They’re here, they’ve already started, and as all of Spain looks to the coast, Valencia is fully in the throes of its famous and enthralling festivities- the Fallas!

From the end of February to the 19th of March, you can live Valencia’s most typical celebration. It’s their biggest, the one that everyone dreams of visiting at least once in their lifetime, Las Fallas.

Tradition tells us that Saint Joseph is the patron saint of carpenters. Therefore, in the 18th century, all the carpenters in the city met in the plazas on the eve of March 19, the day on which Saint Joseph is celebrated, to make an offering. And what was this offering? They would burn tools and scraps of wood that had been used during the winter, in order to summon good luck.

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And this modest event grew and grew into what we see today as the spectacular and grand celebration of Las Fallas.

Therefore, today we’re bringing you a basic guide of what you can see each day at the festivities.

• Friday, March 16

La Plantá. There have already been concerts, contests and other festivities throughout the city’s plazas, but the Plantá signals the official kick-off of the week’s celebrations.

Throughout the year, the great Falla artists have been busy in their workshops creating their astounding monuments. And it is during the Plantá that all this art comes out and into the light. These sculptural works are set up in the plazas so that everyone can enjoy them for a few days and vote for the best one.

In addition, every day there is a different mascletà (a traditional, powerful fireworks’ display) in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento (Plaza of the City Hall). But what exactly are these mascletàs? Noise. Thunderous noise, and LOTS of it! They are strategically placed firecrackers that sound slowly at first, but get faster and faster as the explosions progress. This results in a deafening show that shakes the ground with each detonation.

• Saturday, March 17

In addition to the daily mascletà in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, the weekend also celebrates a colorful floral offering to the Virgen de los Desamparados (the Virgin of the Defenseless). So if you see people in the street with bouquets of roses or the image of a Virgin with a mantle full of flowers, there is no need to be scared. It is part of the tradition.

After midnight, the Valencian sky fills with a symphony of gunpowder, lights, colors and sounds... The Castle of Fireworks display has started. A true wonder to behold.

• Sunday, March 18

This day will have a more cultural touch than the rest.

Two of the city’s historical figures receive their tribute every year, so that the tradition continues from generation to generation.

One of them is the poet Maximilià Thous. Among many other things, he is distinguished for putting lyrics to the official anthem of Valencia at the beginning of the 20th century. And the other historical figure is the composer Maestro Jose Serrano. He is known for having penned, among many works, the hymn to the Virgen de los Desemparados, the patron saint of Valencia whose image is yearly regaled with flowers.

But Sunday is not yet over. Adding to the mascletà and the offerings in the streets, this is the Nic del Foc, the Night of Fire.

Being the spectacle to top them all, this is the night where Valencia’s night sky attracts the most onlookers. More than half a million people come together every year to enjoy this display of pyrotechnic and digital art. It's no use reading a lot about this night, you just have to live it.

• Monday, March 19

On March 19, the day of San José is celebrated and, following tradition, it is Valencia’s special day, par excellence.

Las Falleras Mayores de Valencia, the 2 yearly elected queens of the celebrations, make a floral offering to the Virgen de los Desamparados. Beyond the offering itself, it is worth seeing because of the women's beautifully intricate traditional outfits, the typical music and for the festive atmosphere that swells in the streets on this day.

In addition to the daily mascletà, on March 19 there are two unique events: the Cabalgata del Foc and the Cremà.

The Cabalgata del Foc is a spectacular parade through the most important streets of the city where the protagonist is fire. It is a truly impressive pyrotechnical display. There are floats, enormous machines, music... and fire, a lot of fire.

But the parade is not only about its own spectacle. It is the announcement that Cremà, the moment everyone has been waiting for, is about to arrive. When midnight comes, only the Falla sculpture that received the most votes is saved from a fiery end.

All the rest, every last one, will burn into the night until they are reduced to ashes. After this, all that remains is to sweep up the dust, return to the workshops, and start the process of building next year’s Falla monuments once again.

Today Carnival ends, but the crazy costumes are not packed away yet! There is one more celebration to mark the end of Carnival’s indulgences – El Entierro de la Sardina (Burial of the Sardines). If you are studying Spanish with us in Spain or just happen to be in one of our destinations tonight, we highly recommend you check out the festivities! Here are a few of the best celebrations and where to find them.

