Danza de San Sebastián

Aldán (Cangas)

One of the main ethnographic attractions of the Pontevedra municipality of Cangas lies in the ancestral dances that have been repeated in some of its parishes for several centuries. All these dances are characterized by their traditional character, the showiness of the clothes worn by the participants and the fact that they have been jointly declared as a celebration of tourist interest. The dance that opens the calendar is the one that is celebrated every January 20 on the occasion of the day dedicated to San Sebastián in the atrium of the parish church of Aldán. There is written record that it was already staged at the end of the 17th century. Ten gallants, five women (the female incorporation occurred half a century ago) and a guide take part in this dance whose participation was linked in times past to religious promises to achieve some healing. The sober dress of the men (black suit with a purple band) contrasts with the color of the women, who adorn their dresses with a Manila shawl and wear hats with floral decoration on their heads.

Festa dos Fachós

Castro Caldelas

Declared of tourist interest a little over a year ago, the Festa dos Fachós de Castro Caldelas (province of Ourense) is also linked in the calendar to San Sebastián, although in this case the celebration starts on January 19, on the evening of the eve of the day dedicated to that saint. There is no unanimity regarding its origins, but one of the most widespread theses relates it to an ancient Celtic cult of the sun, in the same way that similar celebrations of municipalities such as Taboada do. The fachós that give it its name are the torches that are carried in procession by the neighbors following a large main torch and the image of the saint, also made with straw. The procession leaves from the atrium of the church to visit the old town of this town, dominated by its fortress, lighting its streets and spreading the festive atmosphere to all its inhabitants. Back at the starting point, all the torches are burned in a large bonfire. The presence of the saint responds, as happened with many other ancient pagan celebrations, to an attempt to Christianize the celebration, although the playful tone has survived and has even intensified in recent years, since the acts continues until the wee hours with gastronomic tastings and music.

Festa do Botelo

O Barco de Valdeorras

This year, for the first time since it was established two decades ago, the Festa do Botelo will not attend its annual appointment, at the month of January, with the residents and visitors of O Barco de Valdeorras, but surely that This tasty meat product will reign again these days in many homes in that municipality of Ourense. It is a recognized sausage with a protected geographical indication in which it is established that it must be made up of a minimum of 70% rib, together with leather, lean, and various bone hides, and all of this properly seasoned, smoked and cured. Although it is a product present in other municipalities in the provinces of Ourense and Lugo, in O Barco they boast with special pride of it to the point of having made the expression “Do mar o mero, e do Barco o bottle” (from the sea, the grouper, and from O Barco, the bottle ). And to the call of this festival whose central act is a massive meal, thousands of people have attended throughout these 20 years not only from the capital of Valdeorras, but from the entire region and from many other points in the province of Ourense and from the rest of Galicia. In recent years, the party had also grown with previous celebrations in cities such as Vigo and A Coruña, which, like the main party, have had to be parked on this occasion. But the Botelo will once again claim its gastronomic reign in O Barco in 2022 for the enjoyment of the palates.

Romaría do Corpiño

Devotees from all over Galicia meet every June 24th in the Lalinean parish of Losón to participate in a massive pilgrimage whose origins date back several centuries back in time. The story of a hermit who lived there in the eighth century led to the construction of the first chapel and that the area was known as O Corpiño, and the Marian apparitions that according to tradition took place in that same area in the twelfth century marked the beginning of the signs of devotion that still survive today. The procession of June 24th is the central act of the celebration, but many faithful come to the Sanctuary of Nosa Señora do Corpiño the previous day and also on March 25, day in which the Winter Corpiño or Small Corpiño is celebrated.

– Where: O Corpiño (Losón, Lalín)

– When: June 24th

– More information here

Pilgrimage of Santa Marta de Ribarteme

The special way in which devotees make their promises to Santa Marta is what distinguishes the Romería de Ribarteme from many other celebrations that take place throughout Galicia. In the case of this celebration when someone wishes to recover from a serious illness, get a relative to do it, or thank the Virgin for any promise fulfilled, they introduced themselves into a coffin and are taken in procession the day of the celebration. They sing “Virxe Santa Marta, Estrela do Norte, we let’s bring you who back from death” and their image and that of the penitents who walk after the Virgin barefoot or on their knees form a unique image. Formerly even children participated in this ancestral rite, but today their coffins are transported empty.

