Fiestas de agosto en Madrid

Although you might expect Madrid to be deserted in August because its inhabitants flee to the coast, nothing could be further from the truth. The Spanish capital offers various leisure options so you can enjoy yourself this month.

In this post we focus on the local festivities which capture the essence of a city which, despite being the capital of one of the most important countries in Europe, in many ways still feels like a town.

The Madrid of 19th century working-class majos and manolos, known for their unique style and dress, and chotis and other popular partner dances has bequeathed us an intangible cultural legacy, a legacy which we are now trying to preserve.

The feast of Saint Cajetan, known simply as San Cayetano, from August 2 to August 8, kicks off the festivities celebrated during the first half of the month. The feast is celebrated in the Embajadores district and, although originally it was merely a religious celebration, by the end of the 19th century festivals had already begun to pop up. Today, the main attractions, in addition to the feast itself, revolve around enjoying the traditional outfits and decorated streets.

The feast of St. Lawrence or, San Lorenzo, is held in the Lavapiés district. In addition to outdoor dancing in the center of Lavapiés, competitions are held for the best traditional Madrilenian outfits. This festival runs from August 9th to August 11th and is the main celebration held in this increasingly multicultural neighborhood.

Perhaps you didn’t know that one of the most popular festivals in Madrid, Our Lady of the Doves, or the Virgen de la Paloma, is held in the month of August in the La Latina neighborhood. This festival, which arose during the reign of Charles IV, is second only to San Isidro in terms of its importance. The Virgen de la Paloma is the patron saint of firefighters and during the feast, from August 12th to August 15th, there are local festivities.

Image:  Lucian_andrei

Categories: Actividades, Guías Madrid