What did happen on August 31 in San Sebastian?

On June 22nd, 1813, and while the main body of Napoleon’s army had to withdraw crossing the border, Emmanuel Rey, a French General, took control of the town with 2,600 soldiers. The allies, the Anglo-Portuguese troops under the direct command of Sir Thomas Graham, and the supreme commander of the Duke of Wellington, besieged and cut the town off with a large contingent of troops and weapons. From that time onwards, and up to the town’s capture on August 31st, both sides carried out tactical movements prior to the battle. In the meantime, the French got out thousands of pro-French supporters who were in San Sebastián, invited the population to evacuate the town, seized San Bartolomé convent, and set fire to the buildings outside the town walls. The Anglo-Portuguese troops tightened up the siege, and positioned every battery.

The first attack on the town took place on July 25th, as soon as it was thought the shells had opened a big enough breach; but the attack was repelled by the French, who inflicted heavy losses on the Anglo-Portuguese troops. On August 4th, twenty one people, who got away from San Sebastián prior to the siege, sent the Duke of Wellington an account of the town’s predicament, due to the siege, in which they made a plea on behalf of their neighbours and the town itself. The letter never reached the English supreme commander because Alava, the Spanish General, did not consider it appropiate.

On August 31st, 1813, at two o’clock in the morning, and after several days of heavy bombing which widened the breach (French troops went through the same in 1719) a column of volunteers called the desperadoes started the attack. When they arrived at the upper part of the breach opened in the wall, they found themselves, much to their surprise, to be four metres above ground; taking advantage of their confusion, the French, unhesitantly, riddled them with bullets.

When a new withdrawal seemed to be most sensible course of action, an accidental fire, as well as the explosion of a French ammunition dump, provoked chaos on the French side. The attackers took advantage of the incident, forcing the French troops to withdraw towards the castle, where they surrended on September 8th.

During this time, the allied troops burned, looted, raped and killed. Looting went on for six and a half days, and only two parish churches and thirty five houses in the Calle de la Trinidad, nowadays called 31 de Agosto, were saved from the fire. The houses were not set on fire, because they were used as lodgings for British and Portuguese officers, while they attacked the castle. The population that had been 5,500 before the siege dropped to 2,600.

The celebration of feasts in honor of this virgin goes back to very distant times, before she is declared a patron saint of the city. Until 1883 there were carried out a few acts that, under the denomination of ” Festival of Vitoria “, were developing during the first week of September. From 1884 they happened to be celebrated in August, after a municipal agreement in which was decided that the fiestas they it were, already of official form, in honor of the White Virgin, known also as Our Lady of the Snow, and which festivity would turn out to be concentrated on the liturgical calendar On August 5. It will be in 1953 when the municipal Corporation establishes the festive calendar as it is known nowadays. The citizenship turns out to be very important in this celebration, the locals enjoy and take part actively in the celebration, and are good hosts and guides for those that want to know their city in these days.

THE BLUSA’S DAY

July 25. Preamble of the celebration

The day of Santiago, in Vitoria garlics are sold, in “strings” or bunches with, typically, 50 heads. In the above mentioned day there are sold practically all the garlics that are consumed in the city (200.000 inhabitants) all the year round. The “blusas”" are an essential figure of the festivity: groups of friends who were meeting to go together to the bullfights.

To avoid to get dirty, they began to use typical blouses that the workers were using.  Later the clothes became more basque to do it to similarity of the farmers and Basque shepherds: Basque beret (practically in disuse), white shirt, “blouse”, scarf red or blue around the neck (that was in use for avoiding this way for sweating the neck of the shirt), fastened trousers with a strip, and “sandals” - a few shoes of thick leather, which stick with strings to the leg-. The blusas celebrate in the above mentioned day a ” race of donkeys “.

CELEDON’s DESCENT

August 4. Begining of the big festivity

After the proclamation that is given on August 2, August 4 at 6 p.m. it gives the official beginning to the celebration in the square of the White Virgin, placed in the heart of the city, thousands of locals and visitors meet (in a way similar to the powerful “txupinazo” in Pamplona, though much more multitudinous) to give beginning to the celebration with Celedon’s descent, a doll that represents a former villager native of Alava and that crosses the square across a system of pulleys. After going down ” celedon’s doll ” from the belfry of the tower of San Miguel up to a balcony in the square of the White Virgin, this one is replaced by one ” celedon in meat and bone ” (for many years the popular Iñaki Landa) the one who crosses as he can the crammed square), odyssey escorted by municipal policemen, up to the balcony of the Church of San Miguel and directs the locals, who sing continuously the song: ” Celedon, has done a new house, Celedon, with window and balcony “.