Madrid

Tonight at 6pm the famous Giants and Big-heads parade begins from San Antonio de la Florida, where the people walk along the river Manzanares and finally bury the tiny fish in its tiny coffin near the Fuente de los Parjaritos (Fountain of the Birds) at approximately 8:30pm. Aside from the fake-somber (it’s actually very fun) funeral procession, there is also a lively parade trailing behind, complete with gigantes and cabezudos (giants and big-heads).

Alicante

The funeral begins at 9pm at the Plaza Santa Teresa and ends at Plaza del Carmen, where the poor fish is burned and people dance in the plaza. If you want to see the procession, it passes by the following sites: Panteón de Quijano, Plaza España,Calderón de la Barca,Tomás López Torregrosa, Duque de Zaragoza, Plaza Ruperto Chapí, Calle del Teatro, Bazán, Gerona, Rambla Méndez Núñez, Miguel Soler, San Nicolás, Abad Nájera and finally, Plaza del Carmen.

Tenerife

Head to Calle Juan Pablo II in Santa Cruz at 9pm to watch the Burial of the Sardine. Join the hysteria as a loud trail of mourners, pregnant men and widows follow behind an oversized fake sardine on a thrown. It is quite a spectacle with all of the townspeople crying out for the sardine – or perhaps the end of Carnival.

Most towns in Spain have some version of this corky festival, so regardless of where you might be in Spain don’t miss out on the festivities, hilarious role-playing and public displays of hysteria! 

Carnival in Spain: Tenerife and Cadiz

Everyone in the Netherlands knows the concept of carnival. Either because they have celebrated it themselves in the south of our country, or because of the summer carnival in Rio de Janeiro. But carnival is also a well-known celebration in Spain. Carnival is celebrated throughout the country but especially in Cadiz and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, carnival is celebrated in a big way.

• The third largest carnival in the world is in Cadiz.
• In 2015, carnival takes place between Feb. 12 and 22.
• The Santa Cruz de Tenerife carnival is the second largest carnival in the world after Rio de Janeiro.

Carnival in Spain is celebrated in almost the entire country. This celebration takes place in the 10 to 14 days before Ash Wednesday. This is on the same date as the Dutch carnival. This year carnival took place between Feb. 28 and March 4.

The two most famous places where carnival is celebrated in Spain are Cadiz and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The world's largest carnival takes place in Rio de Janeiro. However Santa Cruz de Tenerife and Cadiz host the second and third largest carnivals in the world.

From home and abroad, many people come to visit the Carnival in Cadiz. Every day is a big party. Carnival in Cadiz is all about the singing, humor and irony. Even weeks before the carnival begins, carnival groups are practicing their songs. These songs make great use of humor and sarcasm. On the Friday of carnival, a carnival group that has won is announced. This is followed by partying until the early hours. On Sunday and Monday, it is then the honor of the choirs to perform their songs. In addition to all the singing during Carnival in Cadiz, several parades also take place. For example, the largest parade takes place on Sunday and the humorous parade on the last weekend.

Tenerife carnival opens with a big parade on the first Friday of carnival. Tenerife carnival is most similar to the Brazilian carnival. Exuberant costumes, floats and rhythm are several features of carnival in Tenerife. The election of La Reina, that year's carnival queen is one of the many highlights during carnival in Tenerife. Throughout the week there are several parades throughout the city. Carnival ends with "El Corso," which is the largest and most beautiful parade during Carnival. This parade takes place on the Tuesday of carnival and after this, carnival in Tenerife comes to an end.

Spaniards are known as late eaters. Because there is a lot of time between meals, Spanish Tapas is convenient as a snack. Tapas is part of the Spanish way of life and there is no thought that it will ever disappear.

• Every February a tapas fair is organized in Seville. This is where many bars and restaurants participate and compete against each other to create the best tapa.
• Many of these traditional tapas served during the fair are made up of the Spanish cheeses and hams.
• In February, Seville has a pleasant temperature and is a good month to visit the city!

Tapas in Seville

More than 50 restaurants and bars officially participate in the Tapas Fair. At the "Palacio de Congresos" and the "Exposiciones Center" located on Avenida de Alcalde de Luís Uruñuela, varied, famous, traditional and flavorful tapas are offered. It is a popular Spanish tradition for restaurants and bars to compete with each other and creatively serve their unique, homemade tapas of up to €2.50. Home-town visitors as well as tourists are welcome to sample these Spanish delicacies. In addition to the many tapas offered at the fair, drinks are also very popular. From Sherry to wine and beer, anything that can be combined with tapas is present. Traditional wines from Seville and its surroundings, such as white wines and the so-called Sevillian "fino" (a dry sherry consumed as an aperitif) are also available during the fair.

