The festive spirit is something you feel as you walk around Barcelona. Barcelona celebrates 15 official holidays a year, including all the major Catholic festivals. During numerous "festes" people show welcoming, enthusiastic and generous aspect of Barcelona. The calendar begins in January with the Cavalcada dels Reis Mags d'Orient (Procession of the Three Kings), a celebration full of magic for children and families.

In February there is the Carnival, with its Rua, a celebration of excess and "that everything is possible", organized by the municipal covered markets. Santa Eulàlia, the day of the patroness of Barcelona, is a traditional winter celebration and the occasion of the prize-giving ceremony of the Ciutat de Barcelona Prizes for the arts and science. March offers the Guitar Festival.

April 23 is a wonderful day to be in Barcelona. On this day people have a celebration with three names: the Dia de Sant Jordi (Day of Saint George), also the Day of the Book, also the Lovers Day. First of all it is a local festival celebrating Catalunya's patron saint. The celebration comes from the legend of the Saint himself. As the story goes, Saint George slayed a dragon and a red rose sprouted miraculously from a drop of its blood, which the Saint, of course, gave to a princess. Therefore, men give women a rose (sources estimate that over four million roses are bought on this day alone). What about women? They give their sweethearts a book – hence Day of the Book. Why a book? In tribute to Cervantes who died on this day in 1616. A stroll down Las Ramblas reveals hundreds of stalls, which sell some 400,000 books during the day; I guess not every man gets a book.

In May Barcelona celebrates the Ancient Music Festival. The Berbena de Sant Joan (also known as La Nit del Foc, or Fire Night) takes place the night before Saint John's Day, and during the short nights of the summer solstice. Old furniture is bundled onto bonfires in the villages and towns throughout the region, the fire acting as a purifier and curative element. The most enjoyable part of the Noche de Sant Joan are the verbenas (open-air celebrations with drinking, dancing and fireworks) that last from sunset on 23 June to sunrise on 24 June.

Also in June Barcelona hosts the annual Sonar festival which is a celebration of advanced music and multimedia art. In July the city celebrates the Festival del Grec - the largest music, dance and theatre event. In August locals and visitors alike enjoy Festa Major de Gràcia with numerous street music and events. In September come Catalan National Day and Festes de la Mercè – the most important Barcelona festival. In the late October - November city hosts International Jazz Festival ; and the Fira de Santa Llúcia in December is a preparation for the Christmas celebrations and the winter solstice.