A mattress of babies in a village street, a town-wide flour fight, drummers playing through the night, and people soaking one another in red wine: the strange traditions in Spain are often the moments travellers remember most. They can look baffling from the outside, but each comes from a fiercely local mix of religion, history, rivalry and collective fun. The key is to see them as a guest, not a participant by default.
Why Spain’s oddest traditions are so local
Spain is not one uniform culture with a few regional variations. Its autonomous communities, provinces and individual towns have distinct histories, languages and identities, and their festivals reflect that. A custom that would seem extraordinary in Barcelona may be entirely normal in a small Castilian village where families have watched it for generations.
Many celebrations began as religious observances, harvest rituals or playful contests between neighbouring communities. Over time, they have acquired music, costumes, food stalls and a large audience. That does not make them staged for visitors. In the best cases, tourism remains secondary to the town’s own attachment to the day.
Dates can shift with Easter, local saints’ days and municipal programming, so treat any festival date as a guide until you confirm it for the year you travel. Smaller places can also fill up quickly, with limited accommodation and transport after dark.
10 strange traditions in Spain to understand before you go
1. El Colacho, Castrillo de Murcia
During the Corpus Christi celebrations in Castrillo de Murcia, near Burgos, a man dressed as a yellow-and-red devil known as El Colacho leaps over babies lying on mattresses in the street. The infants are usually those born in the previous year, and the ritual is associated with cleansing them of evil and protecting them from misfortune.
It is one of Spain’s most photographed traditions and understandably prompts strong reactions. The families and local organisers control the ceremony closely, and it is not an activity for visitors to join. If you attend, stay behind the barriers, follow the instructions of locals and avoid treating a religious rite as a stunt.
2. La Tomatina, Buñol
La Tomatina is Spain’s famous tomato battle, held in Buñol, inland from Valencia, on the last Wednesday of August. For around an hour, thousands of ticket-holders throw overripe tomatoes through streets that become a red, slippery river.
The event is enormous fun, but it takes planning. Tickets are limited, trains and buses are crowded, and old clothes, goggles and shoes with grip are sensible. Squash tomatoes before throwing them, never throw objects other than tomatoes, and expect your clothes and bag to be stained. It is less a glimpse of everyday Spain than a very well-managed annual party, but Buñol’s local festival atmosphere around it is worth experiencing too.
3. The Haro Wine Battle, La Rioja
On 29 June, the town of Haro marks the feast of San Pedro with the Batalla del Vino. Participants make their way to the cliffs of Riscos de Bilibio, then spray, pour and tip red wine over everyone within range. By mid-morning, white shirts are purple and water pistols, buckets and wineskins are all in use.
The battle has roots in a historic boundary pilgrimage, rather than a simple excuse to waste wine. It is still wise to wear clothes you are happy to sacrifice and protect your mobile in a waterproof pouch. Stay on for lunch and explore the town’s historic wine district afterwards: Haro is a much better destination than a quick festival tick-box.
4. Els Enfarinats, Ibi
In Ibi, Alicante province, 28 December brings Els Enfarinats, a mock coup carried out by locals in outlandish military-style costumes. The self-appointed rulers take control of the town, invent absurd laws and levy pretend fines, while a rival group challenges them. Flour, eggs and firecrackers fly during the action.
The date is the Spanish Day of the Holy Innocents, roughly equivalent to April Fools’ Day, so mischief is part of the point. This is not a clean festival. Keep cameras covered, wear glasses if you have them, and give the central participants room. The staged chaos supports local causes, which gives the silliness a useful civic purpose.
5. Jarramplas, Piornal
Each January, the mountain village of Piornal in Extremadura celebrates its patron saint, San Sebastián, with Jarramplas. One resident wears a horned costume and a large mask, then runs through the streets while crowds throw turnips at him.
