SpanishUnlimited.com - Spanish Culture

Moors and Christians Festival in Spain

Kimberly — Thu, 10 May 2012 15:55:00 GMT

The Moors and Christians Festival (Spanish: Moros y Cristianos; Valencian: Moros I Cristians) commemorates the battles that took place between the Moors and Christians during the Reconquista from the 8-15^th Century.

The battle reenactments take place throughout Spain but primarily in the southern part of the Valencian Community and in Alicante. The most popular Moors and Christians festival takes place in the city of Alcoi, Valencia from the 22-24 April. This date coincides with another popular festival in Valencia and Catalonia known as Saint George's Day, or Sant Jordi. Legend has it that when James I of Aragon re-conquered the city from the Moors, the Moors were frightened away from re-attacking the city when Saint George appeared before them.

Today, the Moors and Christians Festival acts as a reenactment of the Moorish capture of the city followed by the Christian re-conquest. For several days, people dress up in medieval fashion representing either Christians or Moors. Christians wear armor, helmets, fur and often ride horses while those representing the Muslims dress up in ancient Arab costumes, carry scimitars and often ride elephants or camels.

The Moors and Christians Festival begins with the shot of gunpowder and is filled with medieval music, fireworks and many other events. The festival culminates when the Christians reenact a battle around the castle in which they overthrow the Moor invaders.

There are other towns with Moors and Christian festivals that visitors can enjoy throughout the year including:

· Bocairent, Valencia(February 1-5)
· Villajoyosa, Alicante(July 24-31)
· Villena, Valencia(September 4-9)
· Biar, Valencia(May 9-13)
· Cocentaina, Alicante(second weekend of August)
· Crevillent, Alicante(First weekend of October)
· El Campello, Alicante(October 11-15)
· Elda, Alicante(Last week of May/First week of June)
· Muro d' Alcoi, Valencia(Second week of May)
· Oliva, Valencia(third weekend in July)
· Ontinyent, Valencia(Last week of August)
· Orihuela, Alicante(8 days long around the 17^th of July)
· Petrer, Valencia(Thursday-Monday around May 14^th)
· Pollença, Majorca(August 2)
· Alicante city (5 neighborhoods): Villafranqueza (12-19 March), San Blas (9-22 June), Rebolledo (29 June-2 July), Altozano (12-16 August), Jose Antonio (24-28 August)

Other interesting Moors and Christian celebrations take place in Andalusia, a region that was formerly part of the Moorish kingdom.

Las Nieves Pilgrimage in Galicia, Spain

Kimberly — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 16:50:00 GMT

Las Nieves (Spanish) or As Neves (Galician) in a town in an isolated part of northwestern Galicia in Spain where a yearly pilgrimage takes place every July 29th. The Las Nieves pilgrims participate in the event to express gratitude after having survived a near death experience the same year. The Las Nieves pilgrimage ends in the Saint Marta de Ribarteme church, dedicated to the patron saint of resurrection.

Spain has always been known for its religious pilgrimages, dating back to the time of the crusades. The Las Nieves Pilgrimage, however, is unique due to a strange tradition in which pilgrims who have faced a near death experience during the last year arrive at the church either carrying a coffin or riding inside a coffin in an effort to show respect to Saint Marta de Ribarteme for having spared their lives. The coffins are carried by solemnly-dressed loved ones or by the person who escaped death himself.

The Las Nieves Pilgrimage event usually starts around 10 in the morning as people swarm into the town to view the parade of coffin carriers as they make their way to the small granite church of Saint Marta de Ribarteme. At noon, mass is held and broadcasted outside the church on loudspeakers so that those who were unable to enter the church can participate.

After the afternoon Las Nieves mass, the bells chime and the pilgrims, carrying the statue of the saint, start to make their to the local cemetery to pay their respects before proceeding through town with the crowd following behind. During the procession the Las Nieves pilgrims chant the words "Virgin Saint Marta, star of the North, we bring you those who saw death" in an atmosphere of both solemnity and celebration.

Despite the somber event, the celebratory contrast is obviously noted during the Las Nieves pilgrimage because the streets fill up with street food vendors, Gypsy musicians and street vendors. Popular souvenirs include Last Supper scenes, colorful statues of the Virgin Mary and Jesus, silver crosses and plastic angels. Additionally, there are firecracker displays to mark the progress of the procession through town. A traditional delight during the Las Nieves pilgrimage event is octopus, cooked in copper cauldrons.

