May is a special month in Spain. The days lengthen, the flowers burst into color, and the soul is filled with the desire to celebrate. In every corner of the country, spring is celebrated with festivals that blend devotion, joy, and a wealth of tradition. Here we share some of the most iconic celebrations, which each year remind us of how much we are united:
May Crosses in Córdoba
In Córdoba, plazas and courtyards are adorned with crosses decorated with flowers, Manila shawls, and ceramics. This tradition, of pagan and Christian origin, celebrates the arrival of spring and love. The crosses become gathering places for dancing, singing, and enjoying the local cuisine.
Image: Córdoba, Cruces de Mayo 1990 07 by Anual, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Festival of the Cordoban Patios
The people of Córdoba open the doors of their patios to reveal authentic interior gardens filled with pots and flowers. This tradition, recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, allows visitors to enjoy Andalusian architecture and hospitality.
Image: Patios of Córdoba by Pablo Andrés Rivero, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Horse Fair in Jerez de la Frontera
Jerez celebrates its famous fair, dedicated to the equestrian world. Stalls, flamenco, fine wine, and horseback riding fill the fairgrounds with life. Riders parade elegantly, demonstrating the passion for horses that characterizes this Andalusian city.
Image: Main promenade of the Jerez Fair by the Ministry of Culture and Sport of Spain., CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
San Isidro Festivities in Madrid
Madrid honors its patron saint, San Isidro Labrador. The Pradera de San Isidro is filled with chulapos and chulapas, rosquillas, and chotis. A traditional festival where tradition and modernity go hand in hand.
Image: San Isidro Festival in Madrid by Madrid City Council, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Flower Seasons in Girona
Girona is transformed into a giant garden. Streets, courtyards, and monuments are decorated with spectacular floral displays, creating a magical tour of the city. This festival combines art, nature, and heritage in a unique visual spectacle.
Image: Temps de Flors 2007, edition 52 by Joan Simon, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Rocío Pilgrimage in Almonte, Huelva
One of the most crowded pilgrimages in Spain. Thousands of pilgrims head to the village of El Rocío to pay homage to the Virgin. Songs, dances, and devotion blend together in this unique celebration.
Image: Church of El Rocío by Klaus D. Peter, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
May Festival in Murcia
In towns like Alhama de Murcia, Mayo celebrations are held with dolls depicting satirical scenes from current events. This ancient tradition welcomes spring and reflects popular ingenuity.
Image: Wine Horses 2019 by Pablo García Sanz, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Ascension Festival in Santiago de Compostela
Santiago is filled with music, theater, and activities for all ages. A festival that combines religious and recreational activities, featuring a livestock fair and pulperías (small grocery stores). It's an opportunity to taste octopus a feira (a feira) and enjoy Galician culture.
Image: Ferris wheel during the Ascension Festival in Santiago (2014) by Contando Estrelas, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Moors and Christians Festival in Alcoy, Alicante
Alcoy celebrates one of the oldest and most spectacular Moors and Christians festivals in Spain. For several days, the city transforms into a vibrant setting commemorating the historic battles between Muslims and Christians. Majestic parades, elaborate period costumes, pasodoble music, and the excitement of the Alardo fill the streets. A festival that not only honors history, but also the collective effort and sense of identity of Alcoy.
Image: Moors and Christians in Alcoy (2014) by Carquinyol, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The Caragol Village in Lleida
Lleida celebrates this gastronomic festival where the snail is the star. Clubs, music, and a great atmosphere make this event a must-attend for lovers of good food. It's an opportunity to enjoy local cuisine in the company of friends and family.
A month to celebrate our thing
May is much more than the month of flowers: it's a journey through our history, our customs, and the beauty of everyday life. Each holiday is a piece of our identity, a reason to gather, to remember, to enjoy authenticity.
And that's precisely what we try to do at Real Fábrica: bring together all those little pieces in the form of objects, flavors, and crafts that connect us to who we are. Because what we sell isn't just craftsmanship. It's also the emotion of what lies behind it: the life of the person who creates it, the hands that shape it, the stories that inspire it. Every piece that passes through our store is a way of making tangible all that, although unseen, builds us from within.
And you, do you have any May traditions you wouldn't miss for anything in the world? Do you remember any special holidays that have left their mark on you? We'd love to hear from you. Tell us in the comments or write to us on social media. You know we like to talk about our own things, the same old things, calmly and lovingly.
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Real Fábrica is a project born to reclaim what's ours: what's well-made, what has history and soul. We travel across Spain in search of traditional products, those that smell of childhood, of the village, of long after-dinner conversations. You can discover our pieces in the online store , read the stories we tell on the blog , and join our community by subscribing to the newsletter .