Holy Week

Like virtually every iconic symbol of Spain, the famous processions of Semana Santa (Holy Week) are, in fact, a uniquely Andalusian tradition. You won’t see any processions in Madrid or Barcelona. Nope. Only in Andalusian cities like Granada can you experience the sights, sounds and scents of the Holy Week processions.

The traditions of Semana Santa in Andalusia, including the distinctive robes and pointed hats/masks of the penitents, date as far back as the 14th century, nearly 200 years before Columbus discovered America. Every year during Holy Week, brotherhoods and sisterhoods parade through the streets of Granada for up to 11 hours carrying lifelike wooden or plaster sculptures of Jesus and the Virgin Mary. These sculptures are mounted on enormous platforms weighing up to five metric tonnes.  It can take as many as 40 men to carry these platforms, the weight of which is born on their necks. They’re accompanied by dozens of robed penitents, many of whom walk barefoot through the streets, carrying long candles and swinging chandeliers of smoking incense. Hundreds of drummers and trumpeters play somber marches. From time to time, the music stops and a lone musician sings a mournful saeta song.

Tens of thousands of people, both Spaniards and tourists alike, line the streets of Granada to be enveloped by the beauty and power of the Semana Santa experience.

Día de la Cruz

The “Day of the Cross” is held every year on the 3rd of May. Few cities in Spain may celebrate el Día de la Cruz, and of those that do, none do so anywhere near as enthusiastically Granada. Thousands of people fill the streets of Granada. All the women dress up in colorful flamenco dresses. Music pours out from every plaza where large crosses are decorated with carnations and roses and adorned with copper pots. Everyone dances Sevillanas, the passionate traditional folk dance of Andalusia.

This is one fiesta you don’t wanna miss.

Feria del Corpus Christi

Although the Corpus Christi is celebrated everywhere in Spain, the celebration in Granada is by far the most famous. For centuries, Granada has been the place to be to celebrate the Corpus. It all started way back in 1492 when King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella reconquered Granada. They ordered the town hall to invest a huge amount of money into the fiesta and told everyone in the town to celebrate until they looked like they were “crazy”. Of course, the Granaínos, who are famous for partying, were delighted to oblige.

Since then, the city of Granada continues to “go crazy” for the Feria del Corpus Christi. All the women put on their trajes gitanas (flamboyant polka-dotted flamenco dresses). Everone dances sevillanas, eats way to much food, indulges in abundant quantities of wine and alcohol, etc. Beer tents are set up all over town. The center of the action, however, is at the fairgrounds on the outskirts of Granada.

One of the highlights of the Feria del Corpus Christi is the parade called La Tarasca. This is undoubtedly the funnest and most entertaining parade in Granada. The parade features costumed giants (including King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella, of course), monsters, festive music, and the appearance of “La Tarasca,” a mythological creature somewhat resembling a dragon.

This fiesta is held usually in June or occasionally in late May depending on when Easter occurs. Specifically, Corpus Christi is 60 days after Easter. The festival begins on the Monday before Corpus Christi and ends a week later on the following Sunday.

Christmas, New Years and Three Kings Day

You’ve heard of the twelve days of Christmas, right? Well, for Spaniards, La Navidad is 14 days! Yep, for two whole weeks the people of Spain celebrate Christmas by having Christmas dinners pretty much every day with friends and family. Virtually everyone is given those two weeks off work (unless they work in a major retail store, of course).

On New Years Eve people go out to cotillones, big New Years Eve parties that are usually held in bars. There’s always a hefty cover charge to get in (e.g. 70€) but that usually includes an open bar, unlimited tapas, dinner and party favors. The party typically starts after midnight and lasts until 8 or 9 in the morning.

On the night of January 5th, the Three Kings visit all the houses in Spain and leave gifts for all the kids. Of course, there’s a parade downtown featuring, you guessed it, the Three Kings. The next morning, the kids wake up and open their gifts.

Botellón

Botellón means “big bottle.” The name comes from the tradition of buying large bottles of beer or other alcohol and sharing them between a group of friends. Every weekend hundreds of young people in Granada get together at the Botellódromo, a park built expressly for botellón.

Other Holidays

In addition to these fiestas the city of Granada also observes about a dozen other holidays.