Fiesta en Barcelona: Sant Jordi (Saint George�s Day)

Kimberly — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:55:00 GMT

La diada de Sant Jordi (Saint George's Day) is celebrated every April 23rd in the region of Catalonia, Spain with the exchange of books and roses.

Saint George was a Roman soldier who is known for his role in the tale of Saint George and the Dragon and as being one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. He has become one of the most venerated saints in the Catholic religion. Saint George's Day is celebrated every April 23rd, the date of his death, in many different countries and regions across the world where he is the local patron saint.

In Spain, Saint George is associated to several different areas and cities. In Aragon this is especially true since 1096 during the Battle of Alcoraz when King Peter I of Aragon defeated Al-Musta'in II forces during the Reconquista. Legend holds that Saint George appeared above the crown of Aragon in support of his efforts.

In many regions, Saint George's Day is celebrated with traditional feasts and sometimes other events such as parades. However, in Catalonia La diada de Sant Jordi is celebrated with a special twist.

Much like Valentine's Day, La Diada de Sant Jordi is celebrated in the city of Barcelona with the exchange of gifts. Here, Saint George's Day is also often referred to as El d�a de la rosa (The day of the rose) or El d�a del libro (The day of the book).

On La Diada de Sant Jordi, loved ones, friends and colleagues exchange roses and books. Traditionally it was the men who gave flowers to the women but today, the mutual exchange of flowers is common.

Roses have been associated with Saint George's Day since medieval times but the tradition of exchanging books is more recent. This unique twist became popular in 1923 when a local bookseller promoted the fact that April 23rd is also the day in which two extremely important literary figures died: Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare. From this day forward Barcelona welcomed La Diada de Sant Jordi as a day to celebrate both love and literacy.

Las Ramblas, the most famous avenue in Barcelona, is filled with bookshops and flower stalls to mark the celebration of Saint George's Day. Thousands of venders make the event a yearly success, with more than 4 million roses and 800,000 books sold. In fact, so many people purchase books on La Diada de Sant Jordi that this day accounts for nearly half of the year's book sales in the region!

Apart from books and roses, visitors can enjoy La Diada de Sant Jordi with a wide variety of other events. Dancers fill the streets, authors host reading events, street performers and musicians entertain passersby, and much more.

Visitors to Barcelona on La Diada de Sant Jordi can also take advantage of a unique opportunity to visit the Palau de la Generalitat, Barcelona's main government building. The building is usually closed to the public but opens to the public exclusively every April 23 to show off its rose-decorated interior in honor of Saint George.

The success of La Diada de Sant Jordi in Barcelona has been so much that, in 1994, UNESCO declared April 23rd as World Book and Copyright Day.

Semana Grande and Herri Kirolak in Bilbao

Kimberly — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 12:05:00 GMT

The term "herri kirolak" comes from the Basque language and refers to Basque rural sport competitions that are inspired by historical occupations and lifestyles of the Basque people. Herri kilorak sports are also an important part of the Semana Grande festival in Bilbao.

Basque people are said to believe themselves as some of the strongest and bravest people in the world. In Bilbao, Spain, this is really put to the test during a large festival in which herri kilorak traditional rural sports competitions are held.

During Semana Grande (Big Week, or "Aste Nagusia" in the Basque language) a series of strength tests are held that are based on the traditional agricultural work found in the Basque country since ancient times. The herri kirolak games include wood chopping, stone lifting, hole drilling, bale lifting and tossing, weight carrying, anvil lifting, cob gathering, churn carrying, scything, cart games, tug-of war, sawing and much more.

The nine day Semana Grande celebration takes place every summer starting on the first Saturday after August 15th, the Assumption of Mary. During the Semana Grande in Bilbao, not only will visitors be able to witness herri kirolak games, but also a wide range of events including parades, fireworks, concerts, bullfights, children activities and much more. Stages are set up throughout the city to host the events including in the Plaza Nueva, Plaza de Bizkaia, Plaza de Unamuno, Plaza de la Encarnaci�n or the Muelle de Uribitarte. However, the opening ceremony takes place at the Arriaga Theatre.

