We know the words fiesta major, but we failed in trying to interpret what our neighbour was telling us in Spanish. It didn’t make sense, she spoke of a parade of giants, the “Gigantes de Palamós” and heart-shaped fireworks. It’s the first night of the Fiesta Major in Palamós, Spain, the town of our long-term home exchange.
However, my comprehension was better than I thought. The fiesta started with a parade of giants. Literally. The first few were human size but being that they were a chicken and a dog, they were giants for their species.
Fiesta Major Parade of Giants
After the chicken and the dog came the first two of the six giants. To be honest, we never really understood the ceremony, so I can only report what I saw. The parade of giants continued with larger than life cat and mouse. They appear to be both friends and dance partners, and possibly married to each other.
Next two more really tall figures in the parade of giants (not sure who they are), and finally the spirited and dancing king and queen. After they passed, the crowd joined into the parade and followed along the street to a makeshift stage at the end.
I think it was the medieval style music being played by the other parade participants that really made the evening so fun for me.
My Spanish isn’t that good, but the best I can understand is this a tradition that has been going on for many, many years.
Fiesta Major Ceremony
The parade of giants ended at a plaza near the beach. Here there we speakers welcoming everyone and a torch lighting ceremony.
Fiesta Major Carnival and Fireworks
Finally, we went to the carnival for a bit of fun. The festivities continue for four days ending with a massive fireworks display. The variety of fireworks and colours were impressive for a relatively small town, but, of course, they were nothing like seeing the New Year’s Eve fireworks in Rio de Janeiro Brazil.
However, the highlight for of fiesta Major’s fireworks was something I had never seen before: heart-shaped fireworks. Have you ever seen anything quite like these patterns in the sky:
Practical Information on Fiesta Major in Palamós
- Fiesta Major takes place annually in June to celebrate the first night of summer.
- The full event lasts for over a week.
- Activities are designed for the entire family and include concerts, castles, children’s entertainment, and bonfires of Sant Joan.
- For more information, check out: this website.
We did a long-term home exchange in Palamos. It’s a great way to live like a local, see the world, and have limited accommodation and vehicle expenses while we travel.
⇒ Find your own home exchange partners
Have you ever seen a parade of giants or hear-shaped fireworks? What is your favourite annual festival?
All photos on this page © Rhonda Albom 2012.
Bergen Norway Offering View from Above and an Historical Village
adnan
July 17, 2012 at 8:19 pmReally they are so amazing.Love them from my heart content.Thanks a lot for this awesome post.
Rhonda
July 19, 2012 at 2:35 amHeart content, heart fireworks,
Cafe au lait
July 5, 2012 at 3:16 amThese are too cool! Have a great WW.
Tony Payne
July 4, 2012 at 11:53 pmThose are very cool.
We had fireworks here in Southampton last night as the whole P&O fleet (all 7 ships) sailed down Southampton Water to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the company.
The weather was like the day we walked around the old town together, worse if anything, with non-stop rain all day and night. The two Red Arrows displays were cancelled, but the fireworks went ahead despite the rain.
We just stayed at home in the dry rather than venturing out in the cold wet misery.
Rhonda
July 5, 2012 at 12:13 amOk, I am confused, how do you shoot off fireworks in the rain? It just seems like a complete waste. And 7 big, ugly cruise ships sailing down the water, not sure that is a celebration, but what do I know. I love to be on them, just don’t like what they do the skyline of the cities they visit. 🙂
Tina
July 4, 2012 at 11:20 pmvery cool! ♥
Rhonda
July 5, 2012 at 12:11 amThanks Tina 🙂
NYCSingleMom
July 4, 2012 at 10:05 pmHearts are the best. Happy 4th!
Rhonda
July 5, 2012 at 12:11 amNo 4th Celebrations here in Spain 🙂
Hope you have a great day.
Daddy Forever
July 4, 2012 at 5:59 pmLove the heart shape fireworks. I wonder how they did that.
Rhonda
July 5, 2012 at 12:08 amI was wondering too, and it wasn’t just once, the did it over and over. Always red.
Teresa
July 4, 2012 at 4:42 pmI have never seen fireworks like that. So lovely. Thanks for sharing!
Rhonda
July 5, 2012 at 12:04 amI hadn’t seen any like this before either, pretty cool.
jessica
July 4, 2012 at 4:26 pmit’s so magician when the make shapes like that out of fireworks!
Rhonda
July 5, 2012 at 12:07 amThey also had squiggles, but I couldn’t capture it on still frames and I had no video recorder.
Amelia
July 4, 2012 at 1:41 pmWow- now those are some fabulous fireworks!!
Rhonda
July 5, 2012 at 12:04 amThanks Amelia, I was pleased with how my shots came out.
alissa apel
July 4, 2012 at 9:07 amSo much fun! I bet it was cool to see that happen in the sky.
Rhonda
July 5, 2012 at 12:06 amIt was, and the hearts happened over and over. It was amazing.
Create With Joy
July 4, 2012 at 8:09 amThanks for the early display of fireworks! Enjoy the 4th in Spain! 🙂
Rhonda
July 4, 2012 at 8:27 amLOL, I don’t think there will be too much 4th of July celebration going on here 🙂
aquariann
July 4, 2012 at 7:41 amI hadn’t see heart-shaped fireworks before, how charming!
Rhonda
July 4, 2012 at 8:28 amThey were so cool. I am just glad I had the camera out and could capture on of the hearts. I hand never seen the before either.
Leah H.
July 4, 2012 at 7:29 amCool fireworks, great shots!
Rhonda
July 4, 2012 at 7:40 amThanks Leah.
blogger broadcast
July 4, 2012 at 7:23 amI haven’t seen many in a while. I will this year though.
Rhonda
July 4, 2012 at 7:40 amI haven’t seen an official show in years, not since we left the states 10 years ago – except for once at Disneyland a few years ago.
Theresa
July 4, 2012 at 7:03 amSo very cool! I also love the heart shaped fireworks!
Rhonda
July 4, 2012 at 7:39 amThanks Theresa. I am off to see what you posted.
Paula J
July 4, 2012 at 6:03 amI love fireworks!! It’s amazing how they can create shapes such as hearts!
Happy WW!
Paula
lifeasweknowitbypaula.blogspot.com
Rhonda
July 4, 2012 at 7:38 amI know what you mean, I had never seen shapes before this show.
stevebethere
July 4, 2012 at 4:58 amLoved them the heart one was very clever bet it was noisy 🙂
have a great time 😉
Rhonda
July 4, 2012 at 7:38 amIt was noisy, but we were at the beach enjoying it, so it wasn’t keeping me up. Although they didn’t start until 11.30pm. (Sun sets around 9.15)