Colors of Ourense - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

People of Ourense are great admirers of their culture and traditions and are known for their love for lush and long holidays. One of the city's largest annual celebrations is the Xinzo de Limia Carnival. Officially, it is held from March 1 to 5, but in fact, city residents begin to arrange entertainment programs three weeks prior to the event.

Three Sundays before the official start of the carnival, they hold a flour battle - Domingo Fareleiro. The essence of this entertainment is fully reflected in its name - Ourense inhabitants meet at the flour battle right in the streets. Going for a walk on this day, it's recommended to wear clothes you're not afraid to spoil - after all, you never know when you find yourself in the middle of the battle. The townspeople generously sprinkle flour on each other and passers-by, and such an unusual entertainment has long become traditional for them.

In a week, next Sunday, one should again refrain from wearing expensive luxurious outfits because of Domingo Oleiro water battle. It is hardly possible to leave the street dry on this day, as absolutely all the inhabitants of the city are supporters of such fun entertainment. The third Sunday preceding the official start of the carnival is called Domingo Corredoiro. On this day, beautiful fancy-dress processions pass the city streets. Guests of the city can witness musical and dance performances. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Finally, the main actions are carried out for five days - from March 1 to 5. Folklore groups and popular musicians perform in the streets and squares, while traditional fairs become one of the favorite entertainments within the framework of the carnival. Here you can buy interesting handicrafts and souvenirs, try the rarest regional delicacies and the best Galician wines.

The townspeople have many interesting traits that manifest themselves in their daily life. Travelers who have already been to other regions of Spain may notice that people of Ourense and other neighboring towns speak a special dialect. It is called Galego, and this kind of dialect is the Celts' legacy. Residents of this region began to speak it back in the 3rd century BC, and now the Galician government is taking a number of measures to revive and strengthen this part of the local culture. It is noteworthy that Galician language is very similar to Portuguese and has little in common with classic Spanish. Active tourists who want to chat with locals while on vacation in Ourense should certainly buy a phrase book in one of the local tourist centers.

Local musical preferences are also special - no event is complete without beautiful music performances here. As a heritage of the distant Celtic past, the present inhabitants of Galicia have retained the love for bagpipes, while in other regions of Spain, this musical instrument is not popular at all. During Ourense's major festivals and holidays, it is worth visiting the performances of street orchestras, which cannot do without bagpipers. It is noteworthy that all members of such musical groups are usually dressed in beautiful national costumes, which makes the show even more spectacular.

Gastronomic traditions are another important component of local culture. Locals are very fond of seafood and hold many food festivals throughout the year. Every autumn, a series of gastronomic festivals takes place in the region. In recent years. eminent chefs and gastronomy experts from around the world have been involved in most of them. For tourists, such festivals are an excellent opportunity to taste the best regional delicacies and wines. Seafood becomes the main component for preparing dishes during such events.

Travelers visiting Ourense in early autumn will have a chance to take part in the traditional Wine Festival. This holiday is one of the oldest in the region - grape harvest celebrations were first held hundreds years ago. Now they have reached the scale of a major gastronomic festival, which is attended by sommeliers and wine experts from many countries. However, Ourense's food festivals are not limited to the culinary component alone. Local musicians, craftsmen, and artists join them too, so tourists will be offered a lot of interesting entertainments.