The culture of Galicia includes the traditions, activities, art, and social rules of the people living in northwestern Spain. It has features like the Galician language, music that uses the gaita (a type of bagpipe), and a history linked to Celtic traditions. Stories and myths are important in Galician culture, including figures like Breogán, the legendary founder; the Mouros, connected to old places; and the meigas, or witches. Key traditions include Entroido, a celebration similar to Carnival, and many local "festas," or festivals, often tied to religious events or farming seasons. Galicia also has unique food, buildings such as "hórreos" (granaries), and a strong feeling of pride in being from the region.

Literature

This summer day brings great joy. Its trees, flowers, and birds singing songs of love make me feel happy and carefree, like all lovers who are always cheerful. When I walk by streams flowing under trees through beautiful meadows, the birds there sing about love, and I join them by singing and creating songs about love in many ways. I feel great happiness and fun when birds sing during the warm summer months.

Galician-Portuguese became a written language during the Middle Ages, between the 12th and 13th centuries, when a rich tradition of poetry developed. However, during the "Dark Centuries" (1530–1800), it lost its use in major literary or legal works due to the dominance of Castilian Spanish. It was revived in the 19th century during the Rexurdimento movement, with writers like Rosalía de Castro, Manuel Murguía, Manuel Leiras Pulpeiro, and Eduardo Pondal. In the 20th century, before the Spanish Civil War, groups such as Irmandades da Fala ("Brotherhood of the Language") and Grupo Nós included writers like Vicente Risco, Ramón Cabanillas, and Castelao. The Seminario de Estudos Galegos helped study the language. Public use of Galician was discouraged in Francoist Spain but has grown again since democracy was restored. Modern Galician writers include Xosé Luís Méndez Ferrín, Manuel Rivas, and Suso de Toro. Recently, authors such as María Xosé Queizán, Luísa Villalta, Rexina Vega, Chus Pato, Olga Novo, Estíbaliz Espinosa, Ledicia Costas, Ismael Ramos, and Berta Dávila have changed Galician literature with new ideas, styles, and viewpoints.

Cuisine

Galician food often includes fish and shellfish. An empanada is a pie made with meat or fish, covered with a bread-like top and bottom, and filled with meat or fish in a tomato sauce that also includes onions and garlic. Caldo galego is a thick and filling soup made mainly with potatoes and a local vegetable called grelo (Broccoli rabe). Grelo is also used in Lacón con grelos, a traditional carnival dish made by boiling pork shoulder with grelo, potatoes, and chorizo. Centolla is a type of crab similar to King Crab. It is cooked while still alive, its main body is opened like a shell, and its insides are mixed thoroughly. Another popular dish is octopus, boiled (usually in a copper pot) and served on a wooden plate. It is cut into small pieces and mixed with olive oil, sea salt, and pimentón (Spanish paprika). This dish is called Pulpo a la gallega or "Polbo á Feira" in Galician, which means "Galician-style octopus." Galicia has several types of cheese. The most famous is tetilla, named for its shape, which resembles a breast. Other well-known cheeses include San Simón from Vilalba and a creamy cheese from the Arzúa-Curtis area. This region also produces high-quality beef. A traditional dessert is filloas, pancake-like pancakes made with flour, broth or milk, and eggs. During a pig slaughter festival, they may also include the animal's blood. A famous almond cake called Tarta de Santiago (St. James' cake) is a sweet specialty made mainly in Santiago de Compostela.

Galicia has 30 products with Denominación de Orixe (D.O.), some of which have Denominación de Origen Protegida (D.O.P.). These labels are part of a system that ensures quality and geographical origin for Spain's top producers. Galicia makes many high-quality wines, including Albariño, Ribeiro, Ribeira Sacra, Monterrei, and Valdeorras. The grape varieties used are local and rarely found outside Galicia and Northern Portugal. A spirit called Aguardente, which means "burning water," is also produced in Galicia. It is sometimes called Orujo in Spain or caña in Galicia. This spirit is made by distilling the leftover grape skins from winemaking.

Sport

In Galicia, football is the most popular sport, just like in the rest of Spain. The most successful football team in the region is Deportivo de La Coruña, which is based in the city of A Coruña. Another important team is Celta de Vigo, located in Vigo. These two teams are major rivals in the region, and their matches are called the Galician derby. Other well-known teams in Galicia include SD Compostela, from Santiago de Compostela, and Racing Ferrol, from Ferrol. Like Catalonia and the Basque Country, Galicia sometimes forms a regional football team to compete against international teams (see Galicia autonomous football team).

Other sports that are popular in Galicia include futsal (a type of indoor football), handball, and basketball. The region is also known for its long history of maritime sports, such as rowing, yachting, canoeing, and surfing, which take place on both the sea and rivers. Gaelic football is becoming more popular in Galicia, with several teams from the region participating in GAA Europe competitions.