The origins are uncertain, with theories ranging from ancient fertility rites to the punishment of a cattle thief. What matters now is the community effort: taking the role is an honour, and the costume offers serious protection from the barrage. Winter weather in the Sierra de Tormantos can be bitter, so this is a festival for travellers who are prepared for cold, crowds and a rural setting rather than a polished city event.
6. Tamborrada, San Sebastián
At midnight on 20 January, San Sebastián’s Tamborrada begins with the city’s flag raised in Plaza de la Constitución. For 24 hours, marching groups of drummers and barrel players fill the streets, often dressed as cooks, soldiers or town figures.
It may sound less peculiar than a food fight, but the scale is extraordinary. Children have their own parade, adult societies play through the night, and the rhythms become the soundtrack to the city’s most important day. Book accommodation early and choose where you stay carefully: being close to the centre is convenient, but sleep may be optimistic.
7. Cascamorras, Guadix and Baza
Cascamorras is a paint-covered chase between the neighbouring Andalusian towns of Guadix and Baza, usually held in early September. A costumed figure from Guadix attempts to retrieve an image of the Virgen de la Piedad from Baza. Locals prevent him from returning clean, covering him in black paint instead.
The ritual turns an old rivalry into a spectacular shared celebration. There are separate events in both towns, and the mood is boisterous rather than gentle. Wear clothes that can be ruined, keep your distance if you do not want to be painted, and do not assume every crowd is an invitation to push forward. The historic cave neighbourhoods of Guadix make a rewarding reason to stay longer.
8. The Burial of the Sardine, Murcia
Murcia ends its Spring Festival with the Entierro de la Sardina, or Burial of the Sardine. A giant sardine is paraded through the city before being burned, a comic farewell to Carnival-style excess and a symbolic welcome to a new season.
The celebration includes elaborate floats, costumed groups and sweets thrown to the crowd. Children often come equipped with bags to collect them. For visitors, it is a lively introduction to Murcia’s festival calendar and a reminder that Spanish religious culture can be theatrical, humorous and slightly surreal at the same time.
9. Rapa das Bestas, Sabucedo
In Sabucedo, Galicia, the Rapa das Bestas brings semi-wild horses down from the hills into an enclosure, where locals known as aloitadores restrain them by hand to cut manes, check their condition and mark them before release. Similar events take place elsewhere in Galicia during summer.
This is among the most debated Spanish traditions. Supporters emphasise the connection to managing free-roaming herds and the absence of ropes or tools in the enclosure; animal welfare groups and many visitors question the stress caused to the horses. Travellers should make their own informed decision about attending. If you do go, observe quietly, respect restrictions and do not romanticise an event simply because it is old.
10. Las Luminarias, San Bartolomé de Pinares
On the eve of Saint Anthony’s Day in January, riders in San Bartolomé de Pinares, near Ávila, guide horses through bonfires. Las Luminarias is intended to purify and protect the animals, with Saint Anthony traditionally regarded as their patron.
The sight of horses moving through flames is striking, but it also raises understandable welfare concerns. Local organisers take precautions, while critics argue that the spectacle itself is avoidable. This is another tradition where curiosity should be accompanied by care. You can learn about it without feeling obliged to attend or post dramatic images stripped of context.
How to be a good festival guest
The most rewarding way to experience unusual Spanish festivals is to arrive with patience. Small towns may have only one cash machine, few taxis and restaurants operating at full capacity. Bring some cash, carry water, wear closed shoes where crowds are dense, and keep an eye on local notices rather than relying only on social media.
Photography deserves thought too. Public processions are often photographed, but ceremonies involving children, worship or animals require more restraint. Ask before taking close portraits, never block a procession, and put the camera away when organisers request it.
If a tradition feels strange, that is often the beginning of the interesting question: strange to whom, and why? Spend an extra night, eat where residents eat and ask a café owner or host what the festival means to their family. Spain’s most memorable local customs make far more sense once you hear the story from the town that keeps them alive.