Head to Bilbao in August for Semana Grande to watch the traditional herri kirolak games and discover if Basque men are really the most macho in the world.

San Sebastian Tamborrada - Drum Festival

Kimberly — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 13:13:00 GMT

Drum roll please! La Tamborrada festival is a traditional drum playing festival celebrated in San Sebastian, Spain and throughout other regions in Spain.

During the Tamborrada Festival the city of San Sebastian becomes a defeaning place as it comes alive with hundreds of thousands of beating drums that play throughout the streets the 24 hours that the 20^th of January lasts.

The hand crafted drums are made of many different sizes and are normally classified as barrel or military style drums. These drum celebrations that take place throughout Spain usually originate from military, religious or festive ceremonies. The San Sebastian Tamborrada has a military origin.

The San Sebastian Tamborrada is held on the 20^th of January to celebrate the town's patron, Saint Sebastian. The events actually begin at zero (00:00) hours on 20^th with the raising of the city's flag in the Plaza of the Constitution. Several different group representatives begin to play the San Sebastain March, written by Raimundo Sarriegui, as well as other popular compositions.

Hundreds of drum group companies take part in the event, each made up of 20 to 50 military drums and 50 to 100 barrel drums as they parade through the city streets pounding out their songs accompanied by music on the 20^th of January.

The drummers of the Tamborrada festival in San Sebastian dress up as either military drummers from the Napoleonic period or cooks.

The loud Tamborrada festival continues for 24 hours until midnight on the eve of the 21^st. There are special events for children in the morning and throughout the 24 hour celebration many important prizes are given out, including the "Tambor de Oro" prize.

The San Sebastian Tamborrada tradition is said to have originated in 1720 when a baker began singing while filling barrels at a fountain near the San Vicente church. Some young girls passed by and joined in on the fun by banging on some barrels. Soon, a crowd had formed and an impromptu jam session began which, over time, evolved into the San Sebastian Tamborrada festival as we know it today.

The San Sebastian March by Raimundo Sarriegui:

Basque language

Spanish Language

Bagera!
gu (e)re bai
gu beti pozez, beti alai!

Sebastian bat bada zeruan
Donosti(a) bat bakarra munduan
hura da santua ta hau da herria
horra zer den gure Donostia!

Irutxuloko, Gaztelupeko
Joxemari zahar eta gazte
Joxemari zahar eta gazte
kalerik kale danborra joaz
umore ona zabaltzen hor dihoaz
Joxemari!

Gaurtandik gerora penak zokora
Festara! Dantzara!
Donostiarrei oihu egitera gatoz
pozaldiz!
Inauteriak datoz!

¡Somos!
nosotros tambi�n
nosotros siempre contentos, ¡siempre alegres!

Hay un Sebasti�n en el cielo
un �nico San Sebasti�n en el mundo
ese es el santo y �ste es el pueblo
¡he ah� lo que es nuestro San Sebasti�n!

De Irutxulo, de Gaztelupe
Joxemari viejo y joven
Joxemari viejo y joven
de calle en calle tocando el tambor
all� van extendiendo el buen humor
¡Joxemari!

De hoy en adelante las penas fuera
¡A la fiesta! ¡A bailar!
Venimos a llamar a los donostiarras
¡Contentos!
¡Vienen los Carnavales!

Las Fallas Valencia

Kimberly — Mon, 9 Apr 2012 10:35:00 GMT

Las Fallas, the Falles festival, or Fallas Festival, in Valencia, Spain is one of the most well known Spanish fiestas.

In honor of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of Valencia who was a carpenter, the loud and fiery event revolves around "Falles" , or "Fallas" in the Valencian language, literally means "fires" which refers to the burning of huge puppet or doll structures made of cardboard, wood, paper-mach� and plaster called "ninots".

During Las Fallas, the ninots are placed throughout the city in over 350 key intersections and parks during the event. The ninots often represent satirical scenes, current events or popular celebrities and are constructed by organizations and groups who spent up to 6 months preparing for the event and can invest up to $75,000 on their creation, in hopes of winning some of the many prizes offered to the best ninots. These massive structures often reach several stories in height and need to be placed in their respective locations with the aid of cranes.

