GALICIAN FOOD FESTIVALS AND THEIR ECONOMIC

REPERCUSSION

INDEX Introduction Festivals of Tourist National Interest:

Shellfish of O Grove Wine Albariño of Cambados Octopus in Carballiño Lamprey in Arbo Arnoia‘s pepper

Festivals of Tourist Galician Interest: Lalin‘s stew Bandeira‘s pie in Silleda

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION Galicia is known internationally as a gastronomic paradise. Galicia is known internationally as a gastronomic paradise. The quality and the variety of the products remains The quality and the variety of the products remains demonstrated by more than 30 Galician products with demonstrated by more than 30 Galician products with DENOMINATION OF ORIGIN, some of them with DENOMINATION OF ORIGIN, some of them with Denomination of Origin Protected (DOP), so in order to show Denomination of Origin Protected (DOP), so in order to show the qualities of the Galician products, many gastronomic the qualities of the Galician products, many gastronomic festivals take place throughout the year. According to a festivals take place throughout the year. According to a study published in the book FESTA‘S IN GALICIA, there are study published in the book FESTA‘S IN GALICIA, there are more than 8.000 annual festivals of which it 1.575 are more than 8.000 annual festivals of which it 1.575 are gastronomic. gastronomic. Geographically the populations close to the sea celebrate Geographically the populations close to the sea celebrate festivals related to the products of the sea, and almost festivals related to the products of the sea, and almost always they are celebrated in summer . On the other hand, always they are celebrated in summer . On the other hand, in the interior of Galicia, where the pork is king , they are in the interior of Galicia, where the pork is king , they are celebrated more in winter. celebrated more in winter. We must not forget the excellent Galician wines with five We must not forget the excellent Galician wines with five Denominations of Origin (Ribeiro, Valdeorras, You Laugh Denominations of Origin (Ribeiro, Valdeorras, You Laugh Baixas, Ribeira Sacra and Monterrei), and their festivals. Baixas, Ribeira Sacra and Monterrei), and their festivals. Some travelers say they come to Galicia only for its Some travelers say they come to Galicia only for its gastronomy, so these festivals are used to promote tourism gastronomy, so these festivals are used to promote tourism i in Galicia .i in Galicia .

FESTIVALS DECLARED OF TOURIST FESTIVALS DECLARED OF TOURIST

NATIONAL INTERESTNATIONAL INTEREST

FESTIVAL OF THE SHELLFISH OF O GROVEFESTIVAL OF THE SHELLFISH OF O GROVE During the second week of October, of O Grove (Pontevedra) During the second week of October, of O Grove (Pontevedra)

celebrates itscelebrates its festival of the Shellfish. This gastronomic - cultural event emphasizes the festival of the Shellfish. This gastronomic - cultural event emphasizes the

basic products of the economy of this coastal village: tourism and fishing. basic products of the economy of this coastal village: tourism and fishing. What started as a small festival became very popular at the end of the What started as a small festival became very popular at the end of the eighties in such a way that the party has been declared of Tourist National eighties in such a way that the party has been declared of Tourist National Interest. Different stalls selling seafood and fish are opened to the public at Interest. Different stalls selling seafood and fish are opened to the public at popular prices. It is obvious that this is one of the best shop windows of popular prices. It is obvious that this is one of the best shop windows of their products, since more than 200.000 visitors came to O Grove in the their products, since more than 200.000 visitors came to O Grove in the last edition.last edition.

FESTIVAL OF CAMBADOS ALBARIÑO WINEFESTIVAL OF CAMBADOS ALBARIÑO WINE

It is the oldest wine festival in Galicia and the second It is the oldest wine festival in Galicia and the second one in Spain and is declared of Tourist National Interest. one in Spain and is declared of Tourist National Interest.

Celebrated Celebrated from 1952, this party brings every year thousands from 1952, this party brings every year thousands of tourists from of tourists from all the corners of the peninsula. all the corners of the peninsula. The grape albariño has been improved The grape albariño has been improved up to up to the creation the creation of what today we know as D.O Rías Baixas, of what today we know as D.O Rías Baixas, denomination of origin denomination of origin created in 1988, which a lot of wine created in 1988, which a lot of wine cellars cellars produce. During the first week of August, the wine cellars of produce. During the first week of August, the wine cellars of albariño open to the public, where they offer their wines that can albariño open to the public, where they offer their wines that can be accompanied of typically Galician tapas as GAlician pie or octopus . be accompanied of typically Galician tapas as GAlician pie or octopus .

THe New Route of Wine of Ribeiro in THe New Route of Wine of Ribeiro in Cambados has been Cambados has been certified. With this certified. With this certificate, the Region of certificate, the Region of

Ribeiro with its 52 Ribeiro with its 52 establishments is part of a select group establishments is part of a select group of l 11 routes of wine in of l 11 routes of wine in Spain. Spain.

FESTIVAL OF THE OCTOPUS IN CARBALLIÑOFESTIVAL OF THE OCTOPUS IN CARBALLIÑO The festival of Carballiño's octopus is celebrated on the second The festival of Carballiño's octopus is celebrated on the second sunday of August, in a Park in O Carballiño, in the banks of the sunday of August, in a Park in O Carballiño, in the banks of the Arenteiro. Arenteiro. Although the region of O Carballiño does not have sea, it was a Although the region of O Carballiño does not have sea, it was a tradition to bring the dry octopus to Osera's monastery and there tradition to bring the dry octopus to Osera's monastery and there to use it as currency to exchange it for inland products.This to use it as currency to exchange it for inland products.This festival was declared of Tourist National Interest in 1992, and year festival was declared of Tourist National Interest in 1992, and year after year beats records of attendance, up to 70.000 visitors.after year beats records of attendance, up to 70.000 visitors.