Until a few years ago it was normal that the whole world was igniting a big cigar , even the women. It was fascinating to see overfly over the people a cloud of bluish smoke proceeding from 30000 cigars or more that were ignited at the same time… Now the customs have changed and, for a few years, which is done is to uncork bottles of Champaign and to spray to everything that one who is nearby… Those who do not want to be dipped by the champaign choose to place in the back part of the square and in the square of the General Loma and adjacent streets.

Later and on having come to the balconada of the Church of San Miguel the traditional aurresku is danced and already after speaking they can be heard traditional and awaited: Gora Gasteiz!, Gora Celedón! … answering the people with a Gora! Also cigars are ignited and there are uncorked thousands of bottles of champaign. The young men ask for water in the adjacent streets to the square and lately they bath in central fountains. This way the celebration begin. The squads of blouses are protagonists of these festivity, groups of locals (both men and women) that dressed with the typical suits organize and lead numerous activities and fill of good humor these days.

The festive program of 2009 will not have the presence of the matches of professional “pelota” , due to the problems in Mendizorroza’s fronton. Nevertheless, a tournament will be realized for fans of the Basque ball in the Fueros Square. With everything, these will be one very complete fiestas, which will guarantee entertainment to all the presents.

EVE AND THE WHITE ONE’S DAY

August 4 and 5. Honoring to the Virgin of the Snow

First it is necessary to emphasize that all the religious acts in which the public take part massively and which develop in the festivities of the White one are organized by the Confraternity of Our Lady of the White Virgin. The acceptance for the locals of the devotion to the White Virgin motivated the creation of this Confraternity and the introduction of the diverse worships and celebrations. This devotion they took their Virgin to the organization of the Rosaries in procession.

The procession of the Rosario of Lanterns as we know it today, it has his origin in the final years of the 19th century. It is a solemn spectacle of light and crystal that crosses the central streets of Vitoria from ten o’clock in the night of August 4. The first news of the procession is from the year 1855, when they were carrying Chinese lanterns of carton and wax. The initiative of its construction owes to itself D. Manuel Diaz de Arcaya who in 1895 proposed a ” Rosary of Lanterns ” to give major brilliance to the modest procession that was celebrated on eve in honor of the White Virgin.

The first year in which there went out the lanterns of glass and metal was a 1896. That August, 1896 they walked along Vitoria, in quiet religious march, sixty lanterns transported by soldiers of Infantry and 6 coaches that represent the Joyful Mysteries and the first one of the Painful ones. The procession went out for the complete one in 1897, now 110 years ago. It consisted of 248 lanterns and 19 coaches to that later 1 coach was added and more recently 2 new lanterns, with which there are completed 270 elements that can be admired nowadays. Recently, before the deterioration of good part of the individual lanterns and the representative coaches of each one of 15 mysteries of the Rosario, there has finished the costly task of the restoration.

The Rosary of the Dawn that, at least from the 17th century, continues its original tour for the streets of the old hull of the population at about 7 a.m. of every August 5, a rosary that crosses the streets of Vitoria and that ends in a Mass outdoors. The faithful walk slow along the medieval streets while the monotonous singing of the Rosario resounds, to the unison. The procession is presided by a small image of the Virgin carried by proud blouses. In spite of the untimely of the hour it is a multitudinous act, at which many families and night owls are present.

Later they begin the day having the traditional hot chocolate with fritters for breakfast. Later, at 9:00, there are reveilles in the square of The White Virgin, where the BLusas re-join with their respective squads. Throughout the day the people or groups of people do floral offerings to the White Virgin, placed close to the image of the Virgin at San Miguél’s church. The 5th probably is the day with more environment, especially in the morning, since the people do not work, and there are many activities programmed both diurnal and night.

