta Fri, 03 May 2019 09:19:21 +0200 feria-guide-spain-fair-april-fiesta Easter week is celebrated in Spain like nowhere else on earth, and Spaniards take their Holy Week traditions very seriously, even if some of them - to the outsider - seem a little bit bonkers. https://www.thelocal.es/20200410/seven-weird-traditions-celebrated-at-easter-in-spain Fri, 10 Apr 2020 12:37:52 +0200 seven-weird-traditions-celebrated-at-easter-in-spain Tourists could be forgiven for gasping in horror at the first sight of the white hoods marching towards them at one of Spain's Easter processions, argues Ilaria Grasso Macola. https://www.thelocal.es/20190408/capirotes-are-a-symbol-of-penance-not-of-right-wing-extremism Mon, 08 Apr 2019 09:16:07 +0200 capirotes-are-a-symbol-of-penance-not-of-right-wing-extremism Every year, the small Catalan town of Verges celebrates Easter in a unique way - the hair-raising 'Danza de la Muerte', or Dance of Death. https://www.thelocal.es/20260401/dance-of-death-spanish-holy-weeks-spookiest-celebration Wed, 01 Apr 2026 11:00:01 +0200 dance-of-death-spanish-holy-weeks-spookiest-celebration Semana Santa or Holy Week is held in Spain during the run-up to Easter Sunday. Celebrations and parades take place all over the country, but there are some cities that go all out. https://www.thelocal.es/20230321/best-cities-in-spain-to-see-the-semana-santa-processions Tue, 21 Mar 2023 13:16:41 +0100 best-cities-in-spain-to-see-the-semana-santa-processions Today marks Father’s Day in Spain, the day when children all over the country come home with handmade crafts and often enjoy a special meal with their dads. But what are the origins of this day in Spain and why is it celebrated on March 19th? https://www.thelocal.es/20210319/how-a-female-teacher-campaigned-for-spain-to-have-a-fathers-day Fri, 19 Mar 2021 12:39:24 +0100 how-a-female-teacher-campaigned-for-spain-to-have-a-fathers-day Valencia’s fiery Fallas festival is currently taking place in the eastern Spanish city until March 19th. Here’s everything you need to know about this year's amazing event. https://www.thelocal.es/20210901/everything-you-need-to-know-about-valencias-fallas-festival-in-2024 Wed, 01 Sep 2021 11:10:11 +0200 everything-you-need-to-know-about-valencias-fallas-festival-in-2024 Every carnival season in Spain, mock funeral parades with weeping widows take place for the ceremonial burial of a fish. https://www.thelocal.es/20200224/explained-why-does-spain-bury-a-sardine-to-mark-the-start-of-lent Mon, 24 Feb 2020 13:00:00 +0100 explained-why-does-spain-bury-a-sardine-to-mark-the-start-of-lent Carnival has started in Spain, and in the southern city of Cádiz the streets will be filled with costumes and plenty of gaditano (locals from Cádiz) wit. Writer Clementine Scott tells us all about the history of the city’s iconic celebrations. https://www.thelocal.es/20240215/everything-you-need-to-know-about-carnival-in-cadiz Thu, 15 Feb 2024 17:00:31 +0100 everything-you-need-to-know-about-carnival-in-cadiz As carnival gets underway across Spain this week, The Local gives you the rundown on where to see some of Spain's wackiest celebrations, including everything from mythical creatures to mud-slinging. https://www.thelocal.es/20240209/the-ultimate-guide-to-spains-craziest-carnivals Fri, 09 Feb 2024 16:11:15 +0100 the-ultimate-guide-to-spains-craziest-carnivals Devils, dancing, fire and dragons, discover all about the explosive correfoc festivals held in northeastern Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20240129/in-images-spains-devilishly-explosive-correfoc-celebrations Mon, 29 Jan 2024 12:36:49 +0100 in-images-spains-devilishly-explosive-correfoc-celebrations After a Three Kings Day parade in Seville featured Andalusia's regional president in blackface playing King Balthazar, the debate over the outdated and racist practice has again been reignited in Spain. https://www.thelocal.es/20240105/blackface-lives-on-during-epiphany-in-spain-despite-growing-outrage Fri, 05 Jan 2024 14:01:00 +0100 blackface-lives-on-during-epiphany-in-spain-despite-growing-outrage You probably know about 'El Gordo' (The Fat One) - Spain's famous Christmas lottery - but there's another festive draw called 'El Niño' where the chances of winning are higher. https://www.thelocal.es/20240103/el-nino-what-to-know-about-spains-other-big-christmas-lottery Wed, 03 Jan 2024 17:07:44 +0100 el-nino-what-to-know-about-spains-other-big-christmas-lottery Every culture has a particular food associated with Christmas and in Spain there is nothing more typically festive than the Roscón de Reyes, the 'Cake of Kings'. Here's what you need to know about this tradition and its fascinating origins. https://www.thelocal.es/20201216/what-you-need-to-know-about-spains-festive-roscon-de-reyes-cake Wed, 16 Dec 2020 11:00:29 +0100 what-you-need-to-know-about-spains-festive-roscon-de-reyes-cake Christmas is not over in Spain yet. Even though Christmas Day is celebrated across the country, Spaniards still tend to go 'all in' on January 6th with the arrival of 'los Reyes' (the Three Wise Men). Sorry Santa! https://www.thelocal.es/20200105/why-spain-loves-the-three-kings-more-than-santa Sun, 05 Jan 2020 22:17:54 +0100 why-spain-loves-the-three-kings-more-than-santa The Andalusian village of Bérchules will not be celebrating the end of 2023 at the same time as everyone else, instead they will have their countdown and grape-eating in early August. Here's the fascinating reason why. https://www.thelocal.es/20211230/why-this-spanish-village-celebrates-new-years-eve-in-august Thu, 30 Dec 2021 10:23:34 +0100 why-this-spanish-village-celebrates-new-years-eve-in-august Fireworks are common in Spain during the Christmas and New Year period and as part of local 'fiestas', but there are some rules and potential fines you should know about. https://www.thelocal.es/20221227/what-are-the-rules-on-fireworks-in-spain Tue, 27 Dec 2022 12:57:07 +0100 what-are-the-rules-on-fireworks-in-spain