October, which is not a particularly festive month, includes however, on the 5th, the pilgrimage of El Santísimo Cristo del Paño in Moclín (Granada),
and the procession revolves around an immense portrait of Christ carrying the Cross which is believed to have medicinal prooperties in the cure of barrenness. On both the 7th of
the month and the first Sunday there are several celebrations to honour the Virgen del Rosario, the worship of whom was introduced and encouraged by the Dominicans. Many of them
have their origins in the cattle markets and the end of work on the grape harvest.
Masked figures appear in the celebrations held in Petrel (Alicante) on the feast days following the 7th, the Virgen del Remedio. These characters first appeared in the 16th
century and remained until 1958, being reinstated a few years ago. On the last but one Sunday, there is a carnival held in Rus (Jaén) called young people's Sunday.
In Saragossa the feast of El Pilar is the most important in the city as each year more and more new aspects are added to the events which take place and these have now gone far
beyond the simple flower offerings, jotas and glass rosaries.
Although its character has had to change substantially, in line with the people it once served, the As San Lucas in Mondoñedo (Lugo) on the 18th October continues to
give us a full insight into the importance of these celebrations in the not too distant past; there are also the Fires de Sant Lluc in Olot (Girona).
On the last Monday of October, Guernika (Vizcaya) holds important and interesting celebrations which are dominated by the produce of the land and handicrafts; for this reason there are usually exhibitions
of local sport and pelota matches.
With regard to All Saints' Day on 1st November, the traditional family aspect is still observed with gastronomic delights, an important part of the celebrations throughout the month --roscos
(biscuits), panelles (sweet rolls), tostones, cod, and above all chestnuts called magostos in Galicia and Asturias.
This period is also important for the slaughter of animals, which continues whilst the cold weather remains, and apart from this obvious reason, many traditions are still observed. On the 30th the
feast of San Andrés is celebrated, important features being the tabla de tea (board of fire) for both adults and children in Icod de los Vinos (Tenerife) and the pilgrimage
of San Andrés de Teixido (La Coruña), a famous shrine where those will go in death, who do not visit it when alive; and on the 8th another popular and lively celebration.
Before moving into the Christmas period, the festive calendar ends on 8th December with the Immacalute Conception.
Among the celebrations in her honour are bringing out her image and returning it to the shrine of the castle, traditional mass (Misa de Pajes) and movement of flags in Yecla (Murcia).
Similar characteristics are to be found in the encamisás celebrations in Holguera and Torrejoncillo in Cáceres and El Vítor in Horcajo de Santiago
(Cuenca) which include the Virgen Mary's processional banner and the ensuing fight, especially in Horcajo, to be one of those who bring the figure out of the church and the incessant cheers for their
patron saint from a crowd shouting itself hoarse.
Spanish Fiestas 
Back to Spanish Fiestas