In the Basque Country, land of fishermen and navigators from ancient epochs, also worship to the Virgin Saint Carmen patron saint of numerous Basque localities that celebrate in July the main local festivity in her honor around the day of the holiday of this Virgin, July 16.

Our Lady of Monte Carmelo, recounted commonly as Virgin of Carmen, is one of the diverse dedications of the Virgin Mary.This denomination comes from the so called Monte Carmelo, in Israel, a name that derives from the word Karmel or Al-Karem and that might be translated as ‘garden’. The fishermen have nominated the Virgin of the Carmelo their faithful patron for this reason, the Virgin of Carmen is known as ” the star of the seas ” (Stella Maris). Therefore many traditionally fishing localities have venerated the figure of the Virgin of Carmen as well as some localities in which a Carmelite order exists.

In the Basque Country exist numerous localities that celebrate these days their main patron saint festivity, the most popular festivals are those of Santurtzi, Barakaldo, Santutxu, Balmaseda, Markina, Plentzia, Amorebieta, Alegia and Trintxerpe.

Barakaldo Karmenak 2009

Barakaldo is one of the festivities of the Virgin of Carmen that more budget has and one of the most multitudinous, they are celebrated from July 11 to July 19 and emphasize overcoat the cartel of the concerts that are in the habit of relying on numerous groups or soloists of current importance and this year we can emphasize the known figures that people can come to enjoy this year. Likewise among the out-standing figures of the music we will be able to enjoy the program “Music of the World” with musicians with diverse styles of folklore.

In addition, between the 13th and 18th of July, the young local bands of Barakaldo will take part in the Festival Pop Rock.

Besides the music it is necessary to emphasize several acts. As for example the spectacle ” BADATOR JOLIN ” (Jolín is the mascot of the celebration) on July 11 to 18:30h, one parade loaded with music and amusement that will cross the streets from Gernikako Arbola to the pormenade of the Fueros to give the welcome to the festivity. This year Jolín comes accompanied by guests of luxury, the surprising long-legged ones of the spectacle “Cabaret” of the Cía. Kull D’sac and behind pushing the pasacalles the yellow tide will dance to the frantic sound of the spectacle of Brazilian percussion in stilts “Batucando ” of the company NOT AR.

Also we will be able to enjoy several days of the fireworks launched from Portu’s dock, the same July 11 of the pyrotechnics Astondoa, July 15 of the Pyrotechnics Caballer FX and July 18 of the Pyrotechnics Zaragozana, all of them start at 23:00h.

In these celebration the folklore also does the first act of presence on July 12 at 21:00 it will be possible enjoy an Exhibition of Basque Dances at the expense of the groups of dances of Barakaldo Laguntasuna and Erreka Ortu, in the Parque de los Hermanos and on July 17 other one at 21:00h at the expense of the groups of Dances of Barakaldo Amaia and Ibarrakaldu, in the same place. And on July 16 at 20:00h we will be able to enjoy an exhibition of itinerant Txalaparta from the Plaza Bidet Onera, Plaza Cataluña, Paseo de los Fueros, Zaballa until Plaza de Santa Teresa.

Music concerts programed:

Friday 10 JULY

• 20:00 Herriko Plaza: Grupo Folclórico Viginti Millys de Sicilia
• 23:00 Herriko Plaza: Tony Ronald

Saturday 11 JULY

• 23:30 Herriko Plaza: Orishas

Sunday 12 JULY

• 23:00 Herriko Plaza: Tirri Tarra

Tuesday 14 JULY

• 20:00 Herriko Plaza: Navajita Plateá and Vembrulé
• 23:00 Herriko Plaza: Oreka TX

Wednesday 15 JULY

• 22:00 Frontón Lasesarre: Gatibu
• 23:30 Herriko Plaza: Macaco

Thursday 16 JULY

• 22:00 Frontón Lasesarre: La Pulquería
• 23:00 Herriko Plaza: El Sueño de Morfeo

Friday 17 JULY

• 23:00 Herriko Plaza: Diana Navarro

Saturday 18 JULY

• 20:00 Herriko Plaza: Grupo Gospel de Louisiana
• 22:00 Frontón Lasesarre: GBH and Distorsión
• 23:30 Herriko Plaza: Mago de Oz