The huge ninots during the Fallas Festival decorate the city until March 19^th, a day known as La Crem� (the burning day). Early in the evening, each ninot is filled with fireworks and at midnight they are all set on fire. Only one ninot is saved from its fiery death, the one that receives the most votes by the public each year. This spared ninot will then be placed on display at the Ninot Museum. The city goes ablaze as onlookers marvel at the blazing destruction that reduces the ninots to ashes throughout the city.

The Fallas celebration is televised throughout Spain and attracts thousands of visitors every year to Valencia. During Las Fallas, many other events and activities take place. There are bullfights, parades, Valencia paella contests, beauty pageants and much more throughout the city. Valencia is also famous for its numerous spontaneous firecracker displays during the Las Fallas. The firecracker displays are a loud event that makes downtown Valencia sound something like a battlefield. As the "burning day" approaches, these explosions become more frequent and random, although everyday at 2 pm a thunderous rhythmic firecracker show is set off at city hall causing the ground to tremble and the birds to abandon the city.

Danza de los Zancos - Stilt Dancers Festival in Spain

Kimberly — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:30:00 GMT

In the town of Anguiano, Spain in the La Rioja region, a famous folkloric traditional celebration called the Danza de los Zancos takes place. The small village is famous for its splendid Rioja wines, mountainous terrain and its famous brave dancers. During the celebration, 8 young villagers take to the street with a dizzying dance routine as they whirl around on 45 centimeter high stilts (zancos) dressed in wide skirts. The festival is in honor of Mary Magdalene, the town saint.

The stilt dancers are usually from the oldest families of Anguiano and the tradition has been passed down from parents to children for centuries. Their outfit is also very traditional; consisting of a white or light blue button up shirt, a colorful waistcoat vest and a long flowing damask yellow skirt.

The Danza de los Zancos takes place several times a year, one of which is during the Magdalene festival on July 22, after mass and the rosary. During this festival they will also dance another 2 days.

In September they also make several appearances. The Sunday prior to Ascension Day, the 8 zanco dancers bring the Mary Magdalene image from the hermitage to the town church where it will remain until the festival on the last Saturday of September, when it will go back to the hermitage for the winter. The stilt dancers perform several times throughout this last weekend of September.

The Spanish stilt dancers' skills are exemplified by the task of transporting the Mary Magdalene image from the hermitage to the church. They "dance" her image the rough narrow cobblestone streets, down 7 steep stairs of Alta Street and a narrow 58 meter long hill with a 20% grade known as the "Cuesta de los danzadores". Throughout the whole decent they maneuver expertly while spinning and playing casta�uelas (traditional Spanish hand instrument). The dancers are trained at fixing their gaze ahead of them to maintain their balance, but their long wide skirts also help to maintain their equilibrium through the routine.

These talented human tops rarely spin out of control as they amaze crowds with their bravery and balance as they dance their way into a trancelike state in honor of Mary Magdalene. Exactly how the stilt dancers became involved in the celebration is unknown, but the first reference to the Danza de los Zancos appeared in May of 1603.

Romeria de El Rocio Pilgrimage

Kimberly — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 14:10:00 GMT

The El Rocio Spanish celebration takes us on a dusty pilgrimage through the Andalusian countryside where thousands of people travel to the Guadalquivir River and celebrate with song, dance and food in homage to the Virgin of El Rocio.

The Huelva (Andalusia) pilgrimage Spain dates back all the way to September 1653 when the Virgin was appointed the patron saint of Almonte when a hunter found a statue of the Virgin Mary in tree trunk near the marshes. Believers say that the Virgin of El Rocio can cure disease, infertility and mental disorders. Since 1758, however, the tradition takes place on the Pentecost (50 days after Easter).

There are two main parts to this Spanish celebration, first the pilgrimage that starts several days prior and next the actual religious festival which takes place in Almonte.

Pilgrims come from far and wide, typically dressed in Andalusian traditional clothing and flamenco costumes with boots, to begin the pilgrimage on the Saturday at noon before Pentecost. Some travel by foot, some on horse, in carriages, or nowadays in 4 wheel drive vehicles. Each confraternity journeys to the village of El Rocio where they will place their emblem on the shrine in a ceremony known as the Almonte Rosary ceremony.