The Rosary of the Dawn in a beginning, was organized by the Town hall, later by the Parish of San Miguel and at present by the Confraternity of Our Lady the White Virgin. With the passage of time the organizers have observed how the number of assistants was increased, in an almost amazing way. At the beginning of the 50s, only several hundreds of persons realized the tour. The parson Jose M ª Fernandez de Retana was in the habit of counting with his rosary the participants. One year exploded of pleasure when he completed four rounds: 240 assistants. Nowadays, more than 25.000 citizens accompany the Virgin in her early riser to peregrinate. It doesn’t mather nobody the weariness after the first night of celebration, nobody repairer complains of the hours stolen from the dream.

THE WHITE ONE AND THE MUSIC

Music and concerts for all the tastes

Different spectacles, concerts and verbenas are organized for all the tastes in several stages spread by the city. Orchestas and txarangas circulate twenty-four hours of the day, specially in the zone of the Old Hull, neuralgic center of the amusement.

This is the list of musical activities:

FUEROS’ SQUARE, 24.00h
August 4 La Oreja de Van Gogh
August 5 Gu Gira kantaldia
August 6 Emepetres y La Excepción
August 7 Tequila
August 8 Celtas Cortos

MACHETE’S SQUARE, 24.00h
August 4 Rafa Rueda
August 5 Kerobia
August 6 Zura
August 7 Bertso Jazz
August 8 Gatibu

ESPAÑA’S SQUARE, 24.30h
August 4 Tropical Show
August 5 La Habana
August 6 La Mundial Show
August 7 Abba Revival
August 8 Volcan
August 9 23.00h Costa de Valencia

SQUARE OF THE PROVINCIA, 23.00h
August 4 Espectáculo de danza oriental con el grupo Yala Bina Muniqueneith y el espectáculo ‘Alma Femina’
August 5 Espectáculo de folklore bieloruso con el grupoTakalaka
August 6 Espectáculo de música y danza con el Ballet Identidad de Perú
August 7 Revista de variedades con Luis Aguilé
August 8 Boleros, habaneras y música latina con el grupo Arciel
August 9 Concierto de gospel con el grupo Gospel Soul

TXOSNAS University area
August 4 24.00h Cobra02.00h Kaotiko
August 5 24.00h The Kluba 02.00h Dr Ring Ding 03.00h Revolutionary Brothers
August  6 24.00h Willis Drumond 02.00h Sexty Sexers 03.00h Sharon Stoner
August 7 24.00h Indarrap 02.00h Ekon 03.00h Dejota DJ + Fiesta de la espuma
August 8 01.00h Insershow
August 9 01.00h Gatillazo 03.00h Vómito

MUSIC BANDS
Jardín Secreto del Agua. Parque de la Florida 12.00h
August 5 Banda de música de la Ertzaintza
August 6 Banda de música de la Ertzaintza
August 7 Banda de música de Marrate de Labastida
August 8 Banda de música de Elciego
August 9 Banda de música de Araia

THE WHITE VIRGIN’S BULL FAIR

Bullring of Vitoria

In the bullfighting Cartel of the festivity we can emphasize the doublets of El Juli and Perera, which will fight together in the evening, and the presences of the rejoneador Paul Hermoso of Mendoza and matadors as Enrique Ponce, Morante de la Puebla, El Cid, Sebastián Castella, José María Manzanares, Alejandro Talavante and Daniel Luque  - these two last ones appear in Vitoria for the first time-, among some other one. Regarding the  livestock farmers, the presences are also of the first level with Victoriano del Río, Fuente Ymbro, El Pilar and Puerto de San Lorenzo.

The bullfighting Cartel:

• 25 July:  Blusa’s day. Bulls from Antonio Bañuelos to El Cordobés, Rivera Ordóñez and El Fandi.
• 5 August: Bulls from Fuente Ymbro to El Juli, El Cid and Miguel Ángel Perera.
• 6 August: Bulls from El Pilar toJuan Bautista, Alejandro Talavante and Daniel Luque.
• 7 August: Bulls from Murube to Fermín Bohórquez, Hermoso de Mendoza and Álvaro Montes.
• 8 August: Bulls from Puerto de San Lorenzo to Enrique Ponce, Sebastián Castella and Miguel Ángel Perera.
• 9 August: Bulls from Victoriano del Río to Morante de la Puebla, El Juli and José María Manzanares.