Many of the traditional Spanish tapas sold at this annual fest are based on Spain's popular hams and cheeses, regional delicacies such as duck or kidneys in Pedro Jimenez sauce, roasted figs wrapped in bacon, tortillas de camarones and shrimp fritters. Participants serve about 8 to 12 different tapas that include "cocina casera" (homemade dishes), "chacina" (meats), "marisco" (seafood), "caracoles" (snails), "pescadito frito" (fried fish), "revueltos" (scrambled eggs) and "ensaladas" (salads). The tapas are kept under glass heat showcases that make the tapas look scrumptious. Almost all tapas contain garlic and often paprika and, of course, olive oil.

Visiting Seville in February is the chosen time for a city break to enjoy the city as well as the traditional tapas offered in bars, restaurants and hotels. Also, the temperature in February is very pleasant and not as extremely hot as during the summer.

Many American students spending November in Spain and experiencing the unfamiliar silence leading up to Thanksgiving Day will inevitably imagine with mouth-watering envy a distant place called home, where loved ones enshrouded in the warm coziness of company and the pleasant perfumes of piping hot pumpkin pie prepare to hunker over plates brimming with traditional turkey creations.

Just a reminder: the fourth Thursday of November is not a holiday in Spain. The second Monday of October (nod to you Canadian friends) isn’t either. Many Spaniards have heard of Thanksgiving traditions from watching American movies, many even erroneously believe the holiday commemorates American independence (you may have just as much to teach your Spanish friends about America as they have to teach you about Spain). 

Below you’ll find a quick round-up of ways to spend your Thanksgiving in Spain.

Those who absolutely need turkey on turkey day have several options. You could opt to put together your own Thanksgiving meal. Plan possibilities range from a full blown feast for an army of amigos to the more humble and intimate package of turkey cold cuts for one (a bittersweet bachelor or bachelorette’s take on a classic that could be more about inspired soul-searching than indulgent and self absorbed sulking.) How you spend your Thanksgiving may of course depend on your accommodation arrangements. If you’re staying in the home of a host family, you might raise a few eyebrows if for example you make your way into the family kitchen and toss a full-sized bird into their oven.

If you do go the do-it-yourself route, keep in mind that some traditional items aren’t so traditional in Spain, in other words, stuff like cranberry sauce and even the turkey itself might not prove so easy to find. If you’re in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, or some other cities, you could check the store Taste of America for specific turkey day fixins’. You could also try to order a whole turkey in advance at a butcher shop. A few years ago, the famous Spanish chef José Andrés began offering for purchase an authentic Thanksgiving turkey in a box. This pavo asado al estilo Americano comes complete with mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry sauce and even the lesser-known “chestnut purée”. The meal takes about 30 minutes to prepare and it feeds 10.

If kitchen toil and trouble doesn’t interest you, a few America-themed restaurants also sometimes serve a traditional Thanksgiving meal (think Hard Rock Café).

Then again, you don’t necessarily need turkey and customary T-day trimmings to give thanks and have a great time with friends. In my opinion, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a Thanksgiving paella. You could celebrate with friends at a tapas bar, switching up timeless turkey traditions for savory Spanish classics.

Finally, some recommend forgetting all about your home traditions, insisting that a full immersion experience involves embracing the new cultural heritage that surrounds you and leaving home traditions back home. It’s up to you. If you have a group of American friends, you’ll probably at the very least consider doing something together on Thanksgiving. Some would say that if you’re an American student in Spain and you have a group of American friends than you may not be getting the most out of your experience abroad, a valuable time for gaining personal insight into the local culture and practicing the language with new Spanish friends.

Spain´s national holiday is very international

Christopher Columbus first arrived in the Americas on Oct. 12, 1492. This historic event marks an important change in the course of the history of the Western world, such as the long-standing contact between Europe and the Americas. The day is officially celebrated in different ways and has different names throughout much of Latin America, the United States and Spain.

Spanish law established the day as Fiesta Nacional de España, or the national day of Spain, although many Spaniards still call it Día de la Hispanidad, which was the former name of this holiday. The law further explains that the day is commemorated because it symbolizes the expansion of the Spanish language and culture beyond European borders. Spanish is spoken as a native language by 414 million people, only 46 million of whom live in Spain.

