Colors of Alicante - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

During a year Alicante hosts numerous interesting holidays. However, Bonfires of San Juan holiday remains the most attractive celebration for tourists. The celebrations are conducted each summer on the day of summer solstice. The city residents make large fires in order to welcome the mighty sun. Anyone can put any unnecessary item in the fire. This ritual remains of a sacrifice. It is believed that instead of the items burnt in the fire people will get a lot of other material goods.

The day of the holiday is also the time for numerous interesting musical and theatrical performances, sports competitions and traditional bullfighting. You will see large dance floors and open-air cafes on many streets of the city. Cakes with figs and tuna are known as the most popular national dish for this holiday. It’s really delicious, so you should definitely give it a try. There is one more interesting tradition of the holiday - the choice of the queen. Each district of Alicante organizes its own beauty contest, and then the winners of those small contests participate in the final competition in order to be chosen the queen of the celebration. The festival is ended with spectacular fireworks and a laser show. As a rule, the most large-scale celebrations are held near Postiguet beach.

Many national holidays have a religious nature. For example, Holy Week remains one the most important celebrations. During this period are organized processions to the most important religious monuments of the city. No less than twenty religious communities take part in the festival. The pilgrimage of Santa Faz is a no less important event. The solemn procession walks from the old cathedral of St. Nicholas to Santa Faz Monastery, which stores the most valuable religious artifact - a canvas depicting the face of Jesus Christ. The sacred relic was brought to the monastery by one of monks in the 15th century. Since that time the monastery has become an internationally renowned center of pilgrimage. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

The largest official holiday in Alicante is the Hogueras de San Juan. The event takes place from June 20 to 29 and includes an old tradition of Spanish farmers who, on the shortest night of the year, burnt the accumulated evil from 23 to 24 June after a long harvest day. A few days before the apogee of the holiday, the residents create huge figures from papier-mache, which personify human vices. Locals also organize bright carnivals, festive processions, bullfights, music concerts. During the most important night, everyone arranges fires and burns paper, cardboard and wooden figures. During such a spectacular event, you will be able to enjoy colorful fireworks, fun contests and bright laser shows, which take place on the El Postiguet beach. These holidays you will remember for life!

The festival of the Moors and Christians is the most famous holiday of the province of Alicante. It is celebrated in 45 cities of Spain from the 17th century in honor of the Reconquista victory over the Muslims in the 12th century. In Alicante, this holiday takes place in the first week of July and lasts for three days. During this stunning holiday, you will enjoy an endless carnival, solemn processions in old-fashioned costumes and dresses, fireworks, scenes of battles between Christians and Moors. On the streets of Alicante, you will find numerous medieval markets with interesting and authentic goods. The festival is rich with events, and to follow all of them you can check their specific schedule posted on the website of the city. Along the entire route for the convenience of spectators are exhibited in 2-3 rows of plastic chairs, where the cost of one sitting place - 5 EUR. Standing places are free of charge.