OTHER FESTIVE ACTS

Multitude of festive acts, street markets and huts, attractions of fair, bullfights in the evenings, fireworks and fire bulls and in the morning heifers, all those acts fill with happiness the program. Also cultural activities of the Basque Country are promoted, with sports as  championships of Basque ball, and concerts of trikitixa and championships of bertsolaris. Every morning the brass bands cross the streets of Vitoria to wake the sleepiest up, with better will that effect, since to the good sleepy-head there is no brass band that can wake them up … and to the good reveller who has not slept either.

On the 7th there is celebrated the Celedón Txiki, a recreation of Celedón’s descent, by the children as protagonists, the fiestas has activities thought for them during all. For their part, on August 8 it is dedicated to the veteran blusa, and the streets are invaded of nostalgic of the third age dressed with blusones of squads of the 60s. And finally August 9 is a traditionally so called day of the pig, in that the squads in the passacaglias, were parading daubed of flour, though nowadays this this tradition declining as the squads they go being regenerated of new sap. And this night of August 9 the locals go regretfully to say goodbye to Celedón, who at twelve o’clock in the night will rise again to the belfry. During this distance they all untie the scarf and dismiss to the symbol of the festivity.

These are the most out-standing acts:

The VIIth INTERNATIONAL CONTEST OF PYROTECHNIC SPECTACLES

Every day at 23.00h from Mendizabala

Last day 9th Augus at 1.00h on the Withe Virgin square Final firecrackers

JOTAS (Regional spanish songs)

Everyday at  Conde de Peñaflorida’ square 18.00h

BERTSOLARIAK (Basque songs)

Everyday at Machete’s square 13.30h

FOLKLORE

Everyday at Machete’s square 13.30h

TRIKITIXA (Basque music)

Everyday at Machete’s square 12.30h

The Kutxa is the box of wood in which the relics of the confraternity of arrantzales are kept: the chalice with which the High Mass was serviced in the day of San Pedro, “vinajeras”(vinegar containers) of silver, a cross of silver, the papal bulla granted to the confraternity by Clemente VIII in the year 1595 and the books of accounts and minutes of the arrantzales. The maximum agent chief executive, the Abbot Mayor, was saving in his house the box with the relics and the books of the confraternity.

In the celebration which begins on 6 p.m., there takes place a procession presided by a young woman dressed with an elegant garment and the traditional shawl of Manila and she carries on the head the Kutxa. At this time she will depart the procession from San Pedro’s Confraternity of Sea towards the parochial church of Our Lady of the Asuncion and of the Manzano. It will be headed by the Band of music, which will be the one that marks the pace of the parade to the sound of Okendo’s march. After there will place the protagonist, the carrier of the Kutxa, covered and surrounded with twelve young rowers and with the authorities. There will close the courtship the bosses of Hondarribia’s fleet. Already in the church one will give reading to the annual Balance. After this act, the documents will return to the Kutxa and, once again, the procession will be started. From the church they will return to the Confraternity.

It is the moment most waited by the locals when the young woman, placed in the center of an arch that the arrantzales (fishermen) form with their oars, to the pace of the music interpreted by the Band she star spinning around on herself with the kutxa in the head. She will have to give as many turns as she could, since, according to the tradition, on the number of times that she spins herself there will depend the success of the catch of this year. The people observes expectantly the young woman and encourages her with their applauses.

In spite of the fact that the charges of the confraternity already are not renewed every year, but every four, every day of San Pedro carries out the procession up to the church and every July 25, recalling the former transfer of power, there is renewed the tradition of the Delivery of the Kutxa.

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.

The most known worldwide “fiesta” the San Fermines of Pamplona.

The celebration is celebrated in honor to San Fermin, saint patron of Navarre, though for many years the religious component has stayed on the second plane. Nowadays they happen for being a multitudinous party visited by people of all the corners of the world and in that the partyng, the amusement and the happiness are his more out-standing ingredients.

This year due to the crisis has reduced the budget that the town hall dedicates to these celebration, in spite of this the program of this year has numerous attractions and relies on his main attraction that they are the bull-runings and the  bullfights.

