Dia de los tres Reyes: also known as Twelfth Night, this is an important festival for children throughout the country and the time when they receive their Christmas presents. The three kings, or wise men, arrive on this Feast of the Epiphany and bring gifts of all sorts for children and adults alike.

Carnival: the city is transformed by revellers in fancy dress, colourful parades and feasts. Held on Shrove Tuesday, the day before the beginning of Lent, the Mardi Gras parade features floats and marching bands. Participants dress in traditional Galician costume, and follow a carnival route that begins at the train station and continues to Santiago de Chile, moving through the city’s ancient streets and its magnificent plazas.

Semana Santa: known in English as Holy Week, this period that immediately precedes Easter is celebrated fervently throughout Spain, with numerous parades and fiestas. Most everyone is given the week off from work, and children have a holiday from school, making it possible for everyone to enjoy the many scheduled events.

Feria del Ganado: lasting for 10 days in May, this festival offers insight into Galicia’s claim to having Celtic roots. Features include Celtic folk music and dancing programs. Food and drink are in plentiful supply, with many of the region’s traditional dishes taking centre stage.

Ascension: the celebration of this important religious holiday lasts for a week. The festivities can be riotous, with a large number of students taking part. During the week, there are several concerts on offer as well as fairs, bands playing in the street and religious observances at the cathedral.

Fiesta in honour of the Apostle: this festival occurs during the last half of July. In addition to the many events and fairs that are organised, there are numerous activities arranged especially for children. Two evenings of spectacular fireworks displays are held in Cathedral square.

Music in Compostela: Xornadas de Música en Compostela is a popular festival of contemporary music held in August at the Praza do Obradoiro. The venues are the ancient Capilla Real of the Hostal dos Reis Católicos and the Auditorio de Galicia.

Santiago de Compostela International Film Festival: the curto circuito, or short film competition, features seven categories and draws entrants from Galicia and around the world. There are awards for the best international animated film, best documentary short film, best fiction, and the best Explora short film and awards for the best Galician and Spanish shorts.

Cineuropa Festival: this European film event is held in November and organised by Teatro Principal. Venues in the city include Cine Valle-Inclán, Cine Yago, Cines Area Central and Multicines Compostela cinemas. Tourists are advised that English-language films are not shown in the original language, but are dubbed in Spanish.

Christmas Eve: sees the most important gathering of the year, with locals typically enjoying an evening meal with their families. Traditional Christmas sweets are served including turrón, a kind of nougat made from toasted almonds and polvorones, a combination of almonds, sugar and flour. Spanish sparkling wines and fine still wines accompany the meal, which usually features prawns and roast lamb.