Important festivals and holidays in Costa Brava
Costa Brava/Cataluña hold a number of key festival and national holidays throughout the year, here’s our extensive guide as to what goes on. Please check out our broad selection of luxury holiday villas with pools in Costa Brava.
Jan 1st – ‘Any Nou’ (New Year’s Day national holiday)
Jan 6th – Reis (Epiphany).
On the eve of epiphany, the three Kings give sweets to the local children. Their method of arrival reflects the nature of the Town or Village. In Roses, for example, which has a thriving fishing industry, the Kings arrive by boat. The day is celebrated throughout Catalonia.
Feb/Mar – Carnestoltes (Lent)
Lasting for several days from the eve of Lent there are processions decorated floats and people dressed in fancy dress. You’ll find giant paellas being cooked on the beach at Roses Carnestoltes… and lots of delicious local wines. Weirdly enough the carnival culminates on Ash Wednesday, when a sardine is ceremoniously buried in the sand on the beach as an offering to the sea.
Easter – Divendres Sant & Dilluns de Pascua (Good Friday & Easter Monday)
As you’d imagine with a Catholic country, Easter is a major event all over Spain. Across Costa Brava palm leaves are blessed in the churches, Crosses are carried through streets and Passion Plays are performed. Two events to look out for are the processions of Roman soldiers in Gerona and on Easter Monday, men dressed as skeletons perform death dances in Verges.
April 23rd – Feast of St George (also Patron Saint of Catalonia)
Mothers and wives give their sons and husbands books – in return they receive a single red rose.
May 1st – Festa de Treball (Labour Day) a national holiday
May/June – Corpus Christi.
In Roses you’ll find flower petals and coloured sands being laid in the streets to make quite incredible pictures and patterns. Don’t miss the monster dragon dances in Berga (near Barcelona).
June 24th – Sant Joan (St John’s Day – Midsummer’s eve)
You’ll never see fireworks quite like this anywhere else in Europe. Best place to head for is Roses on the main beach at 10pm. A fantastic party atmosphere everywhere you go! Look out for the Special Coca (cake), which is eaten and traditionally washed down with cava.
July – Roses Music Festival
A world famous jazz and classical music festival (held last 2 weeks of the month).
July 24th – Santa Christina
Lloret de Mar’s major festival takes place during which a statue of the Virgin Mary is brought ashore by an ornately decorated flotilla.
Mid August – Festa Major de Vilafranca del Penedes (Barcelona)
Each district hosts its own Festival, each trying to outdo the others with its Street decorations and events. The old district of Gracia is usually the most spectacular, incorporating concerts, street games and competitions.
Mid August – Festa Major de Vilafranca del Penedes (Vilafranca)
No doubt you will have see the Spanish postcards with the human towers on… well this is when it all happens. Competitions are actually held to see who can build the highest tower – (completed when a small boy called anxaneta – weathercock – climbs to the top and raises his hands to form a crucifix). Not for the squeamish!
Aug 25th – Assumpció (Assumption Day)
Sept 11th – Diada de Catalunya (Catalonia National Day).
Sardana Dancing and Red & Yellow Catalan flags hanging everywhere! Marks the day in 1714 when Catalonia lost its independence with the fall of Barcelona to Felipe V. Catalan separatist demonstrations take place.
Oct 12th – Dia de la Hispanitat
National holiday to celebrate the return of Columbus to Barcelona after discovering America