The party begins ” The txupinazo “

This moment is marked by a rocket - the “Txupinazo” - which is set off to announce the start of the Fiesta. It can look like a great madness but in the square where is located the town Hall of Pamplona there re-join thousands of people from all the points of Pamplona, nearby localities and lots of foreign, young and fewer young men dressed in white and with the red “pañuelico”(scarf) to the neck. The square of the Town hall is, for them, the center of the world, there where it is going to exploit the party in the same moment in which the first rocket teared the silence of the sky.

This thousands of persons go hours waiting for the moment, the longed rocket that gives beginning to one of the longest parties of the year, more than 200 hours of amusement, party, merriment… And the moment will come on July 6 at 12 a.m. exactly from the midday with the uproar of the rocket that this year will be thrown by the councillor of the PSN in the Town hall of Pamplona Maite Esporrín and after this will hear the ritual shout: “Pamploneses , Viva San Fermín, Gora San Fermin! “. Then the peoples begin to dance and to sing and the party comes untied.

50 anniversary of Ernest Hemingway’s last visit

This year fulfills 50 anniversary of the last visit of the great Ernest Hemingway and as commemoration to the personage who was the major culprit of the universal reputation of the San Fermin’s celebrations will be celebrated the day of Hemingway on July 9 with several acts programmed in honor to the famous American writer and journalist. This day will realize an honoring in which Valerie Hemingway will take part and a contest will be realized of seemed of Hemingway in which the grandson of the author will be of juror.

The bull-runings and the bullfights
During 8 days that last these celebration every morning at 8 a.m. punctually after the canticle to the patron saint San Fermin of the young boys corridors and the initial rocket that indicates that the bulls are already in the street the bull-runing begins, principal act of these so peculiar fiesta and that is in the habit of lasting between 2 and 3 minutes. The second rocket immediately resounds indicating that all the bulls are already in the street. The bull-runing passes from the street Santo Domingo up to the Bullring.

Besides the bull-runing the bullfighting spectacle continues every evening for the lovers of the bullfighting. In the bullring the Fair of the Bull takes place with the best names of the bullfighting panorama.

The stockbreeding companies of the bull-runing and the Fair of the Bull 2009 of this year:

• On July 6: Fair of the bull, D. Fermín Bohórquez’s for the “rejoneadores” Joao Salgueiro, Paul Hermoso of Mendoza and Sergio Galán.
• On July 7: Peñajara’s and fair of the Bull with the same stockbreeding company for El Fundi, Luis Bolívar and Salvador Cortés.
• On July 8: D. Jose Cebada Gago’s stockbreeding company and fair with Antonio Barrera, Francisco Marco and Sergio Aguilar.
• On July 9: ” The Ventorrillo ” stockbreeding company and fair of the  El Cid, Sebastián Castella y José María Manzanares.
• On July 10: “Jandilla” and fair of the same stockbreeding company with El Fandi, Matías Tejela and Rubén Pinar.
• On July 11: Mrs. Dolores Aguirre Ybarra stockbreeding company and fair of the same with Serafín Marín, David Mora y Joselillo.
• On July 12: “Miura” and fair of the same stockbreeding company for Juan Jose Padilla, Rafaelillo and Millan.
• On July 13: “Fuente Ymbro” and fair of the same stockbreeding company with Antonio Ferrera, Ángel Perera and Daniel Luque.
• On July 14: “Nuñez del Cuvillo” and fair with the same stockbreeding company with Morante de la Puebla, el Juli y Miguel Ángel Perera.

The concerts and the music in San Fermin

Other one of the strong points of the celebration are the concerts that take place every day, here we can see the effect has had the cut of budget since in the cartel we do not see so many big figures of the music as we were used to in previous occasions.

The free concerts of this year at 12:30 p.m. in the Fueros Square and they will act:

• On July 6: Fangoria and Funk Falate.
• On July 7: El Columpio Asesino and Mea Culpa.
• On July 8: Krakovia and Ukabildu.
• On July 9: Siniestro Total and La Biscuit Box.
• On July 10: Lucas Masciano and Barua.
• On July 11: Sidecars and Sueños Rotos.
• On July 12: Toom Pak.
• On July 13: U2 for Please and Los Terraplenes.

On the other hand this year one of the most known worldwide Deejays , Dj Tiesto with his Dances of light Bullmusic  show that he produces honoring to The Light, with a gigantic and spectacular audio-visual studding accompanied of an oneiric scenery. The spectacle will be in the Amaya Stadium of Pamplona on Friday, the July 10th  at 20 p.m., to enjoy it it is necessary to pay 47 €.

