Local traditions and culture in Madrid

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At noon on Easter Sunday, there is a Tamborrada (Drum parade) in the centre of Madrid: Plaza Mayor and surrounding area.

Since 2.005, it's organized by the Cofradía de la Entrada de Jesús en Jerusalén, from Zaragoza. It's composed by more than 110 members using their "timbales, bombos, tambores and carracas" (percussion instruments).

Regarding the website, look for Semana Santa (Spanish version) or Easter (English version).

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This is another big tradition throughout Spain. Some events take place during the week such as concerts, but the most traditional are the processions. The most famous are in Andalucía, but the ones in Madrid are becoming very important.

If you want to know more:
- es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semana_Santa (Spanish)
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semana_Santa (English)

Did you know that people from Madrid are called Madrileños? Yes, maybe you knew it, but, do you know that we are also called Gatos (Cats)? Now, you wonder why…….

In 1085, when King Alfonso VI conquered Madrid (called, at that time, Magerit), occupied by the Moors, a soldier scaled the walls of the castle with the agility of a “gato” (cat), hence, the name Gatos (for the inhabitants).

There is also a theory and it is the fact that we Madrileños love nightlife and wonder about at night, so do the Gatos (cats).

I must say that I’ve heard about the first explanation for ages, and I do prefer it.

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Pics:
- Main: Puerta del Sol: Where Madrileños (people from Madrid) go to welcome the New Year and eat the 12 grpaes (very famous and popular tradition in Spain). Metro: Sol (lines 1, 2 and 3).
- Second: Parque de El Retiro (Retiro Park). This part, metro: Retiro (line 2).
- Third: Puerta de Alcalá (Alcalá Gate). Where? Plaza de la Independencia: Metro: Banco de España (line 2 and Retiro, line 2).
- Puerta del Sol. Metro: Sol (lines 1, 2 and 3).

There is a tradition in Spain: The Twelve Grapes.

Every 31 of December, the Madrileños (people from Madrid) go to Puerta del Sol to welcome the new year. And the tradition (just in Spain), is to have twelve grapes. Why this tradition and when did it begin?

It began in 1.909, and the reason was that that year there was a great excess of grapes in the country, and they decided to have a grape with each bell strike. Then, you will lucky over the new year. They are also called "The Grapes of Luck".

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Grapes (English)

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Pics:
- Main: El Oso y el Madroño. This is the symbol of Madrid. Puerta del Sol (metro: Sol, lines 1, 2 and 3).
- Second: Calle de Preciados (metro: Sol, lines 1, 2 and 3) or Callao (metro: Callao, lines 1 and 3).
- Third: Calle de Alcalá. This street is very long, and the pic shows the part from Plaza de Cibeles (metro: Banco de España, line 2) to Puerta de Alcalá/Plaza de la Independencia (metro: Retiro, line 2).
- Fourth: Gran Vía. You can visit this street in some different places. The most popular part is the one shown in the pic, from Plaza del Callao (metro: Callao, lines 1 and 3).
- Fifth: Paseo de Recoletos. The pic was taken from Plaza de Cibeles (metro: Banco de España, line 2).

All the expressions have the same meaning: To have Tapas. Yes, something so typical in Madrid (or in Spain in general).

I can't say a place or area, anywhere in Madrid have many bars where you can enjoy them. Apart from the touristy districts: Plaza Mayor and surrounding area, La Latina, Puerta del Sol, Huertas street, Plaza de Santa Ana..., the other ones, less, let's say, "famous", have excellent bars too. And not to mention that a "caña" (let's say half of lager, so, beer) or glass of wine (unless you don't drink alcohol, although there are beers without it), are a part of the traditional tapas.

The link shows a list of bars that offer good tapas.

For some recipes, go to Restaurants Tips section.

For the 5th time in a row, Madrid celebrates La Noche en Blanco (The Sleepless Night). It consists in more than 150 different events that take place during the night, beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday 10, till 7 a.m. Sunday 11 September 2.011. Some museums are open all night long.

Some other cities celebrate the same event such as:
- Amsterdam (Holland): www.nuitblancheamsterdam.nl
- Brussels (Belgium): 2 October 2010 (www.nuitblanchebrussels.be/?lang=fr)
- Bucharest (Romania): I don't have information yet
- Paris (France): www.paris.fr/portail/Culture/Portal.lut?page_id=6806
- Riga (Latvia): 1 September (www.baltanakts.lv/2010/)
- Valetta (Malta): 25 September 2010 (www.nottebiancamalta.com/)

For info in some other languages, visit:
- www.esmadrid.com
- www.nochesblancaseuropa.eu

- E mail: infolanocheenblanco@munimadrid.es

Note: I apologize if I can't find the dates for the other cities.