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Welcome to la Feria de Abril Guide Tour! 

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Welcome to la Feria de Abril Guide Tour! 

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Share your opinions with your classmates, feel free to add more photos and articles you like about this topic!

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1. When and Where? History and Traditions!

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1. When and Where? History and Traditions!

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Read the article and discuss with the classmates the history and traditions of la Feria de Abril. Make a list to make your points clearly viewed.

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The Feria de Abril in Seville is, without a doubt, one of the highlights of the cultural agenda not only of the city but of the entire country. It's an incredible time of year to be in Andalucía, and we encourage you to take advantage of it and experience the Feria for yourself! For this very reason, Enforex schools stay open all year round. That way, if you want to study Spanish in Seville, you can do so while also discovering this wonderful celebration of music, food, flamenco and life!

While there's nothing quite like experiencing this celebration for yourself, read on for all sorts of background information about the Feria de Abril.

When and Where is the Feria de Abril?

Two weeks after the processions of Semana Santa come to an end, the atmosphere brims with the color, music, and merriment of the Feria de Abril. Given that Easter itself is a moveable feast, the dates of the April fair of Seville are not fixed, either, although you can be certain that it will take place sometime between the first week of April and the beginning of May. Meant as a tribute of sorts to the arrival of spring, similar fairs are held all over the country during the early days of the blossoming season. Nevertheless, Seville's is the undisputed king of them all.

Feria de Abril Traditions

With the quick flick of a switch, over 22,000 bulbs bathe Seville's expansive fairgrounds in joyful light. This first night of the April fair of Seville, the Alumbrao, features the brilliant lights adorning the fairgrounds and the massive main gate - designed and constructed anew each year - as they flicker to life for the first time of the year, marking the beginning of a week of dancing, music, and basking in the joyous Sevillian culture. This week also sees the best bullfights of the season, so be sure to bring your white handkerchief and follow the Sevillians to the Maestranza bullring. ¡Olé!

Pass through the towering gate into the festive realm of the Feria de Abril and you'll see over 1000 striped casetas (tents) lining both sides of the streets. These casetas constitute an intrinsic part of the tradition of the fair and give the celebration its particular color - quite literally! Owned by groups of friends, families, organizations, or political parties, they serve as miniature homes, intimately decorated by their owners and equipped with a kitchen, a bar, and tables and chairs for enjoying scrumptious tapas and wine.

The lively songs coming from within each caseta during the April fair of Seville are sevillanas, four-part songs with accompanying four-part dances that Sevillians begin learning as soon as they take their first steps as children. The bright, polka-dotted flamenco dresses of the women, the men on horseback donning traditional clothing of farm-workers, and groups getting out of adorned horse-drawn carriages complete the atmosphere with a unique air of tradition that the cheerful Sevillians are happy to show off.

Instead of slowly winding down, the Feria de Abril concludes with a literal bang as fireworks launch into the sky in Seville's spectacular fireworks display.

History of the Feria de Abril

The Feria de Abril certainly didn't begin as the sensational fiesta we see today. Instead of polka-dot dresses swirling to lively music there was cattle. It began in 1847 as a livestock and agriculture fair, evolving over the years into a purely Sevillian tradition. Erected tents, which eventually led to the casetas lining the current grounds, served to keep businessmen cool beneath the scorching sun, and small food stands slowly began setting up camp at the fairgrounds.

Soon, Sevillians began flocking to the fair, and in their larger-than-life manner made it their own. Eventually, the livestock stalls phased out and the festival began to turn more and more into an occasion to eat, drink, dance, and have a fantastic time. As a result, the Feria de Abril grew exponentially over the years, to the point where the original fairgrounds just weren't big enough. These days, the April fair of Seville boasts its own fairgrounds, specifically allocated for the celebration and used only during this special week.

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The Feria de Abril in Seville is, without a doubt, one of the highlights of the cultural agenda not only of the city but of the entire country. It's an incredible time of year to be in Andalucía, and we encourage you to take advantage of it and experience the Feria for yourself!

