Spain’s spooky Celtic secret: How Galicia’s ancient Samhain festival gave the world Halloween

Though most souls associate Halloween with glowing jack o’ lanterns and slasher films, the true origins of this haunting holiday are actually rooted in Spain.

31 Oct, 2026 @ 16:15

La Cultura·Lead·Olive Press Travel

Why October 9 is a major bank holiday in Spain's Valencia region

Why October 9 is an important bank holiday in Spain’s Valencia region

The Valencian Community celebrates a major historical event this Friday with the Valencia Day bank holiday.

8 Oct, 2026 @ 08:29

La Cultura·Lead·Valencia·Valencian Community

Mayor and museum boss face criminal ‘recklessness’ probe over theft of priceless Bronze Age treasures in Spain

A court has begun proceedings for a crime of damage via recklessness against Villena officials after the theft of one of the largest European collections

30 Sep, 2026 @ 14:30

Alicante·Crime & Law·La Cultura·Lead·Valencian Community

IN PICS: Small Spanish town welcomed 22,000 people to annual ‘La Tomatina’ tomato fight

Over 150,000 tonnes of overripe tomatoes - thirty thousand more than last year - were brought in by seven lorries from Badajoz province.

27 Aug, 2026 @ 09:10

La Cultura·Lead·Valencian Community

EXPLAINER: What is behind Spain’s big San Juan celebrations as traditional beach bonfires are banned in some areas

SPAIN’S San Juan festival has its roots in a pagan celebration that takes place every year to mark the start of summer. Fire and water,

23 Jun, 2026 @ 10:00

La Cultura·Lead·National News

Around 350,000 people are set to descend on Alicante for Spain’s second-largest pilgrimage walk

EXTRA Alicante Policia Local officers are being deployed on Thursday and into the weekend as the city celebrates its 537th Santa Faz pilgrimage. The event

15 Apr, 2026 @ 13:01

Alicante·Costa Blanca·La Cultura·Lead

Unique 17th century manuscript that vanished over 100 years ago is discovered by Spanish police in online sale

A 17TH CENTURY manuscript that disappeared from a Valencia collection has been recovered by the Policia Nacional- over a century later. The work was found

6 Apr, 2026 @ 15:58

La Cultura·Lead·Valencia·Valencian Community

Franco’s family loses final court battle in Spain over ownership of dictator’s summer home

THE Supreme Court has ordered the relatives of the dictator General Francisco Franco to hand over his Galicia summer residence to the State. The ruling

12 Mar, 2026 @ 11:34

Galicia·La Cultura·Lead

Spanish colonel who led failed 1981 coup attempt dies on day top-secret documents related to the plot are declassified

Spanish officer who led failed 1981 coup attempt dies on day top-secret documents related to the plot are declassified

ANTONIO Tejero, who led a failed coup attempt in Spain in 1981 has died at the age of 93. The former Guardia Civil officer supported

26 Feb, 2026 @ 12:45

La Cultura·Lead·National News·Valencia

Film star Susan Sarandon to receive special international honour at Spain’s Oscars

AMERICAN actress Susan Sarandon will receive an International Goya at Spain’s equivalent of the Oscars to be held next month. She follows in the footsteps

30 Jan, 2026 @ 16:00

Celebrity·Entertainment·La Cultura·Lead

Julio Iglesias lawyer wants sex abuse complaints thrown out because courts in Spain have ‘no jurisdiction’

JULIO Iglesias’ lawyer wants authorities to dismiss a complaint from two ex-employees alleging sexual misconduct against the veteran singer. Papers were filed on Monday to

19 Jan, 2026 @ 18:00

Celebrity·Crime & Law·La Cultura·Lead

Spanish singer Julio Iglesias issues statement to deny sex abuse allegations

SPANISH singing legend Julio Iglesias has issued a statement where he has denied sexually abusing two former domestic employees who have filed a criminal complaint