More activities of one of the most worldwide known fiesta of the world

Activities of all kinds can enjoy us during this festive week, one of the most popular is the International Contest of Fireworks San Fermin’s celebrations in that they take part different national and international pyrotechnics. Every day at eleven o’clock in the night from the Citadel, the fireworks go off during half an hour.

The folklore also does act of presence this year, one hour and a half after the powerful kick, “the txupinazo”, there is a great folklore festival, fundamentally of Basque dances, in the Fueros square , with dantzaris from Pamplona and all this region. In addition in the same square several days to the midday there is a great exhibition of rural Basque sport: cutters of trunks (aizkolariak), lifters of stones (harrijasotzaileak), races ballasted with txingas (weigh), korrikalaris, sokatira etc. Rarely you will have opportunity to see assembled so many manifestations of the popular Basque sports.

In the Park of the Half moon there are in the habit of being several mornings different spectacles of Basque culture: one day a festival of bertsolaris (improvisers of poems sung in basque language), another day there is a traditional massive concert of txistus (kind of Basque flute). Approximately at the same hour, but in Sarasate’s Walk, there are in the habit of being recitals of jots (songs principally in Castilian typical of the south of Navarre). In the Copse every day at 20:30 there is in the habit of being groups of dance and music of the regional houses (Andalusian, Extremaduran, Galician … etc); it is a good sample of Spanish folklore.

Other one of the out-standing acts is the procession of July 7th, from 10 a.m.till 2 p.m., the procession of San Fermin is walked through the old area, act of tradition and long history, that goes back probably until the century XIIl. The town hall Corporation, in body of city, that is to say that they are dressed for the occasion and accompanied of clarineros, timpanists, mace-bearers, escort, txistularis, pipers, extra of giants and pigheaded and Municipal band, goes to the Cathedral to searching to the chapter (assembly of the ecclesiastic charges of the cathedral). All together, they retrace the way and come to the chapel of San Fermin (church of San Lorenzo) to gather the image of the saint. Once the procession is completed, in a fixed order as the protocol says, the procession begins its tour througth the old Pamplona area, which in approximately one hour and a half it returns the image to its chapel. Of there, the Town hall returns to accompany to the chapter up to the cathedral, where they separate and the act gives itself finished. The most interesting of the procession they are the diverse “momenticos”, pauses in the tour of that they take advantage to honour the saint, often by means of sung prayers. The excellent “momentico” is that of the porch of the cathedral.

As a popular act every day at ten o’clock at night we can come to see the bull of fire that goes out from the square of Santiago. An appliance in the shape of bull that is giving up fire, petards and hints for the whole street. Though it does not seem risk, does not have any more that small holes in the clothes for one of the sparks of the bull.

And finally the act that gives end to so much merriment the “Pobre de mí”(Poor me), with it ends (officially) Sanfermin, in the Square of the Town hall at twelve o’clock at night the 14th. The people join and are singing the ” poor person of me, poor person of my, that have ended the fiesta of San Fermin “, the song of farewell. The people are sad because everything is ended and turns the routine, “Pobre de mí” is the culmination of the whole day of farewells: the farewell of the giants, in the morning, the farewell of the groups of youngs in the square in the evening.

In the “Pobre de mí”  there is not as many agglomeration as in the txupinazo, though every time there are more people. It is possible to go with children. The only thing with what it is necessary to have care is with the spots of wax: it is a custom to represent with a flushed candle. The majority, with very good criterion, puts a glass of plastic around.

And those are the most interesting acts of the big fiesta of  “San Fermin”, but definitely this is more than a list of activities, this is a feeling that you must live at least for once in your life.

The Aurresku, the bonfire and Gatibu’s concert will be the main acts of the first day of the celebration. The natives of Irun will return to begin to the streets to live the beginning of the parties of San Pedro and San Marcial, which will start officially on June 23, 2009 at 20.00 hours, with the proclamation that there will read in the Town hall the journalist Lourdes Maldonado. A bit before this, at 19.00 hours, the traditional Tree of San Juan will be placed and at 19.30 hours, the giants will divide and pigheaded of Irungo Atsegiña and Bidasoako Txaranga, to encourage the streets before the official greeting at the expense of Maldonado, with which there will begin of more solemn form the celebration of San Pedro and San Marcial. From this moment they begin an endless number of activities that do not stop until July 1.