On Sunday a mass is held and that night all the pilgrims pray the Rosary by candlelight. When the Immaculate Conception Emblem is taken to the shrine, the Virgin of El Rocio is then carried through the streets of the village. This culminates the religious aspect of the celebration and the journey home begins.

The traditional religious event mixes traditional Catholic and pagan beliefs and is celebrated by both locals and foreigners. Many city dwellers make their way to Huelva to take part in the Romer�a de El Roc�o pilgrimage as an opportunity to get in touch with their roots and spend time outdoors in nature.

The event is fun filled with bright costumes, camping, music, food and other festivities. Traditionally, first time pilgrims will be baptized when they arrive to Almonte by dipping their hats in the water and pouring water on themselves. After the pilgrimage and religious ceremonies end, the pilgrims make their way home… undoubtedly with new friends, and the village becomes quiet again.

Carnival in Tenerife

Kimberly — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:45:00 GMT

Tenerife, in Spain, is home to one of the most popular Carnival celebrations in the world.

After Rio De Janeiro, the Carnival celebration that takes place every February in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, is the largest and most popular Carnival celebration in the world. This was officially recognized in 1980 when this Spanish fiesta was declared a Tourist Festival of international interest. There has also been significant push to try to get UNESCO to declare the weeklong event as a World Heritage.

The Carnival of Tenerife opens with a parade on the Friday before Carnival. By night fall, thousands of people dressed up in colorful costumes fill the streets and celebrate until the next day. This pattern is repeated, night after night, until Ash Wednesday when the burial of the sardine ceremony is carried out. The burial of the sardine signifies the "death" of fun times, before the restrictions of Lent begin. Although this event signifies the official end of Carnival, the next weekend known as "Pi�ata" weekend is also filled with special events.

During carnival there are official celebrations with contests, royalty, music, food, dance and much more. Each year there is also a specific theme selected for the events and costumes.

Anyone visiting Tenerife Spain during the month of February is sure to have an amazing time at one of the best carnival celebrations in the world!

La Tomatina Spanish Festival

Jose — Wed, 7 Mar 2012 13:40:00 GMT

Bu�ol is Spanish town famous for a world renowned tomato fight festival known as "La Tomatina".

Valencia, on the east coast of Spain, is a sunny Mediterranean city famous for its long sandy beaches and delicious oranges. Bu�ol, another city nearby located just 30 miles away in the same province is also very famous for its produce, particularly for its tomatoes. The curious thing, however, is that the small town's notoriety does not stem from the quality of its tomatoes but rather their interesting custom of "bathing" in it.

Bu�ol is famous around the globe for its "La Tomatina" festival which is essentially the world's largest tomato fight. The famous tomato throwing battle is held once a year on the last Wednesday of August during the town's one week festival.

The Tomatina festival stared in the 1940s when a group of the town's residents started a tomato fight in the town square. The tomato battle erupted and soon random pedestrians and other town people were drawn into the battle which culminated in a large food fight. When everything was said and done, the villagers had had such a fun time that they decided to celebrate the tomato fight the next year. From this day forward, the Tomatina festival has been an annual event, growing in size and popularity into the major tourist attraction of national interest that it is today in Spain.

The town of Bu�ol in Valencia celebrates their patron saint for a full week with a variety of events including parades, fireworks, food stands and street parties. Paella cooking contests, wine and food are abundant as the town prepares for its famous tomato fight.

As the Tomatina tomato fight approaches, the town's Medieval bell tower is filled with tomatoes. The tomatoes are specially grown for the festival and are said to not be of food grade quality. When the last Wednesday of August arrives, shopkeepers and other business owners with establishments near the main square cover their windows and doors in preparation for the messy tomato event.

The next step in La Tomatina festival is the arrival of the large trucks that slowly make their way up the cobblestone streets of Bu�ol filled with squishy ripe tomatoes on route to the town square where masses of people are awaiting the official start of the festival. However, before they can enter the main square, someone must overcome the test of the "palo jab�n" or greasy pole. The goal is for someone to climb a large greased pole to knock the ham that is hanging on top to the ground. Meanwhile, the crowd below sings, dances and is sprayed with water from hoses. When someone achieves the feat, a fire is shot into the air and the tomato trucks enter the town square.

