Spring is here!

Spring is one of our favorite seasons of the year, and... it's just around the corner!

It may well be many people's favorite time of the year since we can enjoy weather that's neither cold nor excessively hot for a few months. This time of year, the plants start to bloom, the trees are full of leaves, and everything is full of color, with such beautiful landscapes in nature. Plus, it's the transition to summer!

And if that's not enough, three months also include many famous festivals and celebrations in Spain, such as Holy Week, Easter, and the Fallas in Valencia.

All these characteristics are what make the months of April, May, and June the best time of the year to go outside and enjoy the sun and music. We love spring!

That's why we're dedicating this post to the ‘season of flowers.' We're giving you a list of the spring essentials today, an ideal plan with your family, plus a list of the most famous national celebrations.

1. Outdoor plans. We're getting more hours of sunshine.

As spring arrives, the sun sets later and later. We get more and more sunlight to enjoy every day.

In fact, there's a difference of up to two hours between the sunset at the beginning and the end of spring.

On March 20th, when spring kicks off, the sun sets at about 7 in the evening. By June 21, that doesn't happen until about 9:30.

These two hours in difference are what allow us to enjoy outdoor plans with our friends and family.

Take advantage of these sunny hours every day to meet up with your friends after work. It's actually nice to get out of the office and be able to spend some time on your hobbies. Take a walk in the afternoon before dinner, go out to dinner with your family to enjoy a beautiful sunset, or have picnics on the weekends.

The picnic, an outstanding plan for spring

This is when nature is on the rise. The flowers start to blossom, and everything starts to turn a beautiful shade of green. New leaves sprout on the trees, and parks have the most wonderful atmosphere.

That's why this is one of the best plans with friends and family.

What should you keep in mind for having a picnic?

• Place: choose a good spot that's surrounded by nature, with enough free space for the little ones to run around. The two best places: the beach and the mountain.

• Cleaning up: Always take a large bag with you so you can clean up all the garbage and food scraps. It's important to pick up everything before leaving to respect nature.

• The essential for every picnic: a cooler bag to take food and drinks with you without them spoiling or getting hot. These are perfect for keeping things cold, plus they're super comfortable to transport.

• You can't forget about snacks. If you're in the mountains, you may take a hike or walk. So take some extra food to eat between meals while leaving time for the main meal.

• A blanket or picnic table is a must. Depending on the particulars of the place, you can bring a folding table and chairs or a large blanket to spread out on the ground to eat on.

• Don't forget water. Staying hydrated is one of the most important parts, so take a water bottle that can really keep cold.

• Prepare all the food in advance in food containers, and take a lot of fruit.

• Finally, don't forget the glasses and cutlery. You'll need those for lunchtime, as well as napkins.

2. Parties and events during spring in Spain.

With the arrival of good weather come some very interesting events and festivals. As mentioned, it's the time of the year with the most national holidays.

Want to know what holidays there are in spring? Here are the most well-known festivities in Spain and some main facts about them:

• The Fallas in Valencia, the big star in the month of March.

This festivity is celebrated every year in Valencia and some localities in the Valencian Community.

For 20 days, the streets are filled with rockets, music, parties, art, and people in traditional dress.

March 1 kicks off this festival, which has been declared Intangible Cultural Heritage. During these weeks, Valencians take to the streets to set up their monuments and enjoy the famous ‘mascletà,’ or pyrotechnics, every day.

On March 19th, St. Joseph's Day and Father's Day, the festivities come to a close with the traditional 'Nit de la Cremà' - Night of Burning.

• Holy Week in April.

This is the main holiday in April. Though it varies every year, in 2023, it is celebrated the week of Sunday, April 2, Palm Sunday, to April 9, Easter Day.

This holiday in Spain was declared a Representative Display of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2017. For an entire week, the streets are filled with processions commemorating religious events.

• Easter; April 9, 2023.

The last Sunday of Holy Week is Easter Day. This day commemorates a religious event, the most important celebration in the Christian religion: the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

While it has a religious origin, this day has become one of the most popular holidays.

It's customary to go on a picnic in the mountains with friends or make homemade food on terraces. It is the perfect day to get together with the people you love, laugh, and spend a whole day having fun and playing games.

And don't forget the unique, traditional cake called the Easter mona!

• Seville April Fair; April 23, 2023.

During the April Fair, the streets of Seville and other towns in the south are filled with music, color, and food for 7 days.

The booths are the typical stalls that are set up on the streets, where you can find music at almost any time of day. There, you can see traditional dances, including the sevillanas, and you can try the legendary rebujito highball.

Now that you know all the holidays and the best plans for spring, which one are you going to celebrate? Seize the day and enjoy a holiday!