The Carnival of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Tenerife and the rest of the Canary Islands are known primarily for their sunny holiday retreats, as thousands of people come here every year to relax on the beach, get a tan and spend some time with friends and family. But there is much more to this island than its beaches and there is a whole world of interesting cultural things to see and do here. The most prominent attraction is the Carnival of Tenerife, one of the most amazing festivals in the world, and something well worth planning cheap holidays to Tenerife 2012 around.

Carnival is not unique to Tenerife and it happens in different countries all around the world: the festivities normally consist of parades, dancing and general celebrations all of which take place around Easter. In some places this is a small affair, yet in Tenerife’s capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, it takes over the entire city as thousands upon thousands of revellers travel to the city to dance, party and see the spectacle. The highlight of the show is the trained Samba schools who, after months of practice, parade through the streets to great acclaim. The Carnival stretches on for over a week, but you probably don’t need to be there for its entirety. That said, this is the second largest example of this festival in the world (next to Rio of course) so it might be worth spending some time to take it all in.

The Carnival is the highlight of Tenerife’s calendar, yet there are some other great cultural things to take in. There is a music festival in June which is rated as one of the finest classical music events in Europe, while the opera is open October through December. To get an idea of the local area it is also well worth seeing the Sabandeño Festival in September which focuses on folklore.

If you are heading to Tenerife for a week of relaxation be sure to check out the local event listings. There is a slew of great things to do here, many of which can be seen in a day or so – so if you want to spend the majority of your time on the beach it doesn’t mean you can pop away to check out the Carnival or another fascinating festival.

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La Tomatina is one of Spain's most popular festivals

La Tomatina is known all over the world for the best AND largest food fight there is. For people who are into getting down and dirty, this is THE festival for you to participate in. What goes on during this festival? People – tens of thousands of them – basically hit the streets flock to the town of Bunol, near Valencia, Spain. There are normally about 9,000 residents of the town but you can expect up to 40,000 people here on festival day.

The festivities normally start around 10 in the morning of the last Wednesday of August, when trucks haul in more than a hundred metric tons of over ripe tomatoes. The tomatoes usually come in from the neighboring town of Extremadura, where they are sold for cheaper. Technically, the food fight does not begin until a person climbs up top a two-storey greased pole to claim the bounty of a ham. However, this can take a while so the water cannons – the signal to begin throwing tomatoes at people – go off way before the ham is obtained. The food fight lasts for an hour and then the cannons go off again, signaling the end to the fight.

As you can surmise, participants really get all messed up during this fight. There are rules to be followed, however. One example is that people are supposed to squish the tomatoes before throwing them. More so, people are not allowed to bring in potentially harmful things such as bottles. Tearing and ripping of clothes is not allowed as well – although this happens a lot.

More than the food fight, however, the festival also highlights many other events all throughout the week. Some of these include musical performances, parades, dances, and fireworks. On the night before the food fight, a paella cooking contest is also held. Of course, it really is for the food fight that people go.

What are you waiting for? Don your goggles and practice that throwing arm!

Brave tourists and locals participate in the Running of the Bulls at the Festival of San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain

For some people, traveling to different countries means one thing: to experience the culture as much as possible, and I feel that the best way to do this would be to time one’s visit to match the festivals of the destination country. Spain is one country that definitely has no dearth of festivals. Indeed, it has so many that you might have to narrow your choices down. Here are the top five festivals that you should NOT miss in Spain.

Running of the Bulls
This is one thing that everyone knows about – they let out angry bulls in the streets and people (either brave or foolhardy) run out in front of them. The festival runs for a week, with lots of bullfights in the schedule as well. It is also called the San Fermin Festival and occurs in early July.

Semana Santa
Literally translated as Holy Week, this is the festival for the Lent. It is held in the week leading up to Easter Sunday. This festival is held all over the country but Seville and Malaga holds the best celebrations.

Spanish Carnaval
This festival begins before Lent and ends on Shrove Tuesday. You can visit different cities and still have a taste of the Carnaval, but the best places would be Chueca in Madrid (gay scene), Sitges near Barcelona, and Ciudad Rodrgio near Salamanca.

Las Fallas
You up for fire? Then time your visit to coincide with Las Fallas, something akin to Guy Fawkes Night. This takes place on the week before March 19 (St. Joseph’s Day) in Valencia.

Tomatina Tomato Fight
For some tomatoey fun, visit Bunyol, a small town near Valencia on the fourth Wednesday of August. What to expect? The world’s biggest food fight. FUN!

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Beer hall at Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany

Going on a vacation is always fun, but it is even made more exciting if you go to a destination that has something special going on.  I am talking about visiting a city right when they are holding a festival and if festivals are what you are looking for, then Europe is the best place to look.  Rich traditions equal festivals full of adventure for any traveler.  Here are the top five festivals in Europe – and they don’t have to be that heavy on the pocket too!

Carnevale in Venice, Italy

The Carnevale is actually held in many other countries of the world – spelled differently, of course.  This festival has its roots in pagan traditions but you do not have to be pagan to enjoy this spring festival.  Put on your most exquisite and exotic costumes and go from one ball to the other and have some of the best and wildest nights of your life.  One of the best things about going to the Carnevale is that you do not have to be part of royalty or the social elite to enjoy the festival.  In fact, the Carnevale is one of those times when your social standing will not be of any import.

Running of the Bulls in Pamplona, Spain

Another very famous festival in Europe is the Running of the Bulls.  Traditionally held in Pamplona, this festival is crazy.  People who want to participate have to dress in white and bring along some red handkerchief.  They will then do their best to run ahead of the bulls that are let loose.  With free flowing wine, fireworks, and numerous bull fights, this festival is definitely one of the most adventurous endeavors that you can engage in – and you do not have to spend too much on it!

Edinburgh Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland

If culture is what you are looking for, then this festival should be on your list.  It is known to be the premier cultural event in Europe.  With countless performances featuring music, art, film, dance, plays, and more, the Edinburgh Festival will satisfy any soul starved for culture.

Bloemencorso in Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Beautiful fresh flowers never fail to bring joy in anyone’s heart and this is what awaits you if you decide to experience one of the biggest flower festivals in The Netherlands.  This festival is held on the first Saturday and offers the most extravagant and awe-inspiring floats and floral arrangements.  Oh, if you want to see tulips, this festival is not for you, though – there are no tulips in the Bloemencorso, surprisingly.

Oktoberfest in Munich, Germany

Free flowing beer for a very low cost – that is what Oktoberfest means for many a traveler.  Oktoberfest has actually been copied by countless towns and cities all over the world but nothing beats the authentic Oktoberfest in Munich.  Be part of the tens of thousands of beer enthusiasts sitting on long wooden benches under immense tents holding humongous beer mugs – now isn’t that heaven?

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