When the day was first celebrated in Spain in 1914, its original name was "Fiesta de la Raza," hoping to create a holiday celebrating the unity between Spain and Ibero-America. Just a few years later, Spanish priest Zacarías de Vizcarra suggested the change from the term raza to hispanidad. Indeed, celebrating Columbus' first voyage across the Atlantic, an event that launched the European conquest and colonization of the Americas, did not always inspire a sense of unity.

Oct. 12 is still known as Día de la Raza in some Latin American countries, including Mexico. Other Latin American countries, which have commemorated the day as el Día de la Raza, have changed the name in recent years to honor diversity or celebrate resistance to colonization. In Costa Rica, the day is known as Día de las Culturas (day of cultures), in Argentina it is Día del respeto a la Diversidad Cultural (day of respect for cultural diversity), in Venezuela Día de la Resistencia Indígena (day of indigenous resistance) and in Bolivia Día de la Descolonización (day of decolonization). In Cuba, this day is not celebrated.

Many U.S. states also recognize Oct. 12 as a holiday, where it is usually referred to as Columbus Day. But not always; views on how the day should be called change here as well. The state of South Dakota in the United States, for example, now celebrates Native American Day on the second Monday in October.

In 2010, the United Nations declared Oct. 12 as Spanish Language Day, to celebrate cultural diversity and to encourage the "equal use" of the UN's 6 official languages throughout the organization.

Oct. 12 is seen in different ways in the United States and Spanish-speaking countries and thus has been renewed many times throughout history. Today, Spanish is the second most widely spoken language in the world by native speakers and is spoken as an official or primary language in 21 different countries. 

A Spectacular Festival in Spain

Of the numerous festivals and celebrations for which Spain is famous, the Santa Tecla Festival, which floods the streets of Tarragona, in Catalonia, with music and dance towards the end of September, is perhaps among the best. Taking place just an hour away from the cosmopolitan and cultural hub of Barcelona, and often considered a slightly smaller scale version of the main Fiesta Mayor, the Fiesta de Santa Tecla lines Tarragona's streets with 'human towers', music, and dances by mythical characters in procession, with Devils, Giants, Dragons and a Bull for folkloric allusion. The peak of the festivities involves an impressive fireworks display along the beach at nightfall. Last year's festival saw over 80,000 visitors each day descend upon the streets of Tarragona.

The Santa Tecla festival tradition began in 1321, when the relic of the arm of Saint Thecla, who was a Christian belonging to an early Christian community established by Saint Paul, arrived in Tarragona. She is patron saint of Tarragona, and is known within Tarragona as Santa Tecla. These cultural and historical foundations to the celebrations are partly responsible for the festival having been deemed a festa tradicional d'interès nacional (traditional festival of national interest). One of the most prominent and interesting aspects of the festival is the tradition of the 'castell' or human tower; these towers are constructed entirely of people standing on top of one another, and are structured and performed by colles costelleres (teams) in the Fountain Square. The Castell is usually made up of either 4 or 5 levels, and is completed when the final piece in the human tower, or the enxaneta, clambers to the top putting one hand in the air, in a gesture called the fer l'aleta signalling the completion of tower. When these human structures begin moving, they are known as the pilars caminant, and are raised up into the Cathedral square, to face the crowds and begin their 650 meter journey, aiming to keep together as a human tower, all the way down to the Ajuntament at Plaça de la Font.

Since the 19th Century, an integral part of the festival has been its main procession, brought to life by its characters, ranging from biblical figures such as Prophets, Christ and the Apostles, through to the Female Dragon Vibria, the Saint Roc Dragon, a Mule, an Eagle, a Lion and the monster Cucafera, which has, since the Middle Ages, represented evil. The Cucafera at the modern day Santa Tecla does not seem quite so saturnine however, spewing sweets from its mouth and naturally proving popular with younger visitors. This year, the Fiestas de Santa Tecla ran from the 15th to the 23rd September, with the 22nd and the 23rd being the most action-packed days of the celebrations, providing a perfect family oriented alternative, or addition, to the Festa Major, with this year's fireworks bringing the celebrations to a close on the evening of the 23rd on Fragata Beach. On the 22nd there was a plethora of traditional musicians, with the Procesion del brazo de Santa Tecla taking place the following day. The second day of the festival typically kicks off with the traditional children's parade, during which children scatter throughout the streets, performing with papier mache beasts and giants starting at 7am.