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Read this article and check out the grammar knowledge points. Watch the video and post some new words you have learned under this link.

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La Feria de Abril : Spanish practice - Kwiziq Spanish

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An interactive Spanish exercise about with clickable translations and This exercise is about the Spanish festival La Feria de Abril. quizzes. Try Kwiziq Spanish for this and hundreds more Spanish exercises

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Read this article, learn about the words Sevillanas, Rebujito, Calle del Infierno, Portada, and Casetas.

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Feria de Abril of Seville: basic vocabulary you need to know!

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Photo Tour Seville Enjoy a photo tour or a photography workshop in Seville with us. Meet our team of professional photographers and discover why we offer you one of the best things to do in Seville. You enjoy it, we save it! You might also like comments This website uses cookies to improve your experience.

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La Feria de Abril de Sevilla / Seville's April Fair

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Recently, Shawn of Azahar Sevilla and the mastermind behind Seville Tapas tweeted that I have a reputation of being feriante, a lover of Seville's famous festival, the Feria de Abril. We may have only met briefly, but mujer gets me. What's not to love about a week dedicated to revelry, horses, wine and curve-hugging dresses?

Two weeks after sevillanos have dried their tears after another washed out Holy Week, a makeshift city of temporary tents is erected at the southwest end of the city. Known as the Real de la Feria, this pueblecito comes alive during six days of the year, from 9pm on the Monday two weeks after Resurrection Sunday to the following Sunday's fireworks show.

The dizzying, vibrant week can be characterized by a whirl of polka dotted dresses, the jingle of horse bells and the sound of sevillanas, a type of flamenco music, and it's one of Spain's most well known festivals. But as a city deep-rooted in tradition, even the April Fair has its set of unofficial rules. I consider myself a fairly well-weathered feriante after eight years of teaching class after late nights, of using my enchufe to my advantage and of lasting through six days of partying.
DO bring your wallet
One of the biggest pitfalls to Feria is that it falls two weeks after Holy Week ( my perfect excuse for traveling during 10 days). Feria is a wallet drain.

First is the costly flamenco dress and everything that goes with it - the flower, shawl, earrings and shoes. I got my most recent dress during the July sale season for a mere 125€ and the accessories, called complementos, cost me another 60€. Styles change de feria en feria, so some wealthy women get a new dress each year!

My caseta membership costs Kike and I 150€ a year (we alternate who pays, this year me toca, while he'll pay the cheaper gym membership), and then there's the food, the drinks and the need to buy a new pair of shoes when I dance the others right into the trash. Tapas are not served in casetas, but rather raciones that can be 6 - 12€, while a jarra of rebujito can cost up to 10€! What's more, hotels and taxis operate on a holiday price, so rates will be sky-high like during Holy Week. City buses have a 2€ day pass, and they'll extend working hours - look for the " Especial Feria " bus.

To keep costs down, I usually eat lunch at home and walk to the fairgrounds and always ignore my dwindling bank account for the sake of un buen rato. Feria only comes once a year!
DON'T only see Feria by night
The fairgrounds open daily around 1p.m. and most casetas stay open until the wee hours, meaning the Feria de Abril is an exercise in stamina, and not just for your wallet. My first few years in Seville, I worked outside the city and therefore had to run home, change into my traje de gitana, eat and get to Calle Gitanillo de Triana. I'd alternate dancing sevillanas with sips of rebujito and riding the carnival attractions in Calle del Infierno, arriving home in the early morning hours and collapsing in my bed hoping to get a few hours of sleep.

I may have inadvertently taught my high schoolers the word "hangover" in English my second year in Olivares.

There are two different sides to the fair - during the day, horse carriages and riders crowd the streets, even parking their horse next to their caseta and drinking sherry by the glass atop the stallion. Music spills out of the tents at all hours, and kids roam the streets with plastic toys and cotton candy the size of their torsos. The ambience is festive and cultural.

