Festivals
Spring time in Sevilla means fiesta. The city fills with people, color, exuberance and the feasting, dancing, singing and drinking begin. Fiestas may take place for historic events, a change of season or a religious occasion. Staying out until dawn is not uncommon and you will often see children, accompanied by their parents, out until the early morning. Spaniards love a good party.
Los Carnavales de Cádiz
February 13th - 2010
Imagine the largest masquerade party you have ever been to and it
takes place outside in the center of a large city on the beach. Over
100,000 people on the Carnaval weekends fill Cádiz to drink, sing
and dance. Parades line the streets during the day and at night
everyone puts on a disfráz to celebrate the party.
Carnaval in Cádiz is said to be the third largest Carnaval celebration
in the world (after Rio de Janeiro and Trinidad). Most choose to pass
out on park benches or stay up all night instead of booking hotel rooms,
which are usually all sold out anyway. The easiest thing to do is
just come on our private bus. Click here for details.
Cádiz is a normal beach city on the Andalucian coast, except when it plays
host to Spains ultimate party. The fun began in the 17th century when the city of Cádiz tried to keep up with the decadent carnival celebrations in Venice and Genoa. The crews of the Spanish galleons that brought back gold and silver to Cádiz from the New World also brought back a variety of musical influences that are still evident at todays Carnaval revelry. African and Creole rhythms, sambas, rangeuras, and rustic Colombian tunes all intermingle in the streets with local Andalusian jaleo songs and traditional flamenco music.
Semana Santa
March 26th - April 5th, 2010
Semana Santa, or holy week, starts on Domingo de Ramos (Palm
Sunday), and ends on Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Sunday).
There are over 100 pasos, religious floats carried through the city
streets, from different Catholic churches within the city. Nazarenos,
members of the church´s brotherhoods dressed in long robes and
pointed hoods, accompany the pasos on their religious visits to the
Catedral de Sevilla, the third largest Cathedral in the world. Some of
the nazarenos date back more than 800 years. The pasos, weighing
as much as 5,000 lbs. are carried for up to 12 hours by costaleros,
young members of the church. Most are also accompanied by a
marching band, called la marcha, playing religious hymns throughout
the procession.
The early morning hours of Good Friday are the most popular to see. If you only see one day of Semana Santa it should be this one. The number of spectators may rise to about one million people to see two of the most famous pasos make their way through the narrow city streets, Virgen de La Macarena and Jesus del Gran Poder. Both pasos have more than 1,500 nazarenos. In the eight days of Semana Santa a total of 57 brotherhoods carry their 116 floats from their church to the Cathedral and back, in the company of about 60,000 church members participating in their different appearances.
Féria de Abril
April 20th - April 25th, 2010
This could be called the best week all year in Sevilla. About two weeks after Semana Santa, the Féria de Abril begins with the lighting of the portada, or entrance. The massive structure is built specifically for that years Féria and is designed after a specific Sevillian landmark.
The mood is much more festive than the religious Semana Santa, and the dancing, singing and drinking seems to never end. La Féria de Sevilla began as a cattle-trading fair in 1847, and through the years it has become a sexy Spanish bash of flamenco, bullfighting and fun. Sevilla is the birthplace of flamenco music and culture, which is danced and played in the large casetas, or tents.
The Férias festivities take place in a temporary tent city, on the far side of the Rio Guadalquivir, called the Real de la Féria. This rectangular piece of land is about a mile long and 700 yards wide. Las casetas, are made of brightly-striped canvas and decorated with thousands of paper lanterns. The women wear spectacularly bright Gypsy-inspired flamenco dresses, and many men wear 19th century suits and come to the Féria on horseback or by a horse drawn carriage. Everyone--young and old--throws back a glass of sherry called manzanilla, and gets out on the dance floor. Watch out for the manzanilla, though, it sneaks up on you. Some folks like to water theirs down a bit with Seven-up, also called rebujito.
Next to the tent city there are many amusement park style rides. Ferris Wheels, roller coasters, greasy food and lots of prize games are there to enjoy. And yes, the people working there are very scary and some of the women have facial hair.