On January 17th is San Antonio Abad festivity, the first of the year related to the agricultural cycle, although while in the past farm animals were blessed now it is domestic pets. It is celebrated in almost all Castellón’s towns with fairs, plays, bonfires, dancing and distribution of blessed bread rolls. The Santantonada in Forcall (Els Ports) and Vilanova d’Alcolea are worth mentioning.

In February there is an interesting popular, inter-class festivity that has been on the verge of disappearing on several occasions although its celebration has resumed in many towns with dancing, group parades, fancy dress contests and other activities. To talk about the Carnival is to make a compulsory reference to an explosion of colour and spectacle experienced in Vinaròs today. “Vinaròs Carnival surprises all and sundry.

The very mention of the word makes Vinaròs people vibrate and feel compelled to celebrate, to have fun and to manifest a continuous desire to better themselves that has enabled them over the last few years to offer a magnificent show that pleases its inhabitants, satisfies its visitors and gratifies those who all year round prepare the programme, design the costumes, build the floats, in short the people who serve the fiesta that is lived in the streets”, wrote Mariano Castejón on the web page devoted to Vinaròs Carnival. On the third Sunday of Lent, usually in March, Castellón de la Plana celebrates its foundational festivities, better known as the Magdalena Fiestas, which have been declared as being of national tourist interest.

For 9 days the capital hosts a varied number of leisure, traditional, religious and sport activities, among which the Pregò parade and the Canyes pilgrimage are worth highlighting. Besides the pilgrimage, the main role of the gaiates is noticeable. These monuments of light exclusive to Castellón are paraded on the evening of the third Sunday of Lent and are kept in different squares throughout the week of fiestas.

Almost parallel to the Magdalena -depending on the year- Las Fallas is celebrated and although being original from the province of Valencia is very deeply rooted in towns such as Burriana, Vall d’Uixó and Benicarló. The crucial moment of the festivities takes place on the San José evening, better known as nit de la cremà, when the spectacular papier-mâché monuments are set on fire.