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Last posts

All About Menorca’s Jaleos

Alba Surís Barcelonian, Only-Be, Things to do in Barcelona

Surely many of you have visited or at the very least heard good things about Menorca, a slice of paradise in the Mediterranean Sea. And yet this post won’t be mentioning its crystalline waters, its golden beaches, its traditional drink pomada, its delicious cuisine, or its Talayotic megaliths… Today we’ll let you in on all the details of its most traditional festivities, the Jaleos. The Jaleo celebrations trace their start to the introduction of music in what was otherwise a religious ceremony, where horses were made to walk around a town or city three times. Over a century ago in Ciutadella de Menorca, a band started playing an Aragonese jota as the horses were passing by, and such was the musicians’ enthusiasm that the horses started jumping to the rhythm, getting the audience to follow suit. Nowadays, the horses march in a parade led by a donkey and its rider, who plays the flabiol and the drum. The animals then march into the town square, and one by one try to stand up on two legs, while people help hold them in position by supporting their muscles around their flanks. Besides music, there are two central aspects to these festivities: horses, which are always black and strong, and riders, divided into categories representing the different strata of society. Those known as ‘caixers’ are at the top of the rank: a ‘caixer senyor’ represents the nobility, a ‘caixer capellà’ represents the clergy, a number of ‘caixers pagesos’ represent the farmers, and the ‘caixers menestrals’ represent the artisans. The remaining riders are known as ‘caballers’. The audience also plays an important... read more

Battle of the Flowers in Valencia

Mónica Boixeda Only-Be, Practical Guide of Valencia, Valencian

Summer brings out the best in us. Our skin gets tanned, we wear vibrant colors, we look better and we emanate a different energy too. And it appears to be that the same is true for cities, saving their best festivities and celebrations for this time of the year. There are festivities of all types and for all tastes, but I have fallen for this particularl one: Valencia’s Battle of the Flowers. And the name says it all. There is no justification for war anywhere, but if only all wars were like this one… Imagine red carnations raining throughout the city to the rhythm of majestic carriages, elegant horses and festive music. A spectacle worth beholding, there is no doubt about that. Those who’ve already experienced it will know that it’s best to arm yourselves with tennis racquets or similar, to use them as shields as you watch thousands of flowers fly across the Valencian sky. Those in the carriages, dressed in traditional costume emulating the bourgeoisie of the late 19th century also carry racquets that they decorate for the occasion. It’s worth staying till the very end to see the city fully covered in a multicolored blanket of flowers. The Battle of the Flowers of Paseo de la Alameda began in 1891, and it takes place every last Sunday in July, to mark the end of Valencia’s Feria de Julio, which has been celebrated every single year since 1871. A summer festival full of activities and free events, among which we can highlight impressive firework displays and concerts of well-known artists. And all that with a side serving of... read more

Spanish Summer Festivities

Diana Rodríguez Pretel Rankings, Travel Tips

Are you from a small town? In this post, we’d like to suggest we visit some fiestas. Spain has festivities for all tastes- religious, pagan, bullfighting themed, anti-bullfighting themed, unusual, but most of all, highly entertaining. We’re at the height of summer now, and that is precisely the season when most patron saint festivities are celebrated in most Spanish towns and villages. And with 8,112 municipalities across Spain, there is no excuse not to have a great time.