As night falls, the carnival rides at the Calle del Infierno begin to light up, and the round paper lanterns, called farolillos, come on. While you'd be pressed to find a caseta that isn't playing a rumba or sevillana, everyone switches from rebujito and beer to mixed drinks, and casetas are often open all night long. I've had mornings where I've ended the long day of partying with chocolate con churros!

I'm also partial to weekday visits. During Friday and Saturday, other villages in the area get a day off to enjoy the fair, which means that it's difficult to walk and navigate around the streets, all named for bullfighters.
DO dress up
Feria is the pinnacle of pijo culture - women will don the traditional traje de gitana, a tight, ruffled dress that cost upwards of 500€. If you're not keen on dressing like a wealthy gypsy, be sure to look nice. I went to the alumbrado, the lighting of the main gate and the official start to the festivities, wearing ratty jeans and sneakers, not fully aware of how the event worked. I've since wizened up and now make it a priority to have a few nice dresses on hand in case there's a chance of rain or I can't bear wearing my traje.

If you're a chico, wear a suit and tie. Caseta etiquette is very important, and you'll be expected to follow suit (literally!). If you're planning on riding a horse, a traje corto, a short jacket and riding pants with a wide-brimmed hat called a cordobés. I've ridden in horse carriages, but never on the back of a jerezano stallion, kind of my dream!
DON'T forget the caseta etiquette
Casetas are the temporary tents that act as houses, kitchens, concert halls and lounges during the Feria. Since the private spaces come at a commodity (there's even a waiting list for when a family or organization decides not to continue paying), a certain type of behavior is expected - you can't be overly drunk, improperly dressed or smoking within the walls.

One year, a friend of a friend was visiting, and I took them to the Novio's friend's caseta. This girl, K, was not sipping the lethal rebujito, but instead treating it like a shot. She bumbled around like an idiot and starting making out with the Novio's youngest brother, causing quite an escándolo and getting us banned from the caseta.

There's also an unspoken rule that you can't bring your twelve friends with you. The Novio's best friend's wife, Susana, often encourages me to invite some pals, but I try and keep it limited to two, maybe three. Even my own caseta has a one-buddy-per- socio rule!
DO set limits on consumption
If Feria is a marathon for your wallet and feet, it's no stroll through the Real for your liver, either. The drink of choice is rebujito, a refreshing mix of half a litre of dry sherry and 7-Up, and it is potent. The sugary drink is usually served in enormous jars and drunk out of plastic shot glasses or sherry glasses between friends. Drinking water and curbing the intake often helps, as well as getting some fresh air every so often. During my first year, the only kind of connection I had was in Los Sanotes, and Kelly and I made sure to be there every day. Susana's uncle finally reminded me that there was more to Feria than one caseta out of over 1000, and a break in the dancing and drinking will allow you to take in the ambience.

Be sure to eat during the day, too. I usually don't want to stop dancing for a montadito or fried fish, but spacing out your drinks and punctuating them with some heavy food like carrillada or tortilla will help you last longer.
DON'T be pesada with your contacts, and try and make them early.
Feria is a time when enchufe, the age-old connections game that lives and thrives in Seville - nearly all of the casetas are private and protected by a doorman. I usually have to say the name of the person who I'm meeting or offer to drag that person back to the door after I've found them to prove that I've been invited. Phone lines collapse and batteries run dead, or someone is too drunk to get to their phone. Make your plans with friends ahead of time to avoid the letdown of arriving to the fairgrounds and having to wander around while you wait for an invitation.

I've have several invitations to casetas where I'm brought food and drink outside, though I've never actually psychically been inside of them. But that's alright with me...as long as there's rebujito and a plate of ham waiting, that is!
While I'm busy with pouring over relaciones institucionales or dancing my brains out on Calle Gitanillo de Triana, here are a few of the articles I've written in the past about la semana más bonita: How to dress up a flamenco dress A vivir! Que son dos días! The Feria during the economic crisis My first Feria experience
Paulina's article on How to Enjoy Feria as a Guiri
Any other tips and tricks for enjoying the fair?