Patron saint of Carmen festivities in Santurtzi

As good neighbors and antagonists the celebration of Santurtzi and Barakaldo put all the meat in the spit to be the best festivity of Carmen of Biscay. Though it is necessary to emphasize that in those of Santurtzi we can observe a bit more of protagonism to the folklore and the Virgin of Carmen for the acts that are celebrated around this one. Near a hundred of activities compose the program of acts of the celebration of  Carmen in Santurtzi, who will be celebrated from July 10 to July 19 and whom they will begin, as it is traditional, with a great sardin’s barbecue at 7 p.m. in the streets Capitán Mendizabal and Juan XXIII who will mark the beginning of the festivity on Friday, the 10th of July.

The main act of  Santurtzi’s celebration is the maritime procession and as every July 16 the religious fervor and coastal tradition they go of the hand in Santurtzi. The Virgin of Carmen raises passions in the historical village. The locality is launched to the street to venerate their saint patron and with honors worship the virgin with a maritime procession already centenary. Dozens of thousands of devout approach up to the fishing port to see the parade in boat. A print without equal in Basque Country.

The carving of the Virgin departs from the church of San Jorge at six o’clock in the evening. On having pealed the bells, always punctually, it goes towards the port. Flanked by several rowers and a good number of sardineras, it is when she receives the proclamations of worship of the people. ” The Virgin of Carmen lives”, it is heard insistently in her step. Until she comes at the foot of the sea and embarks in her own small boat to give beginning to the maritime procession. Not only the ships organized by the town hall form a part of this procession also tens of small ships remain adorned the stela of the Virgin. They cover her up to The outside Bay, where the procession gives about-face to return again to Santurtzi. After almost two hours of tour, and once in firm land, the image is carried again up to the parish, where she will rest an entire year up to the next parade.

In addition, the festive program includes infantile activities in the Central Park, sports activities, passacalles, activities for the “cuadrillas”, theatre of street, and a fair of agricultural products on the 16th known as Fair of Carmen. We can emphasize on the 11th at 12:00h the event of the Open of Aizkolaris of Biscay in the Fishing Port, at 18:00h the Semi-finals of the Category Senior of the Tilt II of Pelota Itsasalde in the fronton Larrea, at 18:45h the edition XXX of the ditch of fishing boats Santurtzi’s flag and at 19:30h the Ostentation of the groups of  Dance Zugaitza, Mendi Alde, Mamarigako Etorkisuna, Bihotz Gaztea, Mahastiako Dantza Taldea and Dantza Zaharrak in the esplanade close to the Pantalanes. On the 12th at 20:30h the VIII concert of Txistularis organized by the band of Txistularis de Santurtzi and the participation of txistularis of the Basque Country, Salleko Euskal Dantza taldea, Roberto Etxebarria y Kepa’s trikitilareis Arrizabalaga, Metal quintet Portu Bras … in the esplanade of the Pantalanes. Also a marvellous musical offer exists, this one is the program of concerts: Friday 10 JULY

• 23:00 Parkea - Zarama

Saturday 11 JULY

• 23:00 Parkea - Taxi

Sunday 12 JULY

• 22:30 Parkea - Baron Rojo

Monday 13 JULY

• 22:30 Parkea - Conchita y Nena Daconte

Tuesday 14 JULY

• 22:30 Parkea - Carlos Baute

Wednesday 15 JULY

• 23:00 Parkea - Village People

Thursday 16 JULY

• 23:30 Parkea - Luis Eduardo Aute

Friday 17 JULIO

• 23:00 Parkea - Tequila

Saturday 18 JULY

• 23:00 Parkea - Bunbury

Other localities that celebrate the Virgin of Carmen

Amorebieta-Etxano, Bakio, Getxo, Lemoiz, Markina, Plentzia, Armintza and Larrabasterra (Sopelana) in Biscay and Trintxerpe in Guipuzcoa celebrate somehow the day of the virgin of Carmen.