Each year, the Santa Tecla brings the entire city to life. Along with the closing fireworks, the sign usually on show next to the statue of Roger de Lluria, ablaze, which reads Long Live Santa Tecla, or in Catalan, Visca Santa Tecla confirms the festival's importance as part of the community's identity, and on a wider scale, as an embodiment of Catalan culture and tradition.

One of the most alive summer festivals in Spain: the International Music and Dance Festival that takes place every year in Granada. For three weeks, the festival is intensely celebrated and as many as 30,000 people come to the famous city of Andalusia to attend this festivity. The birth of this festival was in the year 1883 when a concert was held in the Palace of Charles the Fifth but also 9 years later, in 1992, when the flamenco song was performed in the Alhambra with the help of Federico García Lorca, Manuel de Falla and other intellectuals and artists of the time. This year is the 63rd edition and the festival will take place from June 20 to July 11. 

• The origins of the festival date back to 1883, to the first concert given in the Palace of Charles V and to 1992, when the first flamenco song was shown in the famed Alhambra with the help of famous artists and intellectuals.
• The Alhambra, Generalife and Albaycín in Granada are recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites and many festivities of the festival are given in one of these artistic creations.

The festival involves many different musical styles and genres, each held in an exceptional setting in the city. National and international artists gather in Granada's most notable neighborhoods to give dazzling performances. Past editions of the festival have been 95% occupied and nearly all sold out. The festival is not only popular for Spaniards. Thousands of residents from France, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, USA, Brazil, Finland and Colombia also visit Granada during this festival.

Many festivities are given in one of the artistic creations listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Alhambra and Generalife are originally from Islamic Spain of the 16th century. The Albaycín, on the other hand, has something of the Moorish influences. The concerts of the immense symphony orchestras take place in the "Palacio de Carlos V. The dancing and ballet performances are performed in the outdoor theater in the "Jardines del Generalife. These beautiful gardens belong to the Generalife Palace, which was originally the summer palace and mansion of the Nasrid Sultan of Granada. In the morning there are several concerts in Granada's ancient churches and buildings. At night, the characteristic neighborhoods of El Albaicín and El Sacromonte are transformed into "nights of Flamenco" and world music is played.

The International Music and Dance Festival in Granada joined the European Festivals Association in 1955 as the first Spanish festival and is one of the popular summer and music festivals in Spain and for people who love Spanish culture, this is the perfect summer festival. Granada is full of artists, orchestras, dance groups and much more during these three weeks. At the same time, you can enjoy the beautiful Spanish summer weather and this ancient UNESCO city with Moroccan and Moorish influences.

Seville's colorful fiesta

In the second week after Easter, Seville traditionally celebrates its colorful fiesta for one week; the Feria de Abril. During this traditional fiesta, the immense grounds situated in the 'Los Remedios' district transform into a collection of everything Andalusia stands for such as tapas, flamenco, horses, bulls and much more. Wander through this special fiesta and be immersed in an extraordinary Spanish and Andalusian culture.

The origins of the Feria de Abril date back to the year 1847. This was the year the first Feria de Abril was held. Initially it began as a livestock fair where prizes could also be won. Small tents, also called ''casetas,'' were placed so that the trade in which people were interested could be realized more in a private atmosphere. These tents grew in popularity because of their cozy and festive atmosphere. Then more and more services were added in the form of selling entertainment and food and drinks. In the year 1973, the former location became too small and moved to the current site in the "Los Remedios" neighborhood. Each year the Feria de Abril gained more and more fame and grew in popularity. To this day, it has become the largest traditional fiesta in Seville, and one of the largest traditional fiestas in Spain.

Prior to Monday night, also called the night of fish "Noche del Pescaíto," it is a tradition to eat fried fish, pescaíto frito, at dinner. The Feria de Abril then traditionally kicks off on Tuesday at midnight, when the thousands of lights on the gate and grounds come on. The lights stay on for six days and turn off again at midnight on Monday, followed by a huge fireworks display along the Guadalquivir River.

The grounds are decorated with paper lanterns, and the ground is covered with a yellow-colored sand that is also traditionally used in Seville for gardens and bull arenas. During this week, the grounds consist of more than 1,000 private and public tents. These are scattered throughout the various streets that bear the names of famous bullfighters. The private tents often belong to wealthier families or are shared with the neighborhood. Therefore, no two tents look alike and each one is unique. There is also a large fairground on the grounds with more than 500 attractions for young and old. The "fiestas" therefore go on well into the night and freeze the ordinary life of Seville during this one week.