A bit of history

The parade of weapon that celebrates in Irun  called “Alarde” every June 30, day of San Marcial, the patron saint of the city, is the commemoration of the victory of the native troops on the Frenches during the dawn of June 30, 1522. The battle, which took place in Aldabe Irun’s Rock, formed a part of a series of French offensives which aim was to control the frontier zone of the Bidasoa.

France was trying to recover the Kingdom of Navarre conquered by Fernando I and annexed to the Wreath of Castilla. The French king, Francisco I, was not ready to resign the control that till then was supporting in Navarre, with this aim, the French troops, after a series of unsuccessful incursions they decided to surround the former kingdom, taking the fortress of the loyal troops to Castilla. The incursions began in October, 1521, but it was not until June 28, 1522 when an army of 4.500 mercenaries (labortanos and Germans) crossed the river Bidasoa and took positions in the mount that till then was known as Aldabe’s Rock, getting this name for an existing hamlet in the place. The following day, on June 29, day of San Pedro and San Paul, the German quota got hold of Gazteluzar’s fortress. Opposite to this aggression, the captains iruneses, Juan Perez de Azcue and Michael de Ambulodi, supervised by the troops, summoned all the eligible males for the war, only 400 men.

On the other hand, the role of the women and the children iruneses was fundamental. The clergyman of Renteria, Mosén Pedro of Hirizar, neighbor of the mentioned villa and that had the office of ” holder of bastimientos “, bought and distributed more than four hundred ” axes of wood ” among the women and the young boys of the city with the aim that they were walking, silently and with the axes burning, during a league, from the top of the Royal Way at the time, which was dividing the ways of Oiartzun and Renteria, up to Irun’s square, making believe to the enemy that the soldiers were assembled in Irun’s zone and not advancing was doing to Aldabe’s Rock.

While women and children were walking along the Royal Way, the troops, with the help of the General Captain of Gipuzkoa, Beltrán de la Cueva, who came to the battle with part of his infantry, 1.500 men, and 150 horses, were advancing slowly and secretly for the opposite side, surprising first to the forces labortanas that they were sleeping in the mount and then to the Germans in Gazteluzar. The German surviving soldiers ran to the meeting of the labortanos, ignoring the happened in Aldabe’s Rock, and were in turn depressed.

The ostentations of weapon have a medieval origin, was forming in this epoch escorts armed as special ornament in public ceremonies of civic - religious sign. The function of these armed, existing militias in the whole Europe, was it of honoring dates as the popular holidays, celebrated the days of San Juan Baptizer and San Pedro or that of the Corpus-Christi, among others. When after the wars Carlists eliminate the ordinances that were forcing to the ostentations of weapon, these they went on to the popular culture supporting the presence of troops of military character in celebrations and pilgrimages.

In the Basque Country, from the Middle Ages, in agreement with the jurisdictions that were governing the territory, every village had the faculty and the obligation to be organized militarily, forming a part of its statutory militias all the males in ages included between the 18 and 60 years. To come in defense of the territory they must be prepared militarily and have his armament ready for when his contest was needed; to such a purpose, from time to time and in notable dates, the males had to come with their weapons to the summons to train in its managing and to take part in the ostentation or parade that was celebrated. After the accomplishment of the ostentation of weapon there was sent certificate of the accomplishment of the same one to the Deputation, maxim responsible for the of Guipuzcoa weapon. Attending to this it makes clear that its origin in the ostentation of weapon of the day of San Pedro, civic, obligatory act, which was celebrated in the whole province. Therefore inside San Marcial’s Ostentation we find two differentiated acts: the magazine of weapon, of civic and obligatory character, and San Marcial’s procession with armed countrymen, a purely religious act of devotion, which already was realized in 1523, being Lope de Irigoyen, mayor of Irun, who took part in the battle of Aldabe’s Rock, the one who headed the first ostentation.

