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If you happen to be in Spain on June 3rd then expect to get caught up in one of the major festivals of the Spanish calendar. Corpus Christi is a feast day that celebrates the Eucharist, which Catholics believe to be the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The Spanish never need an excuse for a celebration, and as a country with a strong Catholic heritage it is hardly surprising that there are major festivities across the country on this day. However, what makes the festival so exciting for an outsider is that each region celebrates the day in its own unique way.

For the city of Granada the holy day is celebrated with a fiesta. Theatres are set up to hold performances of zarzuela (Spanish light opera) and the city is filled with concerts and exhibitions. Marquees known as casetas are erected in the fairground to sell food and drink, and there is bullfighting throughout the day. The origins of this date back to efforts to 're-Christianise' the population in the 1500s after three centuries of occupation by the Muslim Moors.

In the municipality of Toledo, Corpus Christi is the most important day of the year and has been officially declared an event of 'international tourist interest'. A religious procession winds its way through the historic streets, which are specially decorated with wreaths and lanterns for the occasion. The procession is led by a group of costumed giants, who represent each of the continents and make for a truly awe inspiring sight. If you remember to look upwards you will even be able to see antique pennants and tapestries from the 16th and 17th centuries which have been attached to windows and balconies.

Certainly the most bizarre celebration is the baby jumping Colacho festival, held in the village of Castillo de Murcia. The practice dates back to the 1620s and involves men dressed as the devil jumping over babies, who are placed in the centre of the streets. The babies have all been born since the last Corpus Christi celebrations, and the ritual is meant to cleanse the children of original sin. Later in the day the Brotherhood of the Santisimo Sacramento de Minerva, who organise the festivities, chase people around the village.

The various celebrations are a perfect illustration of the colour and variety of Spanish culture, and are definitely worth a visit for anyone who has booked flights to Spain around this period.