Sevillanas

 Walking through the streets of the Feria de Abril, you see people socializing, eating and drinking. Everywhere there is spontaneous Sevillanas dancing and in every corner a different flamenco song resounds. Tents have to stay open during the tour of the horses where horse and carriage, and riders ride by almost majestically. An atmosphere that feels Spanish.

The ladies look their best and wear the most diverse, colorful and striking flamenco dresses; green with polka dots, frills, purple and all equally beautiful. The flamenco dress goes extremely carefully with the flower in the hair, the jewelry one wears and the manila scarf (a large scarf with fringes used as a skip). The men wear what is known as a traditional short suit. The sombrero is also part of this, of course. The suit consists of a vest, vest, blouse with pleats or fringes and suspenders. The pants are long slacks under which boots with socks are worn. The colors of the suit consist mainly of dark shades because of the windblown dust of the streets.

Not only are the colors of the party overwhelming, but also all the food smells make the Feria de Abril a great success. It is common to eat tapas at the many tents, each with its own tapas specialty. One can enjoy many typical Andalusian dishes such as Andalusian gazpacho, the aforementioned fried fish ''pescaíto frito'', anchovies in vinegar ''boquerones en vinagre'' or many other tapas dishes. All this is done while enjoying a flute of beer or a glass of wine. Thus, the real atmosphere of Seville's colorful fiesta can be tasted.

The city festival of the beautiful city in northern Spain, San Sebastian, is without a doubt the loudest party among Spanish celebrations. But why really? The quiet but touristy city of San Sebastian makes its presence felt on Jan. 20 when hundreds of people walk the streets of San Sebastian with drums.

• The city's celebration is called the "Tamborrada," because it's all about the drums. This is also the immediate reason for being the loudest party in Spain. For an entire day you hear nothing but rhythmic beats on the drum.
• Although San Sebastian pretends to be a small town in terms of size, it is still one of Spain's most famous tourist destinations. The city is located in northern Spain, in the autonomous region of the Basque Country. Its distance of only 20 kilometers from the French border and its beautiful location on the coast makes San Sebastian a must-see of Spain.

Tamborrada

The "Tamborrada" is the city festival of San Sebastian, but it also attracts many tourists. In addition to rhythmic beats to the music, you get to beat the drums like crazy and make as much noise as you can. It started with a procession from Santa María Church to the church in the old part of San Sebastian in the "Antiguo" district. This procession ended with a festive dance accompanied by flutes and drums from the military band. Since that day, the military has been imitated by almost everyone. People dressed as soldiers march through the streets of San Sebastian with drums. Children are dressed as little soldiers from the time of Napoleon and merrily march along. It has become a tradition to dress up as soldiers or cooks. The latter comes from the tradition of dining as adults in sociedades gastronómicas. This used to be open only to men, but today even the strictest clubs allow women in as well, making it a dinner for all adults.

The event begins at noon when the flag is raised on "Konstituzio Plaza" in the old part of town (Parte Vieja). From then on, you will hear nothing but drums for 24 hours. Everyone marches through the city to music in special costumes that often present a country. For example, the special costume of the military in Scotland consists of a red or blue skirt with matching shirt. Thus, each group of people has a different costume. There are basically two programs during these 24 hours: the regulated program, where processions of people make the streets unsafe with their rhythmic noise, and the part where people beat their drums as arrhythmically and unregulated as possible. The music is often marching music to make the feeling of the military as real as possible. Well-known music includes "March of Sebastian," composed especially for the event, "Erretreta," "Tatiago" and "Iriyarena. The celebration ends 24 hours later at 12 a.m. when the flag at 'Konstituzio Plaza' is lowered again.

San Sebastian

San Sebastian is a small city made big (famous) by the city's international film festival and the "Tamborrada. In terms of size, San Sebastian does not really look like a city, but with more than 186,000 inhabitants, it may well be considered a city. San Sebastian is located in the autonomous region of the Basque Country, so people speak Basque and Castilian (just Spanish). It has many city districts, including "Parte Vieja," "Antiguo" and "Amara Zaharra. So in addition to a beautiful coastline, San Sebastian has a great inner city that is definitely worth visiting....