Festivals and Celebrations in Madrid

Festivals are the best time to visit a tourist spot, especially vibrant cities like Madrid. It is like stepping into a world of cultural practices and unique beliefs. The wonderful thing about visiting Madrid during festivals is that you can interact at a personal level with the locals. Festivals of Madrid reflect the true essence of its people with their effervescent spirit.

During festivals, Madrid is all about excitement and active participation of people as they enjoy in merriment. Locals throng the nooks and corners of the city, bringing out the essence of their traditions.

Popular Festivals of Madrid
With a fair amount of festivals spread throughout the year, there is always a festival that you can savor while touring Madrid. Festivals add spice and entertainment to your holidays.

Here is a quick list of most popular festivals of Madrid:

January
* January 5: Three Kings’ procession through Madrid is a fun filled festival. During this festival, kids receive sweets and gifts from the kings. The festival carries forward the momentum of Christmas into the current year. January 6, usually, is a holiday.

February
* Festival Flamenco: A musical festival that preserves the essence of Spanish music and runs intermittently throughout the month.
* La Candaleria: This is celebrated on February 2-3. It is a very popular festival in Madrid that is celebrated because of Jesus’ first visit to a temple in Jerusalem.

April
*Madrid en Danza: This dance festival spans April 15 to April 30. It hosts various dance forms and organizes numerous dance workshops and shows.

May
*The festival of San Isodro, Madrid’s patron saint: This festival is celebrated on May 15, with lots of booze and concerts. The festival concludes with heavy drinking in parks around the city. .

June
No festival of major significance.


July
* Bullfighting: This takes place on July 14. La Puebla de Montalban and Alvila host bullfighting and musical festivals on a large scale.

August
* Local festivities in La Latina and Lavapies.  
* Bull-running in Cuellar, near Madrid.

September
* Fiesta de la Virgen de la Vega: This festival commemorates the Virgin Mary.
* Toro de la Vega: During this festival, a bull is sacrificed and it predates the actual bullfighting season.
* Noche en Blanco:  This is the festival where all cultural activities are organized together in the same night.

October
* Festival de Otoño: This festival is held on Oct 11 as a melting pot of all the performing arts. It is a much awaited festival of Madrid.

November
* Todos los Santos: This is also called All Saints' Day, as families visit the graves of their loved ones and leave flowers in their memory.
* Almudena Day: This festival commemorates Almudena, a patron saint of Madrid.

December
* Noche Buena (Christmas Eve): This is a fun filled family night when the family members celebrate together. Most restaurants are closed during this time.
* Christmas Day: This day is full of merriment and celebrations.
* New Year’s Eve: Another family night where a tradition of eating 12 grapes is observed at the stroke of midnight.

In today’s rush-filled time, nothing can be as rejuvenating as watching people get together, celebrate beyond any differences and enjoy with abandon.