16 Jan, 2026 @ 13:03

Celebrity·Crime & Law·La Cultura·Lead

Spain's Julio Iglesias says 'truth would come out' over sex abuse allegations involving workers at his Caribbean mansions

Spain’s Julio Iglesias says ‘truth will come out’ over sex abuse allegations involving workers at his Caribbean mansions

JULIO Iglesias is ‘preparing’ his defence against sexual abuse and human trafficking allegations made by two female ex-employees. The 82-year-old singer spoke by telephone with

15 Jan, 2026 @ 13:00

Celebrity·Crime & Law·La Cultura·Lead

Spain's oldest Three Kings parade goes ahead despite likely poor weather

Spain’s oldest Three Kings parade goes ahead despite weather warning

SPAIN’S oldest Three Kings parade will take place in Alcoy from 6pm this Monday- despite the inclement weather. Despite many surrounding Alicante province towns suspending

5 Jan, 2026 @ 16:22

Alicante·La Cultura·Lead·Valencian Community

The ancient capitals of Spain – Ten cities that were once seats of Spanish power

EVERY city in Spain has fascinating stories to tell and historic artefacts to show off, but did you know which were once former capitals of

25 Dec, 2025 @ 12:00

La Cultura·Lead·National News·Olive Press Travel·Other News

Costa Blanca’s top summer music festival ‘kicked out of Benidorm’ but finds new home in Torrevieja

A MAJOR summer music festival has quit Benidorm after 14 years and found a new home on the southern Costa Blanca in Torrevieja. The Low

11 Nov, 2025 @ 12:43

Benidorm·Costa Blanca·Entertainment·Lead·Olive Press Travel·Torrevieja

The curious history of Halloween in Spain: How today’s traditions come from ancient Celtic rituals

DID you know the curious history of spooky Spain? Learn all about the origins of Halloween’s Celtic origins. Though most souls associate Halloween with glowing

31 Oct, 2025 @ 16:30

La Cultura·Lead

Revealed: The most popular cultural leisure activities enjoyed by people in Spain

Revealed: The most popular cultural activities enjoyed by people in Spain

WATCHING audio-visual material(81%) and listening to music(79%) are the most popular cultural activities in Spain, according to a Ministry of Culture study. The survey carried

8 Oct, 2025 @ 15:00

Entertainment·La Cultura·Lead

Valencia's spectacular €400m Juan Roig Arena hosts its first concert this Saturday

Valencia’s spectacular new €400m Juan Roig Arena hosts its first concert this weekend

VALENCIA’S Roig Arena- named after the Mercadona supermarket boss Juan Roig- opens its doors this Saturday. The first event will see 20 artists taking part

2 Sep, 2025 @ 16:45

Entertainment·Lead·Valencia

Trucks are filled with 120,000kg of tomatoes ahead of annual La Tomatina festival in Spain’s Valencia

Lorries filled with 120 thousand kilos of tomatoes travel to Valencia for Wednesday’s La Tomatina fight

BUÑOL in Valencia is getting ready to see red once again at the world-famous La Tomatina festival this Wednesday(August 27) with 120,000 kilos of tomatoes

26 Aug, 2025 @ 07:00

La Cultura·Lead·Valencia

WATCH: World-famous Pamplona bull runs start in Spain

THE first running of the bulls at the world-famous San Fermin event took place on Sunday morning on the streets of Pamplona. It was the

7 Jul, 2025 @ 10:53

La Cultura·Lead

Warhol and Dali ‘fakes’ seized in €1.2m art package sent to Valencia auction house

A JOB lot of 41 fake or unattributable paintings and prints including works ascribed to Andy Warhol and Salvador Dali have been seized by Valencian

2 Jun, 2025 @ 17:45

Crime & Law·La Cultura·Lead

Why mums in Spain get to enjoy a special day this Sunday

SPAIN celebrates Mother’s Day(Dia de la Madre) this weekend on its now regular date of the first Sunday in May. Mother’s Day in the country

3 May, 2025 @ 15:00

La Cultura·Lead·National News

Traditional Semana Santa events in Alicante that you must go and see

Must-see Semana Santa events in Spain’s Alicante: Where are they and when are they on?