A final shot rings out and the world's largest tomato battle begins as the trucks offload their tomatoes into the Plaza del Pueblo. The Bu�ol tomato fight lasts about one hour with about 20,000 participants who generally use approximately 150,000 tomatoes, covering the whole city center and everyone nearby in red tomato sauce.

After the event, fire trucks, participants and villagers work to clean the town center with hoses and abundant water. The result is actually a pristine shine to the cobblestone streets which are disinfected and thoroughly cleansed due to the acidity of the tomato sauce.

The Bu�ol Tomatina festival is an event worth witnessing and participating in at least once in your lifetime. However, we recommend that you plan ahead, the small town only offers so much accommodation and the hotels in all the surrounding areas quickly fill up as the event draws near.

Bull runs in Spain

Kimberly — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 11:01:00 GMT

The bull run in Pamplona is one of the most famous festivals in the world, that everybody should enjoy once in their life.

The beginning of the festival of San Fermin in Pamplona is marked by the energetic explosion of a rocket (el txupinazo) launched from the roof of the city hall at midday on July 6, and this is a burst of energy which meanders through Pamplona's streets and never seems to wean throughout the week-long festival.

The festival was given cult status through the publication of the book Fiesta by Ernest Hemingway, and is now sits alongside the Rio de Janeiro Carnival and Oktoberfest and one of the most easily-recognized and notable worldwide festivals. The San Fermin festival causes the population of Pamplona to rise from around 200.000 to around 3 million people during the week in which it takes place, a feat which is no less than spectacularly impressive and serves to demonstrate the growing popularity of the festival's carnival atmosphere.

A hospitable, friendly, warm and energetic atmosphere is created by the local residents and visitors alike who come together in unison to celebrate this "different" religious festival, which therefore means that no-one is excluded and anyone who is willing to participate in the carnival atmosphere is welcomed with brotherly open arms.

What sets San Fermines apart and defines it as a particularly Spanish festival are the daily morning bull runs. The running of the bulls begins at 8 am every day from July 7-14 and normally last somewhere between two and three minutes, although this can tend to vary. You don't even have to be a local resident to take part in these bull runs - all that is asked is that you position yourself somewhere along the route of the bull runs and that you respect these routes. San Fermin therefore truly is a celebration for everyone to join in with.

One of the other highlights of the San Fermin festival is the Riau Riau, which takes place at 4.30 pm on the afternoon of July 6, following the launch of the txupinazo from the city hall. This event is not to be missed, as it involves a procession where all of those who have descended on the streets of Pamplona to witness the opening of the festival join together in unison with the players of various brass instruments to sway to the sounds of Astr�in's Waltz. The procession is a 500 meter explosion of sound and colour, leading from the town hall and culminating at Pamplona's church, and is truly a spectacular highlight of the festival.

At midnight on July 14, the festival of San Fermin comes to an end as all of the tourists and locals who have joined arm in arm over the previous week in celebration come together outside of the city hall to sing Pobre de M�. This is a song which demonstrates the sadness felt at the end of the festival, but is also accompanied by another entitled Ya falta menos, which demonstrates the local and worldwide affection felt for the festival, and the longing for it to return the following year.

The festival of San Fermin in Pamplona is a celebration of national plurality, and of worldwide brotherhood and friendship. It is certainly more than deserving of its mention alongside such famous festivals as the Rio de Janeiro carnival or the Munich Oktoberfest, and will be an unforgettable experience for anyone who becomes part of its warm and receptive carnival atmosphere.

The Spanish Semana Santa in Andalusia

Jose — Sat, 5 Nov 2011 17:00:00 GMT

Andalusia is engulfed by a heavenly light over the course of the seven-day period which precedes Easter Sunday, known in Spain as Semana Santa. This period brings local citizens and curious visitors alike together to witness the numerous and magnificent street processions which are held to mark Spain's most significant religious holiday.

What are the Semana Santa celebrations?

Semana Santa begins on the Sunday which precedes Easter Sunday, known in Spain as Domingo de Ramos, or Palm Sunday in English. Over the course of this week, there is a variety of religious parades to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, one of the most significant and poignant events in the Catholic religious calendar. These processions evoke the religious passion of all who converge on the Andalusian streets and squares through the combination of rhythmic music, beautifully-designed floats depicting biblical images of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection, the vibrant colors of the tunics worn by those carrying the floats and their slow, swaying marching pace.

