Festivals & Events

1. Cando é o Entroido aquí?

   When is Entroido (carnival) here?

   Usage

   Asks when Galicia's carnival, Entroido, takes place; it falls before Lent in February or March and is best known in Verín, Laza and Xinzo de Limia

   Grammar Note

   "Entroido" is a masculine noun and the Galician word for carnival (Spanish carnaval). The interrogative cando carries no accent

2. A que hora sae a procesión da Semana Santa?

   What time does the Holy Week procession leave?

   Usage

   Asks when the Holy Week procession starts; the processions of Ferrol and Viveiro are especially well known

   Grammar Note

   Ask the time with a que hora. Saír is irregular and its third-person singular present is sae

3. Cando se celebra a Rapa das Bestas?

   When is the Rapa das Bestas held?

   Usage

   Asks when the festival where wild mountain horses are rounded up and have their manes cut is held; it takes place in mountain villages mostly between June and August

   Grammar Note

   "Se celebra" is a reflexive passive meaning "is held". Rapa das Bestas is the festival's proper name

4. Onde se fan as fogueiras de San Xoán?

   Where are the San Xoán bonfires?

   Usage

   Asks where the midsummer bonfires of the night of 23 June are lit; the ones on the beaches of A Coruña are especially famous

   Grammar Note

   "Fogueira" is feminine (plural fogueiras). San Xoán is the Galician form of St John, Spanish San Juan

5. Onde se pode ir a un magosto?

   Where can I go to a magosto (chestnut roast)?

   Usage

   Asks where an autumn chestnut-roasting gathering (magosto) is held; chestnuts are roasted and eaten with wine, mostly in November

   Grammar Note

   "Magosto" is a masculine noun for both the chestnut meal and the event. "Can one go" is se pode ir

6. Que se celebra o 17 de maio?

   What is celebrated on 17 May?

   Usage

   17 May is the Día das Letras Galegas, which honours a different Galician-language writer each year, with books and events across Galicia

   Grammar Note

   Dates take the article: o 17 de maio. The month maio is masculine and written in lower case

7. A que hora son os fogos de artificio?

   What time is the fireworks display?

   Usage

   Asks when the fireworks start; the display in front of Santiago Cathedral on the eve of the Apostle's feast (24 July) is famous

   Grammar Note

   Event times use ser (a que hora son ...). Fogos de artificio is the Galician expression for fireworks

8. Cando é a Festa do Polbo?

   When is the Octopus Festival?

   Usage

   Asks the date of the octopus festival held every August in O Carballiño, where boiled octopus is eaten by the crowd

   Grammar Note

   "Festa" is feminine (Spanish fiesta). Note the spelling polbo, not pulpo

9. Onde é a romaría máis próxima?

   Where is the nearest romaría (village festival)?

   Usage

   Asks where the nearest romaría is; in Galicia it is an open-air festival around a shrine, with Mass followed by food and music

   Grammar Note

   The location of an event uses ser (onde é ...). "Romaría" is feminine (Spanish romería)

10. Onde podo mercar as entradas para o festival?

    Where can I buy tickets for the festival?

    Usage

    Asks where to buy festival tickets; music festivals such as the Celtic festival at Ortigueira are held in summer

    Grammar Note

    "Mercar" means the same as comprar and both are used. "Entrada" is a feminine noun meaning admission ticket

11. Podo probar a comida típica da festa?

    Can I try the local food at the festival?

    Usage

    Used to ask about trying the local food sold at a festival, such as octopus, grilled sardines or empanada

    Grammar Note

    "Probar" means to taste. "Típica" is the feminine form agreeing with comida and carries an accent

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