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The Do's and Dont's of the Feria de Abril of Seville

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Recently, Shawn of Azahar Sevilla and the mastermind behind Seville Tapas tweeted that I have a reputation of being feriante, a lover of Seville's famous festival, the Feria de Abril. We may have only met briefly, but mujer gets me. What's not to love about a week dedicated to revelry, horses, wine and curve-hugging dresses?

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Bonus: Get prepared for the festival is the best way to level up your experience!

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Bonus: Get prepared for the festival is the best way to level up your experience!

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Guide and tips for travel.

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By Cat Gaa

During 51 long weeks of the year, the lot just south of the Los Remedios neighborhood is dormant and hardly imaginable as the location of one of Seville's biggest parties, the Feria de Abril. Held each year two weeks after Easter, it can only be characterized as a festival full of all things Andalusian - sherry, horses, and flamenco.

For locals, it's highly anticipated. For travelers, it's a chance to see Andalusian culture on display, despite being a largely private party.

Serious preparation is needed for the fair, from the garb, to the ride, to the groupies. Follow a local's handy guide to preparing for the most wonderful time of the sevillano year!
January
Start learning Sevillanas: The traditional, four-part dance that is commonly seen and heard during the fair is called 'sevillanas.' It can be danced in groups of two, three or four, and you'll feel local if you've learned the steps. Hook up with a class or even private lessons and get ready for the 'piropos' (compliments) to roll in!

Work your 'enchufe': The 1000+ tents on the fairgrounds, called 'casetas,' are owned privately by families, groups of friends, organizations, businesses, or even church brotherhoods. There is nearly always a doorman, so use your connections, called 'enchufe,' to get you in the door. Still, it's rude to ask for an invitation. If you have friends who work in a large company or are members of a religious brotherhood, ask if they like Feria and suggest meeting up one afternoon for a drink or walk around the fairgrounds.

Attend SIMOF: Seville is famous in the design world for its 'moda flamenca' and elaborate flamenco dress designs. Called a 'traje de gitana' or gypsy dress, these garments are put on display during an annual fashion show called the Salon Internacional de Moda Flamenca, or SIMOF for short. Held over three days in late January or early February, more than 60 young designers will inspire you for your next step. For more: http://www.simof.es

Shop for a traje de gitana, or design one yourself: The dress code for the April Fair is strictly formal - men are expected to wear a suit and tie at night, and women must look classy.

Many women opt for either an 'amazona' or long riding dress, or the more traditional gypsy dress. These gowns can cost a fortune due to their elaborate design and the possibilities really are endless. In style currently are lace, one color, flowing skirts and sleeves that reach the elbows. The 'traje' favors just about any body type, but they're hard to move in!

If you're looking to buy your own that's already been made, you can score a dress in any one of the specialty shops around Calle Francos in Seville's city centers. The industrial parks on the outskirts of time will usually have them a bit cheaper if you're willing to make the trek. Expect to pay 150€ - 350€ to buy off the rack.

If you'd prefer to have a 'traje' made so that it's one-of-a-kind, meet with a designer or tailor a few months before the fair. This will be more costly, but you'll have a dress that exactly to your liking, from the pattern to the fabric to all of the small details. Prices will start around 250€ and only go up from there.

Register your horse carriage for the paseos: Every day from 12pm until 8pm, horse carriages and buggies, as well as riders, are allowed to pass through the streets of the fairgrounds. If you're considering bringing a horse and carriage, you'll need to appeal for a license, known as a 'matrícula.' This must be done through the local government's corresponding office six-eight weeks before the fair.

Just be forewarned - the licenses are pricey and the wait-lists could take years! Another option is hiring a carriage and driver for the day.

Try on your traje de gitana: If you've bought a dress, be sure to try it on every week before the Feria in case you need to have it brought in or taken out.