Each one of these floats, irrespective of its size or grandeur, is the culmination of extraordinary work and determined labor, and furthermore encapsulates the passion, adoration and pride of every Andalusian person towards his or her religion. This is further demonstrated by the fact that these people will spend the entire night, from dusk until dawn, accompanying these floats through the streets of Andalusia in an extraordinary demonstration of solemn religious adoration and reverence.

The most significant moment of the processions is when the float, often carried for hours by dedicated members of religious brotherhoods, enters the respective churches. At this moment, it almost seems as though art and religion become one and is the most rewarding part of the Semana Santa journey for those whose dedicated labor contributed to the creation of the floats, many of which date from as far back as the 16^th and 17^th centuries.

Whether you consider yourself to be a religious person or not, it is difficult not to be moved by the often-haunting spirituality of the Semana Santa processions in Andalusia. Visit Andalusia in Semana Santa and gain a first-hand experience of the collective passion experienced by locals and visitors alike throughout this important week.

Joaquin Cortes - Spanish Flamenco Dancers

Jose — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:00:00 GMT

Joaquin Cortes is a Spanish flamenco and ballet dancer of Gypsy blood who was born in Cordoba, Spain in 1969.

When he was just twelve years old, Joaquin Cortes began formal dance training in Madrid. By the age of fifteen the young ballet dancer would join the Spanish National Ballet where he would quickly demonstrate his talents and rise to the rank of solo performer. As a member of the company, Joaquin Cortes was able to travel and perform around the world in prestigious theatres such as the Metropolitan Opera House in New York or the Kremlin's Congress Palace in Moscow.

Upon the dancer's departure from the Spanish National Ballet, Joaquin Cortes began to perform with reputable dancers such as Maya Plisetskaya, Silvie Guillen, Pere Schauffus, Marie-Claude Pietragalla and Julio Bocca. He also started to work with several different companies as a dance choreographer or as a visiting guest artist. Some of highlighted performances include his work with the Summer Flamenco Festival in Tokyo, several performances at the Lincoln Center in New York and with the Caracas Ballet's performance of "Don Quixote".

Joaquin Cortes' desire to have more control over the creative process led him to form his own dance company in 1992. The result was the Joaquin Cortes Flamenco Ballet Company which focused on creating a fusion between flamenco, ballet and modern dance. Joaquin Cortes' first show, called "Cibay�" went on to tour Spain, Japan, France, Italy Venezuela and the United States.

Joaquin Cortes was featured in two international films in 1995, including The Flower of My Secret by Spanish director Pedro Almodovar, and then started work on his most successful production to date called "Pasi�n Gitana" (Gypsy Passion), for which he earned international attention as a dancer, choreographer and artistic director. The show boasted a wardrobe designed by Giorgio Armani himself and went on to show performances in theatres and bull rings throughout Spain as well as throughout Europe. In fact, "Pasi�n Gitana" was shown at the closing ceremony of the Spoleto Festival in Italy and to more than 5,000 spectators at the Forum of Milan.

By 1996 the famous flamenco dancer toured the USA where he became the first Spanish dancer to perform his own show at Radio City Music Hall in New York before playing the Universal Amphitheatre of Los Angeles.

1997 saw Joaquin enter into the music business with the launching of his first CD with his band (also called Gypsy Passion). The Spanish flamenco artist collaborated on the CD by not only composing and directing the music but also by performing the percussion.

The success of the "Gypsy Passion" dance production led Joaquin Cortes to expand the show and create new choreographies. In 1997, the new production went on to tour Latin America and by 1998 it moved on to show in Sydney, Tokyo, Canada and New York.

International success and high profile relationships with famous names such as Naomi Campbell, Giorgio Armani and Mira Sorvino led Joaquin Cortes to be the subject of a documentary film in 1999.

In the 2000s, Joaquin Cortes has continued to appear in various forms of television, film, concerts and on stage. Although his public dancing performances have been infrequent, he has continued to participate in choreography and artistic direction. On May 15, 2007, the dancer was recognized for his talents on a high profile segment of ABC's Dancing with the Stars program.

Nacho Duato - Famous Spanish Dancers

Jose — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 12:45:00 GMT

Nacho Duato is a Spanish dancer who was born in Valencia, Spain. He started professional ballet dancing at the age of 18 in the Rambert School in London and later continued to study in Maurice Bejart's Mudra School in Brussels. The dancer would later continue his dance education at The Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City.

