Monday 16 February 2009

Some Of The Many Holidays In Spain

A great time to visit Spain is during the holidays when a visitor can truly experience the Spanish culture. There are many celebrations and holidays in Spain during every season. Since most of Spain is Roman Catholic, most of the public holidays are religious. The many festivals and celebrations associated with these holidays, in both large cities and smaller cities, are great activities to experience during your stay.

Some of the holidays celebrated during the spring and summer include Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Corpus Christi and St. John’s Day. Good Friday is the Friday before Easter Sunday and is a very important holiday in Spain.

Many cities have parades or large festivals and many areas hold these processions throughout the entire week. Some events also include re-enactments of the crucifixion. In addition, many of these festivals extend to the Easter Sunday holiday. It is another very important holiday throughout Spain and is meant to honor the Resurrection of Jesus. The holiday of Corpus Christi, meaning the Body of Christ, is celebrated in late sprint or early summer. This holiday is very important to the Catholic religion.

The feast of Corpus Christi celebrates the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and is honored on the first Sunday after Trinity Sunday. It is usually in May or June, but varies each year. St. John’s holiday is on June 24, but it is on June 23 that St. John’s Day is celebrated in June 24 but the celebrations tend to begin the evening before.

During the evening of June 23, bonfires are built and effigies are burned. Many individuals jump over ht bonfires, as it is thought that jumping over the fire three times will cleanse them of sin. However, jumping over the bonfire is only one aspect of the celebrations, as different areas celebrate this holiday in a variety of ways.

Holidays during the autumn and winter seasons include Columbus Day, All Saints Day, Constitution Day and Christmas. Columbus Day is also the National Holiday of Spain and is celebrated on October 12. It is to honor Christopher Columbus’ arrival to America. Many festivals are held in his honor. The Catholic holiday of All Saints Day is celebrated on November 1 in honor of all saints and martyrs.

This holiday began in the fourth century as a day to remember the martyrs. Today, the play Don Juan Tenorio is often performed during this holiday and people usually make offerings and may visit graves of those who have passed. Constitution Day is a very important holiday celebrated on December 6. It celebrates Spain’s transition to democracy after its constitution was approved in 1978. January 6 marks the end of the Christmas season in Spain.

This holiday, known as the Three Kings Day or El Dia de los Reyes, celebrates the wise men’s visit to Bethlehem. According to Spanish tradition, the three kings represent Arabia, Africa and Europe bringing gifts to baby Jesus. There are often large processions or festivals celebrating this day.



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Driving in Mexico

Driving to Mexico can be a fun trip to take with some friends or family. But before you head out of the country there are some things that you should make sure are in place first. Crossing from one place to another can involve a lot of legal aspects. If you fail to have them all in place you risk not being allowed into Mexico. Also, if you neglect certain requirements you could find yourself in trouble or facing a fine. Get all of the necessary information before you plan your trip so that you have no delays holding you back.

Look up the traffic rules and laws in Mexico before you go. Driving in Mexico is not like driving in the United States. If you don’t know what to expect you may find it to be an overwhelming experience. Many people opt not to drive in Mexico because they find it intimidating. It doesn’t have to be. You just need to know what to expect. Browse traffic signs and their meanings online and make any notes if you feel it is beneficial. If you know how the rules work you will have little to worry about.

You will need to take out some form of Mexican auto insurance. Most American insurance policies are not recognized in Mexico in the event of an accident. You must have insurance provided by a Mexican company. Many people do not realize this and then when an accident happens they are left with a huge bill to pay. Look up reputable Mexican insurance agents that deal with American visitors often. They will be able to serve you quickly and get you on your way so that you can focus on enjoying your time in Mexico.

Make sure to bring all of your legal identification information to Mexico with you. You will need a valid driver’s license from your own state and country to drive there as well as proof that you are who you claim to be. In many cases you will be required to apply for temporary importation of your vehicle. This is something that has to be done as you are crossing into Mexico. You will have to have all of the legal documents for your vehicle with you for this. There will be a fee associated with this so be prepared to pay it. The fee is based on the age of your vehicle. Newer cars are subject to a higher rate.

Be careful when you drive in Mexico. Livestock is known to wander on to the road at times and other drivers can occasionally be aggressive. It’s best not to drive at night if at all possible. It is not always safe, especially for those from other countries. Visitors have been known to be robbed while driving in their car at night or in unsafe locations. Stay safe at all times and stay alert regarding what is going on around you. Driving in Mexico requires planning, patience and making sure that everything is legal.


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Driving in Canada

Driving in Canada has changed in recent years. Changes to the way border crossing is done has been recently undertaken in order to increase and enhance security. You need to know about driving in Canada before you set off. Ignorance could get you sent right back home if you fail to gather all necessary information first. If you are not familiar with the laws and border crossing regulations, there are many sites that supply this information for free. Be sure to look them up.

You must bring your photo identification with you to Canada as well as your driver’s license and your passport. Recent changes require everyone to bring a passport when crossing the border from either side. This allows officials to verify that you are who you claim to be and that you are not a breach to security. Make sure that your driver’s license and all other I.D. is up to date. Any expired information will need to be renewed before you can enter Canada. Check that it will not be expiring while you are there either.

Everyone that is travelling with you inside the car will need to provide the same information. Border control has to verify every person that wishes to cross the border, not just the driver. Even children will be required to show a passport so get this type of information gathered before your planned trip. It can take time to get a passport if you do not have one so factor the timing for that in as well if necessary.

The rules regarding what you can and cannot bring into Canada tend to change so make sure you are up to date on the latest. This information will be listed online so check it out and make notes of anything important. It would be unfortunate to pack things you can’t take and then have to dispose of them at the border.

You will always be asked for the legal information for your vehicle. Have everything on hand to show border patrol. They are always on alert, watching for stolen vehicles which many criminals attempt to bring over the border to flee authorities. Have your information up to date so that you can get through that much faster. When you are organized and ready to show information, the process will go much faster and smoother.

If you buy anything while you are in Canada make sure that you keep all of the receipts. The border guards may ask to see them when you pass through on your way home. It’s just another way of making paperwork help you get through the line that much quicker. You can also look up border wait times online to get an idea which crossing will be the quickest. Some are longer than others so consider that.

Keep in mind when driving in Canada that some of the traffic rules may vary. The speed limit is posted in kilometres rather than in miles so remember that too or you may find yourself with some speeding tickets. Driving in Canada can be beautiful and exciting if you take care to arrange it accordingly.


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