Pamplona's world-famous San Fermín fiestas and their encierros, bull runs, are just around the corner (July 6th-14th), so here is a reminder that San Fermín brings with it Spain's most entertaining annual protest. Now in its sixth year, the Running of the Nudes 2007 (July 5th, 1.00 p.m.) has become almost as traditional as the event it parodies and denounces. Last year it attracted over 1,000 protestors, "most wearing little more than a red scarf and horn," which is just dandy by me. More nudes news here.

Posted by : John Ross on Thursday, June 14, 2007 - 11:40 AM 2214 reads

This is not such a silly question as it may seem. A few years ago (2001, I think), I received a very irate e-mail from a young lady who accused me of having ruined her summer, which she had organized around the famous food fight in question. But she had turned up in Buñol, Valencia, to find that La Tomatina had been held the previous week! I had written (as the municipal website said and still says) that La Tomatina was held on the last Wednesday in August, but no, that year, it had been the fourth Wednesday in August. Fortunately, Amparo at Buñol's ayuntamiento, town council, has dispelled the doubt. "That year, it was moved forward a week, but the norm is for it to be on the last Wednesday in August." Read on.

Posted by : John Ross on Thursday, June 02, 2005 - 11:05 AM 2992 reads

Pamplona's tremendous fiesta, San Fermines, is upon us once again, from July 6/7 to 14. High on most lists of "ten things to do before you die," San Fermín is one of the world's greatest party events, and whether you intend to actually run with the bulls, let your hair down to subterranean levels, sit at a pavement café pretending to be Hemingway, or follow proceedings at a comfortably safe distance (across the Atlantic, for example), the Spain and Portugal for Visitors San Fermín page is a must-read. Visit San Fermín, or read on to find out who this year's guiri del año is and, indeed, what a guiri is.

Posted by : John Ross on Tuesday, May 31, 2005 - 11:00 PM 1636 reads

I think it is because Carnival comes so soon after Christmas that it never fails to take me by surprise and, dang, here it is. The first major stop in the year in the Spanish fiesta calendar is upon us again, Saturday February 5 being Carnival Saturday, when most places with a Carnival tradition will be electing the Carnival Queen, if they haven't already done so. Let the party begin or read on for a short extract from Spain and Portugal for Visitors' Carnival page.

Note: Date altered - real date January 31

Posted by : John Ross on Saturday, January 22, 2005 - 07:35 AM 1738 reads