The 8 most famous traditions and customs of Galicia

We explain the main customs and traditional festivities of Galicia, and their origins.

In Spain, more specifically in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, is a community full of traditions and customs that are deeply rooted in the culture promoted through generations among the Galicians.

Among the traditions and customs of Galicia are traditional festivals such as the night of San Juan, the day of Galicia, the traditional Galician dances (the Xota and the Muiñeira), pilgrimages and the universally known Camino de Santiago, the pilgrimage route to the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

In this article we will see how are the main traditions and customs of Galicia and their distinctive characteristics.

The most important traditions and customs of Galicia

The traditions and customs of Galicia are deeply rooted within the Galician culture, a land with deep and ancient habits, which has numerous pilgrimages and festivals that have managed to maintain over the years. It is worth mentioning, for example, the ancient Camino de Santiago, which attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world to the Galician community, which is a very positive aspect for the economy of Galicia and serves to publicize its culture through its typical products, monuments and tourist sites, as well as its traditions.

Among the traditions and customs that endure today in Galician society, it is worth mentioning the most illustrious festivals of the Autonomous Community of Galicia, which we will see below.

1. The Entroido

Carnival, also known as Entroido or Antroido, is one of the most important festivals among the traditions and customs of Galicia. This festival begins 3 days before Ash Wednesday in the liturgical calendar of the Christian religion..

During this festivity one of the most popular customs are the gastronomic rituals in which mainly pork meat is served, being a form of farewell, since, according to tradition, it would be forbidden to eat meat during the 40 following days.

On the other hand, carnival is traditionally celebrated with dances and troupes, and the participants usually dress up with masks. In the Galician towns of Xinzo de Limia, Verín, Laza or Maceda, among others, you can visit museums or centers where the traditional masks are still preserved. traditional Galician carnival masks are still preserved.. These masks stand out for their colorfulness and a large number of accessories.

2. The Night of San Juan

Among the traditions and customs of Galicia that should be highlighted is the Night of San Juan, which is celebrated on the night that runs from 23 to 24 June, being a Christian festival with customs of pagan origin. This is one of the most relevant festivities in Galicia, also called in this Autonomous called in this Autonomous Community as "a Noite da Queimada".It is also celebrated in other parts of Spain.

In this festival it is worth mentioning its celebration through the traditional bonfires, whose original purpose was to purify and protect the people who made them. There are also other superstitions about this tradition.

Another of the traditions and customs of Galicia around the Night of San Juan is that families used to put several aromatic herbs and flowers in a container in order to cure some diseases.

It is worth mentioning that since 1971 in A Coruña the Night of San Juan is celebrated in a different way than in the rest of Galicia, with the "Fiesta del Aquelarre Poético", where various cultural events related to music, dance, art, folk groups, among others, are held throughout the month of June.where various cultural events related to music, dance, art, folk groups, among others, are held throughout the month of June and ending with "a Noite da Queimada" (St. John's Night).

3. Galicia Day

Another of the most popular traditions and customs of Galicia is the celebration of the great feast of the Galician people on July 25, being a holiday celebrated in honor of the Galician people. a public holiday celebrated in honor of the Apostle St. JamesIt is also the National Day of Galicia.

On that day in Santiago de Compostela numerous concerts and other traditional and cultural events are held, as well as in other localities; however, the celebration in Santiago de Compostela is the most popular. It is also customary for many pilgrims to calculate their routes on the Camino de Santiago in order to arrive that same day at the cathedral of Santiago.

4. The Rapa das Bestas

A Rapa das Bestas is one of the most popular traditions and customs of Galicia; it consists of a festival that takes place between May and August in several towns of Pontevedra and A Coruña.

In these festivities it is tradition to cut the manes (the long hair that grows on the neck of the horses) of the horses that are of pure Galician breed, although Galician horses can also have their manes cut.The mane (long hair that grows on the horses' necks) of purebred Galician horses, but also of crossbred Galician horses, is cut in an enclosed area. Any possible wounds that the horses may have are also treated and they are dewormed.

The origin of this celebration happened as a rite that was born out of the need to deworm the horses.It has become a traditional festival of great international importance.

5. The Fiadeiros

The Fiadeiros (O fiadeiro) are another of the traditions and customs of Galicia that should be highlighted, having originated as a meeting between young Galicians on All Saints' Day.

This party usually revolves mainly around traditional dances and music from all over Galicia, the most popular dance being the muiñeira, which is usually accompanied by music played on the guitar.which is usually accompanied by music played on instruments such as the tambourine, the accordion, the tambourine or the bagpipe, whose origin is Celtic.

In the origins of the festival of O fiadeiro used to light bonfires in order to roast chestnuts, another of the most traditional Galician foods.

6. Pilgrimages

Throughout the year there are numerous pilgrimages throughout the territory, being another of the most popular traditions and customs of Galicia. During the pilgrimages, various activities take place: medieval markets, tasting dinners with typical Galician food, musical performances, etc.

7. Gastronomic festivals

The gastronomic festivals are another of the traditions and customs of Galicia that attract more tourists to this area, highlighting the consumption of the most typical and traditional Galician products such as octopus, seafood, Galician empanada, brandy, Galician wine or stew.

Wine is a fundamental component in the traditional Galician festivities.The best known wine is albariño, which is produced in the region of the Rías Bajas (Rías Baixas).

8. The Way of St. James

In addition to the traditions and customs of Galicia that we have just seen, there is a pilgrimage route that has turned Galicia, and more specifically the Galician city of Santiago de Compostela, into one of the main pilgrimage centers around the world. one of the main pilgrimage centers in the world, along with Rome and Jerusalem, among others.along with Rome and Jerusalem, among other cities. This pilgrimage is universally known as the Way of St. James.

The origin of this pilgrimage was due to the discovery of the tomb of the apostle Santiago el Mayor around the year 820 in a forest known as Libertador. a forest known as Libredón, where the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela is located today.. At that time, the news of that appearance spread quickly throughout the European continent, which led to the spontaneous conversion of the place where the remains appeared in a pilgrimage point, giving rise to what is now the Camino de Santiago, which already has more than 1,200 years of history.

There are several ways to get to Santiago, being the French Way the busiest; it has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, although it is well known the popular saying that originally the Camino de Santiago started from the door of each person's house.

Any of the routes allow you to walk from one end of the Galician community to the other, since many pilgrims' routes the paths of many pilgrims do not converge in Santiago de Compostela, but these travelers continue their route until they reach the Galician coast in Finisterre.. Throughout this journey you can enjoy traditional products and dishes, as well as learn about the traditions and customs of Galicia, living an unforgettable experience.