In Plentzia the week following St Cirstobal they continue the celebrations with the “Festival of the Port”, celebrated the day of Carmen, July 16. The festive program begins with the usual txupinazo after which a mass celebrates in honor to our Lady of Carmen and a traditional maritime procession. Close to this procession, they will be the marine activities those that characterize these festivity. The development of diverse aquatic games and the Ditch of Fishing boats, they suppose the typical note complemented with the habitual festive activities: Music festival, infantile games, gastronomic contests (marmitaco), etc. The celebration of Carmen in Larrabasterra, a Sopelana’s neighborhood (Biscay), will begin on Wednesday, the 16th of July and will extend until the 20th, day in the one that will give begin the festivity of Holy festivity of Saint Marina in the Rocks of St Marine, belonging to the same Biscayan municipality.

The Carmen festivity in Larrabasterra begin on July 16 and they will conclude with the beginning of those of St Marina. The festive program will meet beginning on the pasacalles encouraged by Barinatxe Taldea up to the chapel of, where at 12 p.m. the High Mass will take place. Later, there will offer an aurresku of honor and performance of the Choir of the Home of the Pensioner ‘Lagun Artea’ in the Plaza Urgitxeta. During three days it will be possible enjoy several gastronomic popular meetings, as the roast and degustation of rib, chistorra, pudding and cider Wednesday, the 16th, the popular food Saturday, the 19th or the contests of marmitako and tortilla.

In addition, the music will be also one of the principal ingredients along all the celebration, with the traditional Festival of Cuban dances or that of Popular Song, concerts of the Band Uribe-Bazterra, pilgrimages, batucada and in the night the performances of Deskontrol, The Locos, Segismundo Toxicómano, The Cherry Boppers, Ossyris, Orugha and Esne Beltza in the enclosure of txosnas or in the square Urgitxeta.

In Trintxerpe, Pasaia’s neighborhood, they are celebrated in style emphasizing the multidude of tamborradas that cross the streets of this small locality and the maritime procession of the Virgin of Carmen that this year will return to go out to the sea.  Inside the program of hthe festivity of this year it is necessary to emphasize on July 12 to them 12:00 the Ditch XII of Fishing boats ARC-2, Trintxerpe’s Flag from the wharf of the Herrera; on the 13th, July 14 and 15 at 19:30h the Tríduos to the Virgin of the Carmen in the Church of Carmen; on July 14 to them 20:00h the Special Concert 50 º Anniversary and Proclamation of  Holiday with the participation of the Choir Ametsa of Irún in the Church of Carmen; on Saturday, the 18th of July at 12:30h Herri Kirolak and at 18:30h sardins barbecue and degustation of cider the two next to the market and finally on Sunday, the 19th at 11:00h games of Pelota in the Fronton and at 22:30h the Bull of fire and the end of the celebration.

The tamborrada is a traditional parade usually to celebrate the main festivities of each town, playing traditional songs with drums and barrels. The different tamborradas are one of the most interesting acts during these festivity:

WEDNESDAY, 15 JULY 22:00 Traditional Tamborrada. From Serafín Esnaola Square. Parade: Serafín Esnaola Square - Gudaris Square - Euskadi Etorbidea - Jaizkibel - Azkuene - Euskadi Etorbidea - Tenencia de Alcaldía. THURSDAY, 16 JULY 18:00 Maritime  Tamborrada in honor to our  Sailors with the Saint patron Virgin of Carmen From Carmen’s Church. Parade: Church- Euskadi Etorbidea - Boarding to the boat in the pantalan  - Maritime voyage up to the Tower - Return to the pantalán - Esnabide - Euskadi Etorbidea - Jaizkibel - Azkuene -Euskadi Etorbidea. FRIDAY, 17 JULY 21:00 Family Tamborrada. From  Serafín Esnaola Square. Parade: Serafín Esnaola Square -  Gudaris Square - Euskadi Etorbidea - Jaizkibel - Ulia - Azkuene - Euskadi Etorbidea. SATURDAY, 18 JULY 17:30 Azkuene’s Tamborrada . From Ulia. Parade: Avda. Ulia - Andoaegi - Pescadería - Serafín Esnaola - Gudaris Square-  Euskadi Etorbidea - Jaizkibel - Azkuene - Euskadi Etorbidea - Gudaris Square. SUBDAY, 19 JULY 19:30 Women’s Tamborrada. From Serafín Esnaola Square. Recorrido: Serafin Esnaola - Pescadería - Euskadi Etorbidea - Jaizkibel - Azkuene - Euskadi Etorbidea - Gudaris Square.