By the year 1980, Nacho landed his first professional dance position with the Cullberg Ballet in Stockholm. After a year, Nacho Duato moved to the Nederlands Dans Theater in Holland where he began to perform with the artistic director Jir� Kyli�n and would remain for 10 years.

In 1983 the Spanish dancer became a choreographer with the show Jard� tancat for which he received a first prize award for choreography in Köln.

In 1987 he received the VSCD Gouden Dansprijs (Golden Dance Award) and in 1988, Nacho Duato was appointed as the choreographer for Nederlands Dans Theater alongside Hans van Manen and Jir� Kyli�n.

Nacho Duato's critically acclaimed ballets have been included in some of the most prestigious companies such as Cullberg Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, Deutche Opera Ballet, Australian Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Ballet Gulbenkian, Introdans, Chicago Hubbard Street Dance Co., Ballet Grand Theatre du Gen�ve, Musik Theater Essen, Finish Opera Ballet, Ballet de Zaragoza and American Ballet Theatre during the course of his long and successful career.

In June of 1990 he was selected by the Spanish Ministry of Culture and Education to direct the National Spanish Dance Company and in January 2011 he became the artistic director of the Mikhailovsky Theatre in St. Petersburg.

Bullfighting in Spain - Origins and History

Jose — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:28:00 GMT

Bullfighting is one of the most well known and, at the same time, most controversial customs of the Spanish culture.

Bullfighting events feature "toros bravos", which comes to mean something like brave or courageous bulls. It is a specific species of bull which is still conserved and protected on the Iberian Peninsula. The toro bravo's predecessor, the primitive urus, was found in many parts of the world. In fact, many civilizations revered and honored bulls, such as the bull-cultus from the island of Crete in Greece. In fact, the Bible even mentions the ritual sacrifice of bulls in honor of divine justice.

In prehistoric Spain, bulls played an important role in the religious ceremonies of the many Iberian tribes that occupied the land. In fact, the origin of the bullring is thought to have come not from Roman amphitheaters but rather the Celtic-Iberian temples where the religious ceremonies involving the sacrifice of bulls to the Gods were held. In fact, one of these temples still exists in Spain, in the province of Soria close to Numancia.

While these religious bull ceremonies can be traced back to the Iberian tribes, it was the Greek and Romans who converted the event into a famed spectacle. By the Middle Ages the aristocracy amused itself by watching bullfights on horseback. By the 18^th Century the bullfighting on horseback style was largely abandoned in favor of bullfighting by foot. This was more popular among the poorer population as it was much more affordable. A key figure in establishing the rules for the new bull sport was named Francisco Romero.

About the bullfight

A bullfight, known as a corrida de toro in Spanish, is divided into several stages that occur chronologically. In this section we will briefly explain what to expect if you decide to see a bullfight on your next visit to Spain.

A Spanish bullfight starts with the "pase�llo" which is a small paradein which the bullfighters and other participants make their way around the arena to present themselves to the public.

Two "alguacilillos", or horsemen who head the parade, ceremonially request the keys to the "puerta de los toriles", or bullpen from the president. Once the door is opened and the first bull enters the ring, the first stage of the event begins.

Each bullfight features three bullfighters who will face two bulls each in separate fights. Each fight consists of three stages known as "tercios" or thirds. Each part is indicated by the sounding of a loud horn.

In the first stage, known as the "third of lances", the bullfighter will use a gold and magenta cape known as a "capote" to maneuver the bull. Next, "picadores", bullfighters on horseback armed with long lances, enter the ring and jab the bull several times to strain it and make it less dangerous.

The second stage known as the "third of flags" features flagmen bullfighters whose objective is to plant two "banderillas" (sharp sticks with flags) into the bull's back.

This further weakens and angers the animal.

In the final stage, known as the "third of death" the bullfighter uses a small red cape known as a "muleta". He will perform a series of different passes that make up the "faena" or his performance and passes maneuvering the bull with his cape. This phase is said to establish a connection between man and beast. The final third of the bullfight ends when the bullfighter kills the bull by swiftly thrusting a sword, or "estocada", between the bull's shoulder blades to produce and instant and quick death.