ALICANTE is one of many cities in Spain where the Semana Santa (Holy Week) events are a ‘must see’ if you are in the area.

15 Apr, 2025 @ 16:30

Alicante·Costa Blanca·Lead

Valencia's Fallas festivities finish this Wednesday night with the burning of the giant 'ninot' statues

Valencia’s Fallas festivities finish this Wednesday night with fires galore to burn giant ‘ninot’ statues

VALENCIA City’s annual Fallas celebrations reach a climax this Wednesday evening with the burning of the ninot statues in the Crema ceremony. The ninots are

19 Mar, 2025 @ 17:30

La Cultura·Lead·Valencia

Valencia’s world-famous Fallas celebrations start with spectacular fireworks display

VALENCIA’S Fallas celebrations started on Sunday with a show and fireworks display at the city’s Serranos Towers. The traditional grand opening saw thousands of people

24 Feb, 2025 @ 12:22

La Cultura·Lead·Valencia

la cultura

Spain’s spooky Celtic secret: How Galicia’s ancient Samhain festival gave the world Halloween

Why October 9 is an important bank holiday in Spain’s Valencia region

Mayor and museum boss face criminal ‘recklessness’ probe over theft of priceless Bronze Age treasures in Spain

IN PICS: Small Spanish town welcomed 22,000 people to annual ‘La Tomatina’ tomato fight

EXPLAINER: What is behind Spain’s big San Juan celebrations as traditional beach bonfires are banned in some areas

Around 350,000 people are set to descend on Alicante for Spain’s second-largest pilgrimage walk

Unique 17th century manuscript that vanished over 100 years ago is discovered by Spanish police in online sale

Franco’s family loses final court battle in Spain over ownership of dictator’s summer home

Spanish officer who led failed 1981 coup attempt dies on day top-secret documents related to the plot are declassified

Film star Susan Sarandon to receive special international honour at Spain’s Oscars

Julio Iglesias lawyer wants sex abuse complaints thrown out because courts in Spain have ‘no jurisdiction’

Spanish singer Julio Iglesias issues statement to deny sex abuse allegations

Spain’s Julio Iglesias says ‘truth will come out’ over sex abuse allegations involving workers at his Caribbean mansions

Spain’s oldest Three Kings parade goes ahead despite weather warning

The ancient capitals of Spain – Ten cities that were once seats of Spanish power

Costa Blanca’s top summer music festival ‘kicked out of Benidorm’ but finds new home in Torrevieja

The curious history of Halloween in Spain: How today’s traditions come from ancient Celtic rituals

Revealed: The most popular cultural activities enjoyed by people in Spain

Valencia’s spectacular new €400m Juan Roig Arena hosts its first concert this weekend

Lorries filled with 120 thousand kilos of tomatoes travel to Valencia for Wednesday’s La Tomatina fight

WATCH: World-famous Pamplona bull runs start in Spain

Warhol and Dali ‘fakes’ seized in €1.2m art package sent to Valencia auction house

Why mums in Spain get to enjoy a special day this Sunday

Must-see Semana Santa events in Spain’s Alicante: Where are they and when are they on?

Valencia’s Fallas festivities finish this Wednesday night with fires galore to burn giant ‘ninot’ statues

Valencia’s world-famous Fallas celebrations start with spectacular fireworks display

Political round-up: How riots and the horror Toledo train disaster derailed Spain’s snap election campaign

Spanish cinema’s weight problem: Overweight characters are rarely seen on screen and often defined by food, illness or death

Spain’s spooky Celtic secret: How Galicia’s ancient Samhain festival gave the world Halloween

Spain’s most famous farmhouse beloved of Lorca and Clint Eastwood is saved at last after 20 years of decay

At 77, legendary Spanish film director Pedro Almodovar writes his first novel – but are other people’s secrets his to tell?

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