Although they have lost part of their original functions with the passing of time, Santiago de Compostela's fiestas and traditions are still of great cultural interest; this, along with the city's historical-artistic heritage, is a reflection of its unique personality and character.

Compostela's most outstanding fiesta, due to its splendour and international scope, is that of the Apostle Santiago , the patron saint of the city, and also of Galicia and Spain . But each fiesta has its own meaning and atmosphere…

Thus, although it is to be expected that, in Christendom's third holy city after Jerusalem and Rome, religion would feature prominently in the calendar of feasts (Christmas, Epiphany, Holy Week, parish feasts), the festivities are also related to the earth's productive cycle. This is reflected in the abundance of agricultural and gastronomic festivals (Magosto, “annual markets” of the Ascension and the Apostle) or those related to the sun (San Juan) .

However, their original religious and agricultural nature is now combined with a varied cultural programme: music or dance festivals, street theatre, children's and recreational activities, etc, which enrich and light up the city's traditional celebrations.