FESTIVALS

Carnaval
Between the end of February and the beginning of March, the Carnaval festivities are held to celebrate this age-old religious tradition which was banned for 40 years during the Franco era. The event culminates in the ancient ceremony of the Burial of the Sardine at Paseo de la Florida on Ash Wednesday.

Corridas de Toros
Bullfight is an ultimate emblem of Spainish culture, and the period from the beginning of March to the end of October is literally the bullfight season as the Las Ventas bullring hosts bullfights every Sunday throughout this span of time. Night shows with discount admission are offered some Fridays in July and August.

Fiestas de San Cayetano/San Lorenzo y La Paloma
Fiestas de San Cayetano are Madrid's popular working class celebrations that involve religious processions, lavishly decorated streets and wild parties filled with 19th-century costumed locals who drink lemonade, eat aubergine fritters and dance to live music. The celebrations begin at the first weekend in August to the middle of the month.

Fiestas de San Isidro
The celebration for Madrid's own patron saint, Fiestas de San Isidro, takes place at San Isidro's chapel. Visitors will be regaled by the sight of the Madrileño donned in 19th-century costumes as well as the presentation of variety of shows, tranditional dancing, flamenco concerts in Plaza Mayor and Las Vistillas. The big day is the Sunday closest to May 15, when the Spanish Army serves an enormous batch of cocido madrileo (typical tripe stew) for the masses in Plaza Mayor.

Fiestas del 2 de Mayo
Several spectacular open-air festivities are arranged in Malasaa district on May 2nd as the locals gather to honor their forefathers' resistance to the French invasion in 1808. There is a traditional military display in Plaza de Oriente in the afternoon, followed by superb fireworks display in Jardines de las Vistillas.

Noche de San Juan
This ancient celebration of the summer solstice every June 22nd and 23rd with bonfires and fireworks has received a renewed interest in recent years. Visitors are encouraged to bring along any of their old and unused items such as broken toys or old furniture to throw into the pyres. Every popular meeting points in the city offers fun-filled fairs and parties.

Nochevieja
New year's celebration in Madrid involves a curious countdown ritual where the crowds gather in Puerta del Sol, each bringing 12 grapes to eat with each chime of the clock as it ticks toward midnight. Those who despise the crowd are of course welcome to attend private parties or get together with their family and friends.

Semana Santa
As a Catholic country, Easter holds a strictly important religious implication for every Spaniard. There are processions to commemorate the life of Christ as well as impressive live music and spiritual flamenco to accentuate the somber mood of the occasion throughout the city.

Saint Anthony Patron Saint Day
The week-long celebration for Saint Anthony's day is one of the major holidays observed in Madrid. The events are celebrated with religious processions and live concerts which leads up to the blessing of the animals at the altar of the saint in the city. It's also a great opportunity to shop for hancrafted souvenirs and sample local food from street vendors.

Fiestas de San Antonio de La Florida
Madrid's first fiestas of the summertime sees the locals rejoice in dressing up, getting together with friends, drinking, dancing, and having a wonderful time. A religious ceremony takes place in the morning of June 13th at San Antonio's chapel where the crowds gather and later enjoy a luncheon on the terraces before proceeding to the fair ground packed with stalls of local products, confectioneries and amusement rides.

ACCOMMODATIONS

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