– Where: San Xosé de Ribarteme (As Neves)

– When: July 29th

– More information here

Festa dos Fachós

An ancient pagan celebration is the origin of this procession in which fire is the protagonist. Upon arriving on the night of the january 19th, participants light a 30-meter-long torch and hundreds of smaller torches, and begin a tour of the old town surrounding the castle until they reach the atrium of the church of Nosa Señora dos Remedios. There they put all the torches on the ground to form a great bonfire while the bells ring and before giving way to the most playful part of the celebration, with music until dawn. Several hypotheses have been formulated over the years to try to explain this rite that could well have started as a cult of the sun and that is currently framed in the celebration of San Sebastian, although there are those who also relate it with an epidemic of plague and with the habit of burning the belongings of those affected.

– Where: Castro Caldelas

– When: January 19th

– More information here

Festa da Vendima

Nestled in the region of O Ribeiro, the municipality of Leiro has a close relationship with the world of wine so it is not surprising that one of the most important celebrations of its festive calendar has to do with the cultivation and collection of grapes. Each year, when the final stretch of the summer arrives, the town becomes an activity that has been practiced in its fields for centuries at the axis of its Festa da Vendima and pays tribute with a monographic party to this activity and to the people who engage in it. The parade of floats and brass bands is the main moment of the celebration and allows the public to contemplate the neighbors representing the different jobs related to the work of the vine and the production of wine.

– Where: Leiro

– When: Last Sunday of August

– More information here

Festa da Carballeira

An idyllic natural environment, a firm commitment to root music combining both Galician artists and international stars and a loyal audience make the Festa da Carballeira de Zas much more than a simple musical festival. In its 40 years of life, the celebration has not stopped growing and the concerts of the night of the first Saturday of August (the central event of the program) has been adding a previous night and an afternoon of performances The best groups and artists of the national and international folk scene already know what it means to play among Zas’ oaks.-

– Where: Zas

– When: First Saturday of August

– More information here

Festa da Tenreira Galega

May 1st is much more than Labor Day for the residents of Láncara. It is a day of exaltation of the best meat through the celebration of the Tenreira Galega Annual Fair in A Pobra de San Xiao. This year it will be the twenty-second edition of a reference party already for the whole region and in which cattle competitions, exhibitions of machinery and craft, and music will be the perfect dressing of a lunch in which the Galician beef will once again demonstrate the motive of the celebration.

– Where: A Pobra de San Xiao (Láncara)

– When: May 1st

– More information here

Begonte Bethlehem

Until January 26th. Begonte

Begonte Electronic Bethlehem is still open for another week. Neighbors and visitors will enjoy this spectacular animated staging that has been declared of tourist interest.

More information here

Festa do Botelo

January 18th. O Barco de Valdeorras

After several days of previous events, on Saturday 18th, the big day of the Festa do Botelo of O Barco de Valdeorras will be celebrated. The tasting of this traditional sausage will be the centerpiece of a celebration declared of tourist interest and in which there will also be time for tributes and music.

More information here

Pequefilmes 2020

January 18th and 19th. Santiago de Compostela

The best cinema for the childs returns to the City of Culture with the fourth edition of Pequefilmes. Throughout the weekend there will be projections and performances, and also votes and awards.

More information here

Festa dos Fachós

January 19th. Castro Caldelas

The fires will illuminate the streets of Castro Caldelas on the night of January 19th. Of pagan origin, the Festa dos Fachós is currently dedicated to San Sebastián and consists of a procession of large straw torches to the church of Nosa Señora dos Remedios.

Galicia, a story in the world

Until April 12. Santiago de Compostela

A selection of pieces of great importance for the history and culture of this land and coming from various countries of the world come together in the exhibition that can be visited in the Gaiás Center Museum, of the City of Culture. This is the first major exhibition organized by the Xunta on occasion of Xacobeo 2021.

More information here