Traditions and everyday life in Spain

Festivals, family customs, favourite places and everyday traditions, written by members of Global Penfriends who live in Spain. Each cultural keepsake is a short note about life where they are.

80 keepsakes from Spain · page 2 of 3
Las Fallas in Valencia
Tradition

Las Fallas in Valencia

Las Fallas is one of the most famous traditional festivals in Valencia, Spain. Every March, the city fills with huge artistic sculptures called “fallas”, fireworks, music, and people celebrating in the streets. At the end of the…

Shared by RocioLetters
Abanicos or Spanish hand fans
Tradition

Abanicos or Spanish hand fans

The Spanish hand fan is an important object in flamenco, as it is used to dance. It is also used to combat the high temperatures in summer. Between the 18th and the 19th centuries it was used not only for the heat but to speak…

Shared by MissChestnuts
SAINT ANTHONY´S CELEBRATION
Tradition

SAINT ANTHONY´S CELEBRATION

On the 16th January, Mallorca celebrates a magical night: Saint Anthony´s eve. Saint Anthony is the patron of farm and domestic animals. In ancient times, majorcan people lived on farming, so on this saint´s eve, people reunited…

Shared by PepeLuis
Descenso del Sella
Activity

Descenso del Sella

The Descenso del Sella is one of the most famous canoe races in the world and attracts participants and spectators from different countries. It typically takes place on the first Saturday of August and has been held since 1930…

Shared by Alberto89
Saint Week
Tradition

Saint Week

Every year, one week of April, in Spain we celebrate the Saint Week (Semana Santa in Spanish) where a lot of carrousels represent something of the bible, this is mostly celebrated in the South of Spain, but its a festivity in the…

Shared by ciigarsugaar_
Turrón Tradition
Tradition

Turrón Tradition

In my hometown, Xixona, people have been masters of Turrón-making for centuries. Nougat, the Christmas' sweet, so popular now all over the world comes from the hands of countless people who work very hard with very old recipes…

Shared by Leeycat
Castells in Catalonia
Everyday life

Castells in Catalonia

In Catalonia, people build amazing human towers called "castells" during festivals. Teams called "colles" work together to stack up, sometimes reaching ten levels high! It's a fun and exciting way to celebrate, showing off…

Shared by Akainu56
Valencian City of Arts and Science
Place

Valencian City of Arts and Science

This is one of the coolest and biggest museums I have ever been to. I've been going here almost every year since I was little with my friends and family, and by now I know almost everything that they display in there. I love that…

Shared by Yaxx
San Juan
Tradition

San Juan

San Juan is a celebration done in Galicia, every 23rd of June. People gather around (can be done with family or friends), have a good dinner together and then jump over a fire, that usually starts big and when it gets smaller…

Shared by nervermind
Fallas Festival!
Event

Fallas Festival!

Every spring, in the region of Valencia we celebrate Fallas! It's a holiday in which we dress in traditional Valencian clothing and build big, wooden statues. On the 19th we burn them down, they often represent bad things in the…

Shared by sara13
El Tió (A magic log)
Tradition

El Tió (A magic log)

In Spain, instead of Santa Claus, we have the Tió, a magic log who poops presents. Through December, we feed him, normally with the peels of fruits such as oranges or tangerines. Then, on Christmas Eve, we hit him with a stick…

Shared by Persefone_
Spain loves to celebrate!
Tradition

Spain loves to celebrate!

Spain has many holidays and festivities across the year. They often celebrate neighborhoods, provinces, Spanish history, and religious holidays. In contrast to the USA, they have many days where there is no work/school and you…

Shared by Squish Squishy
Calçotada
Tradition

Calçotada

From December to March in Catalonia we do "calçotadas": we gather with friends to eat "calçots" (a kind of sweet spring onions) with "romesco" sause, and then a huge barbecue. People often wear a bib! It's funny, and it's way…

