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As you may be aware Spanish people never miss a chance to relax and enjoy themselves. Whilst they work very hard in their daily lives, they can certainly teach us a thing or two when it comes to letting their hair down and celebrating in big style at the many local fiestas that are held throughout the year. 
Apart from the obvious and famous fiestas at Easter (Semana Santa), and the Christmas celebrations such as Kings Day (when Spanish children receive their Christmas presents) held on the 6th January, there are many other special days thoughout the year where villages are dressed up with flowers and bunting, and special fairgrounds are set up, the local people put on their finery, consume copious amounts of wine, beer and food, and party into the early hours of the morning. These are family occasions and it isn't unusual to see young and old dancing together on the dance floor, and small children in pushchairs still out with their family at 3 or 4am. It is truly fabulous to have the opportunity to take part and so I have attempted to put together a calender of fiestas celebrated in our local villages and towns to enable you to check them against your holiday dates to see if there is one you could participate in. So here goes:
Algarinejo FiestasDia de la Candeleria - 1st February: Bonfire Day to celebrate the end of olive harvesting. Families use olive prunings to build the bonfires.) Carnaval de la Viņa - February - March Romeria de San Marcos - 25th April: Special day where families go off for the day into the countryside and take a picnic lunch. Dia del Trabajador (Day of the Worker) - 1st May Dia de la Cruz - 3rd May Romeria de San Isidro - 15th May: A very special day in Algarinejo to celebrate the patron saint of the countryside, San Isidro. After mass in Iglesia Santa-Maria la Mayora, a procession of floats dressed with flowers leaves the village to carry the statue of San Isidro into the pine forest. Families and friends meet up in this same location to share a barbecue/picnic and relax and enjoy one anothers company. Caballeros dressed in traditional costume follow the procession and take part in a competition later in the day to see who is the most skillful at hooking ribbons. Casa del Rio a bar serving food and drink is situated close by, and here the celebrations go on into the night with live music and dancing. Fiestas del Barrio de 'La Redonda' - 17th - 18th June: Giant paella cooked and served free of charge for the community. Local people take part in tournaments such as petanca and cycling skills. A tradition at this fiesta is for the children to hit gourds containing sweets with sticks until they break when they all rush to collect as many sweets as they can. Great fun for the children and for the adults to watch as well. A bar serving food and drink is also on site along with live music and dancing. Fiestas de San Juan en Fuentes de Cesna - 24th June Fiestas del Barrio de 'Doņa Juana' - Beginning July Fiestas de Santa Ana - End of July Fiestas del 'Palancar' - 11th, 12th & 13th August: This is a local fiesta arranged for the people who live in the Palancar area of Algarinejo. The fiesta takes place at the Cortijo Razo Bajo where a bar is set up and Groups and singers entertain you throughout the evening. Various activities take place during the days such as Horseriding, Motor Bike displays and races and activities for younger children are also included. Fieria Real de Ganados en Honor a Ntro. Padre Jesus Nazareno - 24th - 27th August: This is the main fiesta in Algarinejo and lasts for four days. The fairground is set up near the local swimming pool and events take place all week such as tournaments in cycling, horse riding, football, petanca. A giant paella will be cooked on Saturday 26th, and is served freely to all who attend, and this year in addition a giant 'Patatas a lo Pobre' will also be served freely to all who attend on Sunday 27th at 2.30pm. Each evening a disco, and a couple of pop groups, play all through the night so you can dance into the early hours of the morning. At the end of the fiesta a day off has been granted by the Ayuntamiento and is aptly named 'Dia de Resaca' (day of the hangover!) so you will find that many of the shops and bars are closed on this day. Fiestas de Septiembre de Fuentes de Cesna - End of September
Iznajar FiestasDia de Candeleria - 3rd February San Marcos - 25th April Feria Chica - 15th - 17th June Feria Real (Festival de la Virgen de la Piedad) - 7th - 11th September
Montefrio FiestasFeria de Junio - 10th June Virgen de los Remedios - 15th August Feria de Septiembre - 17th September
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