This product is one of the oldest in Galician This product is one of the oldest in Galician gastronomy and the fourth sector in importance gastronomy and the fourth sector in importance in the Interior Brute Product of the region.in the Interior Brute Product of the region.

FESTIVAL OF THE LAMPREY IN ARBOFESTIVAL OF THE LAMPREY IN ARBO Every January lamprey is allowed to be caught.Every January lamprey is allowed to be caught.

In April, when the fishing season finishes, a party is In April, when the fishing season finishes, a party is

celebrated in Arbo,by the river Miño. Hundreds of celebrated in Arbo,by the river Miño. Hundreds of

Enthusiasts of the lamprey have an appointment in Enthusiasts of the lamprey have an appointment in

Arbo, to celebrate this popular gastronomic festival Arbo, to celebrate this popular gastronomic festival

that has come to its 48 th edition, so it is the oldest that has come to its 48 th edition, so it is the oldest

in Galicia. It was declared of Tourist National Interest. in Galicia. It was declared of Tourist National Interest.

People can taste the speciality of lampreyPeople can taste the speciality of lamprey

to the "bordoñesa", as well as other preparations at a reasonable to the "bordoñesa", as well as other preparations at a reasonable price. price.

FESTIVAL OF ARNOIA'S PEPPERFESTIVAL OF ARNOIA'S PEPPER Declared Festival of Tourist InterestDeclared Festival of Tourist Interest

Many festivals are celebrated in Arnoia'sMany festivals are celebrated in Arnoia's

municipality, at least sixteen throughout the municipality, at least sixteen throughout the year. Butyear. But

The Festival of the Pepper ", which had its first The Festival of the Pepper ", which had its first edition in the year 1980, is the most edition in the year 1980, is the most important. Arnoia's peppers are known in important. Arnoia's peppers are known in the whole of Galicia and are used in many the whole of Galicia and are used in many recipes.recipes.

Today the production and marketing of the Today the production and marketing of the pepper in this region is very important for pepper in this region is very important for the local economy. Peppers are cooked in the local economy. Peppers are cooked in different ways for visitors who come to this different ways for visitors who come to this festival. After 23festival. After 23

years of celebration, Arnoia's town hallyears of celebration, Arnoia's town hall

consolidates " Festa do Pemento " as one of theconsolidates " Festa do Pemento " as one of the

important events of promotion of a gastronomicimportant events of promotion of a gastronomic

product of Galiciaproduct of Galicia..

FESTIVALS DECLARED OF FESTIVALS DECLARED OF TOURIST GALICIAN INTERESTTOURIST GALICIAN INTEREST

FESTIVAL OF LALÍN'S STEWFESTIVAL OF LALÍN'S STEW The origins of the party go back to 1968. The origins of the party go back to 1968. In 1999 it was declaredIn 1999 it was declaredof Tourist Interest of Galicia. This party isof Tourist Interest of Galicia. This party iscelebrated on the Sunday previous to the Carnivalcelebrated on the Sunday previous to the Carnivaland is one of the first gastronomic parties of theand is one of the first gastronomic parties of theyear in Galicia and an event known abroad.year in Galicia and an event known abroad.Last year there were about 60.000Last year there were about 60.000visitors. In the Field of the Fair, they install placesvisitors. In the Field of the Fair, they install placesto taste, exhibit and sellto taste, exhibit and selltheir products (sausages, meat of porktheir products (sausages, meat of porkand bull, vegetables …).and bull, vegetables …).The last edition had an innovation: the LALÍN PORKThe last edition had an innovation: the LALÍN PORKART, an artistic exhibition of 25 figures of pigs.ART, an artistic exhibition of 25 figures of pigs.

FESTIVAL OF BANDEIRA'S PIE IN SILLEDAFESTIVAL OF BANDEIRA'S PIE IN SILLEDA The Festival of the Pie has half a century of life. The Festival of the Pie has half a century of life. It consists of a contest of pies among restaurants and It consists of a contest of pies among restaurants and housewives, who compete with their own recipes. housewives, who compete with their own recipes. There is a presentation of the product, finalists' There is a presentation of the product, finalists' selection, degustation and evaluation by a jury. selection, degustation and evaluation by a jury. The party ends with the public auction of the recipes:The party ends with the public auction of the recipes:on some occasions they pay important sums ofon some occasions they pay important sums ofmoney destined to charitable purposes. The prices reached by money destined to charitable purposes. The prices reached by some of the winning pies can be more than 1.600 €some of the winning pies can be more than 1.600 €

The origin of the party is relatedThe origin of the party is related to the pilgrims that were coming to the pilgrims that were coming along the French Way to visit the along the French Way to visit the tomb of the Apostle Santiago in the tomb of the Apostle Santiago in the Cathedral of Santiago. The pie was Cathedral of Santiago. The pie was given to them by the innkeepers given to them by the innkeepers on their way.on their way.

GALICIAN IS DIFFERENTGALICIAN IS DIFFERENT

COME TO DISCOVER ITCOME TO DISCOVER IT