Contemporary music

• Los Suaves: A rock band from the city of Ourense that has been active since the early 1980s.
• Deluxe: A pop and rock band from A Coruña, led by Xoel López.
• Los Limones: An independent rock, pop, and post-rock group from Ferrol, led by Santi Santos, who was born in Ferrol. The group has been active since the early 1980s.
• Siniestro Total: A punk rock band.
• Os Resentidos: A band led by Antón Reixa during the 1980s.
• Heredeiros da Crus: A rock band that sings songs in the Galician language.
• Triángulo de Amor Bizarro: An independent rock, noise pop, and post-punk band.

• Luar na Lubre: A band influenced by traditional Galician Celtic music. The group has worked with musicians such as Mike Oldfield.
• Carlos Núñez: A musician who has worked with many artists. He has a long-term friendship with The Chieftains.
• Susana Seivane: A skilled piper. She comes from a family that makes pipes and said she preferred playing pipes over dolls as a child.
• Milladoiro
• Cristina Pato

Public holidays

• Día de San Xosé (St. Joseph's Day) on 19 March (religious only)
• Día do Traballo (May Day) on 1 May
• Día das Letras Galegas (Galician Literature Day) on 17 May
• Día da Patria Galega (Galicia's National Day), also known as St. James the Apostle Day, on 25 July
• Día da Nosa Señora (Day of Our Lady) on 15 August (religious only)

• Entroido, or Carnival, is a traditional celebration in Galicia. It was historically disliked and even forbidden by the Catholic Church. Famous celebrations take place in Laza, Verín, and Xinzo de Limia.
• Festa do Corpus Christi in Ponteareas has been held since 1857 on the weekend after Corpus Christi (a holiday that changes dates each year). It is known for its floral carpets. The event was declared a Festival of Tourist Interest in 1968 and a Festival of National Tourist Interest in 1980.
• Arde Lucus, in June, celebrates the Celtic and Roman history of Lugo. Events include re-enactments of Celtic weddings and Roman circuses.
• Bonfires of Saint John, also called Noite de San Xoan or Noite da Queima, are celebrated across Galicia. They mark the start of the summer solstice and were later linked to Saint John’s Day. Bonfires are believed to scare witches. The event is especially important in Corunna, where it became a Fiesta of National Tourist Interest. The city lights many bonfires, and grilled sardines are a common food.
• Rapa das Bestas ("shearing of the beasts") in Sabucedo occurs during the first weekend in July. It is the most famous of many similar events in Galicia and was declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest in 1963. Wild colts are brought from the mountains to a closed area called a curro, where their manes are cut and the animals are marked. In Sabucedo, participants work alone without help.
• Festival de Ortigueira (Ortigueira's Festival of the Celtic World) lasts four days in July. It began in 1978–1987 and was revived in 1995. The festival focuses on Celtic culture, folk music, and global cultural exchange. Over 100,000 people attend each year, and it is recognized as a Festival of National Tourist Interest.
• Festa da Dorna on 24 July in Ribeira was founded in 1948 as a joke by a group of friends. It includes a boat race called the Gran Prix de Carrilanas, a competition for unpowered flight called the Icarus Prize, and a musical contest called the Canción de Tasca. It was declared a Galician Festival of Tourist Interest in 2005.
• Festas do Apóstolo Santiago (Festas of the Apostle James) honor Galicia’s patron saint. Events last for half a month, with religious celebrations on 24 July. Fireworks, including a pyrotechnic castle shaped like a cathedral, are part of the festival.
• Romería Vikinga de Catoira ("Viking Festival of Catoira") takes place on the first Sunday in August. It is a secular festival that began in 1960 and was declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest in 2002. It honors Galicia’s historical defense against pirate attacks.
• Feira Franca, in Pontevedra, happens during the first weekend of September. It re-creates an open market from 1467 and celebrates the city’s 15th- and 16th-century prosperity through historical reenactments, theater, and art. It has been held annually since 2000.
• Festa de San Froilán, from 4–12 October, celebrates the patron saint of Lugo. It is a Festival of National Tourist Interest and attracted 1,035,000 visitors in 2008. The festival is famous for its food stalls serving polbo á feira, a dish made from octopus.
• Festa do marisco (Seafood Festival) in O Grove occurs in October. It was established in 1963 and was declared a Festival of National Tourist Interest in the 1980s.
• Bullfighting has no tradition in Galicia. In 2009, only 8 bullfights took place in Galicia, compared to 1,848 across Spain. Studies show 92% of Galicians oppose bullfighting, the highest rate in Spain. Some groups, like Galicia Mellor Sen Touradas-Galicia Better without Bullfights, criticize local governments for funding bullfights.