Shared by Wamba
Geoda de Pulpí
Place

Geoda de Pulpí

I live nearby Pulpí’s Geode, a colossal mineral geode measuring 8 metres length times 2 metres height fully covered in huge gypsum crystals. Given its dimensions as well its crytals size, transparency and perfection, this is a…

Shared by Luna2010
Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias
Place

Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias

This group of buildings is called "City of the Arts and the Sciences". It has a beautiful architecture and contains a projection hall, a science museum, an aquarium, a theater, an exhibition hall and gardens.Some movies and…

Shared by fullmoon.p
Galician traditional music
Tradition

Galician traditional music

The word "foliada" is a term used to refer to festivals where traditional Galician music is sung and played. Neighborhood meetings, popular fairs and nights around the fire singing and dancing to the rhythm of bagpipes and…

Shared by Mesmerize
The art of tapas
Activity

The art of tapas

You know you are in Spain when you are lucky enough to unexpectedly receieve incredible tapas just by ordering a drink and, which is even better, for free. It's definitely an experience I recommend everyone living at least once…

Shared by pautbh
Fallas de Valencia
Tradition

Fallas de Valencia

Fallas is a festival in the Valencian community. Every streets has beautiful sculptures, people throw firecrackers and everyone enjoys it. The sculptures are burn at night and creates huge fire in the streets that smells like…

Shared by Roger_3
Mercado Medieval
Event

Mercado Medieval

It's a Medieval market where people sell food, jewelry, toys etc.! Everyone in the shops dress up like medieval citizens and it's one of my favorite events of the year and it's the best to go with either friends or family :D

Shared by Ruby06
Cabalgata de reyes
Event

Cabalgata de reyes

it’s an event held in the center of the capital !!! The three wise men are riding on floats lying, they throw trinkets ... there are also elves, people performing stunts and it’s something unique that you cannot missed :)

Shared by babysarky
Siege of Zaragoza
Event

Siege of Zaragoza

The siege of Zaragoza was a militar operation in the Peninsular War, in which the French army tried to beseize the city but were expelled for the citizens.The gate of Carmen is a monument in the centre of Zaragoza.

Shared by Vacunin
Aguilas Carnival
Event

Aguilas Carnival

There are many traditions and events in Spain. An important one in this area is the Aguilas Carnival, declared of International Tourist Interest, which takes place before lent between February and March.

Shared by Luna2010
Semana Santa
Faith

Semana Santa

Religious people of all the country go on procession around cities and villages with traditional clothes and representations of Jesus and Saint Mary. We also eat traditional dishes as torrijas.

Shared by Ravel12
Wolves of Spain
Everyday life

Wolves of Spain

There are still wolves in several areas of Spain. Magnificent and intelligent animals, they struggle to survive due to human persecution and a lack of understanding of their true nature

Shared by Sunny_days_2025
Carnival in Cadiz
Tradition

Carnival in Cadiz

In february people usually dress up as anything they want and they go to the street to listen to the famous “Chitigotas” which are groups of people who sings versions of actual songs.

Shared by carlaa223
Jotas (typical dance)
Activity

Jotas (typical dance)

Jotas and titos are the typical dance from my area (León, Spain). We dress up like our great grandparents did and we recreate their village festivities and dance to their music.

Shared by Itsawildmery
Šaltibarščiai
Everyday life

Šaltibarščiai

The best cold soup ever! Perfect for summer It is made with beetroot, kefir, cucumber, dill, and spring onions, and is usually served with boiled potatoes on the side.

Shared by kambu99
Going to get bubble tea
Activity

Going to get bubble tea

When I meet with my friends, we always go to a place called Infragantea. It’s a bubble tea place. There, we can listen to kpop and treat ourselves with some bubble tea!

Shared by astrakore
Sevillanas
Activity

Sevillanas

It is a type of singing/dancing very typical from Spain, specially the south in Andalucia. It has a very characteristic style which makes it recognizable everywhere.

Shared by just.VIBING
Seville, spain
Everyday life

Seville, spain

easter week in andalusia. It is a tradition that is done every year in Spain, and it is one of the most beautiful, there is music, people and religion.

Shared by puchuu

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