Buy your accessories for your traje de gitana: No good gypsy is complete without her accessories. Once you've bought a dress, take a small sample of its colors so that you can find earrings, a shawl and the flowers that complement your dress. Called 'complementos,' you can find these accessories at any of the stores in the city center near to where the dresses are sold. For a more economic option, try Don Regalón on Calle San Eloy.

The rule of thumb: the bigger the accessories, the more gypsy you'll feel. Don't be afraid to go big during this week!
April
Try on your traje de gitana...again: Just in case your splurging over Holy Week has caused you to put on a kilo or two! And take that dress to a tailor right away!
The Week before the Fair:
Iron your 'volantes' and 'fleco' portions for your dress: Air out your dress and make sure that the ruffles are ironed and starch and that the strings of your shawl haven't gotten tangled up. If possible, hang it from a door and place a chair underneath so that the ruffles don't get wrinkled.

Rest as much as possible: The seven nights of Feria are long, so take it easy on alcohol and be sure to rest the week before.

The week of Feria has finally arrived, beginning two weeks after Easter Sunday. These are seven days of stamina, both of your party-going and your wallet.

Sunday: The tents will open during this day, and if you want to get a taste of the fair without all of the horse carriages in the way or jump on the carnival rides, Sunday is a laid back day with no need to dress up.

Monday: The fair officially kicks off on the third Monday after Easter. The 9pm, the tent members, called 'socios,' eat a dinner of fried fish, known as the 'pescaíto'. Later on, at midnight, the mayor officially lights the main gate and the thousands of paper lanterns. The party rages until 4am, even though most locals will not have the following day off.

Tuesday - Saturday: The fair continues throughout the week, with flamenco bands performing off and on, as well as a daily horse carriage parade (watch your step!). The fair is drastically different between the night and the day, so do your best to go to see both ambiences.

There are also daily bullfights in the Maestranza bullring.

If you're worried about not having an invitation to a private tent, there are several that are open and free to the public. Stop by the tourist information for a map of the myriad of streets - all named for bullfighters - and ask where the free tents are.

Do remember to pace yourself with food and drink, and to bring plenty of cash. Provisions are more expensive at the fairgrounds than they are in a restaurant, but there is carnival food available on the Calle del Infierno where the carnival rides are located.

Typical food is fried fish and regional specialties like potato omelets, pork loin, stewed pig cheek and small sandwiches. You'll see 'sevillanos' sipping on sherry and 'rebujito,' which is a mix of dry sherry and 7-Up. Refreshing, but deadly! If you're looking to just enjoy the ambience, soft drinks and water are readily available, too.

Sunday: As the fair draws to a close, there's a fireworks show at dusk on the Sunday of Feria. By that time, you'll probably not even care.

Post-Feria: Start planning for other local fairs and pilgrimages, known as 'romerías.' The spring and summer in Andalusia have no shortage of parties. Check out the Feria del Caballo de Jerez or the Feria de El Puerto de Santa María in May.

Oh, and sleep. You'll have 'rebujito' head for a day or two, and you won't want to touch anything fried!

For more information on the fair's origins, check outthe local government's guide, or download the map for your mobile phone.

Cat Gaa left the skyscrapers of Chicago for the olive groves of Southern Spain in 2007. A seasoned 'feriante,' she'll undoubtedly be on Gitanillo de Triana street dancing until they kick her out of the 'caseta.' Follow her blog, Sunshine and Siestas, or catch her on twitter, @sunshinesiestas.

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The Feria de Abril: A Step by Step Guide to Preparing for Seville's Biggest Fête - The Spain Scoop

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By Cat Gaa During 51 long weeks of the year, the lot just south of the Los Remedios neighborhood is dormant and hardly imaginable as the location of one of Seville's biggest parties, the Feria de Abril. Held each year two weeks after Easter, it can only be characterized as a festival full of all things Andalusian - sherry, horses, and flamenco.