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Archive for January 3rd, 2012

Start The New Year With A Bang With Barcelona Hotels

If you’re tired of the same old New Year’s festivities of visiting your local, staying in and watching tv or attempting to have fun at a house party, make a change with a New Year’s Eve trip to Barcelona. The celebrations are big news in the city, with events taking place all over. Or, treat yourselves to one of the many five-star Barcelona hotels and stay in in style. Whatever you decide to do, make sure your trip extends to a few days into January to enjoy the rest of the Spanish’s celebrations.
New Year’s Eve: Noche Vieja (New Year’s Eve) is a big party here. From ballroom dancing to salsa to flamenco to rock – music, dance and parties are rife here and all waiting for you to join in! The best tradition to partake in is the old Spanish tradition of eating 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight – one for each bell toll. This custom dates back to the Roman Empire and symbolises the passing of the sweet flavour of grapes towards the New Year, so the New Year starts sweetly.
January 5: Known as ‘Cabalgata de los Reyes Magos’ – or The Three Kings Parade, this is one of Barcelona’s biggest festivals. With the Spanish tradition of exchanging presents on January 6, this is heralded by the arrival of the three kings on the eve. Be sure to bring your presents to whichever Barcelona hotels you’re staying in, even if you’ve already exchanged them back home. It’s tradition after all! The Three Kings arrive by boat and disembark at the Moll de la Fusta, where they form part of a procession. This is extremely popular so be sure to arrive early to get a good spot. Traditionally, sweets are handed out to children on the procession and afterwards, they go home and leave out a shoe to receive their gifts. The tradition of being given coal if you’re naughty is intensified in Barcelona – look out for sweets shaped like coal in the shops.
January 17: If you’re lucky enough to still be enjoying the city, stay for ‘The Festa dels Tres Tombs’(Three Turns) celebrating St Anthony’s Day. Held in Sant Antoni, the district that bears his name and home to many Barcelona hotels . Along with the customary Catalan traditions of fire-breathing dragons and giants, horse riders and decorated floats tour the area three times, led by a huge fiberglass pig to symbolize the form the devil took when tempting St Anthony. This festival is less grand but exciting to witness.