Therefore, though historically they could find references to the accomplishment of an ostentation of weapon in Irun before 1880 together with the fulfillment of the vote to San Marcial for the victory of 1522, everything seems to indicate that the stage posterior to the Second War Carlist (1872-1876) is the moment in which the first steps are begun to give for the evolution of these acts towards San Marcial’s Ostentation that today we know. For centuries the ostentation of weapon was celebrated the day of San Pedro, June 29, and to the díasiguiente San Marcial’s procession, being a 1804 the year of the unification of the ostentation and the vote emitted by the chapters ecclesiastically and secular, beginning a process of change in the festivity on having joined procession and ostentation in the same day.

Acts distinguished from the San Marciales 2009

On June 25, Thursday:

* At 22:00: In the fronton of the Street Santiago, Trikitixa’s Concert and Percussion at the expense of Txorimaloak Soinu Taldea. In case of badly time the activity will move to the AMAIA K.Z.
On June 26, Friday:

* At 18:30: In the fronton Uranzu, 57th Championship Kurpil Kirolak Ball to Hand Made keen organized by the Society of Ball Kurpil Kirolak. Free entry

* At 22:00: In the fronton of the Street Santiago, Dantza performance of the group Kemen Dantza Taldea. In case of badly time the activity will move to the AMAIA .KZ.

On June 27, Saturday:

* At 10:00: In the facilities of Wave Sagardotegia, Euskal Herriko Hitz Geziduen Txapelketa, organized by Xedera Hitza Jokoak, S.L.

* At 18:00: In the Anzaran’ square , performance of the Majorrettes de San Vicente de Paul, later they will cross diverse streets of the city.

* At 18:00: From the Plaza bulging Urdanibia of the Raise XXXIII Athletic to San Marcial organized by Bidasoa Atletiko Taldea.

* At 20:00: In the Amaia K.Z., Operetta, ” Giant and Pigheaded “, of M. F. Caballer organized by the Lyric Association Luis Mariano de Irun. Price of the entry: 24 € associates and 30 € not associates.

On June 28, Sunday:

* At 10:00: Exit from the facilities of the Sports Society Santiagotarrak of the Concentration II Popular Piragüismo’s and Oar.

* At 19:00: Exit from the square of San Juan of the Giants and Pigheaded of the Irungo Atsegiña and Bidasoako Txaranga accompanied by the fanfarre Irungo Atsegiña and Municipal Band of Txistularis. The streets will cross San Marcial, Sargia, Larretxipi, Plaza Urdanibia, Reedy Street, Santiago, Bidasoa, Avenue of You Go out, Fermín Calbetón keeps silent About Schools, Street, Street León de Iruretagoiena to finish in the square of San Juan

* To them 00:15 hours: From the Bidegorri of Santiago, Fireworks, at the expense of Pyrotechnics Paul.

On June 29, Monday:

* To them 08:00 hours: In diverse neighborhoods, traditional Diana de San Pedro, at the expense of the Band of Musical ” Irun’s City “.

* To them 08:00 hours: Reveille in diverse neighborhoods interpreted by Flageolet-players Uranzu.

* To them 09:30 hours: From the Walk of Colon, exit of the cycle race XC I Reward San Pedro - The Classic XVIIth Irun, category Elite and Sub-23, organized by the Cycle Club Irunés.

* At 10:30: Of the square of San Juan, exit in procession of the Municipal Corporation to the Church, accompanied by the Municipal Band of Txistularis, Band of Musical ” Irun’s City ” and Giants of the Irungo Atsegiña.

* At 12:00: To the exit of Mass and in the Small square of the Reed-bed, the Municipal Corporation will dance the Aurresku.

* At 12:30: In the Arkupes of the House Consistotrial, San’s Pedro Traditional Concert offered by the Band of Musical ” Irun’s City “.

* At 19:00: Exit from the square of San Juan of the Giants and Pigheaded of the Irungo Atsegiña and Bidasoako Txaranga accompanied by the fanfarre Irungo Atsegiña and Municipal Band of Txistularis.

* At 22:00: Rememoración of the Act of the Torches. Exit from the Ambulatory one of the Avda. Gipuzkoa, crossing: Artaleku, Major, San Juan, Prudence Arbide, Street Jesus, Larretxipi, Hermitage, Arbes’s Mill and Artia’s Bridge. Organized by Juvenile Pagoki Asociación.

On June 30, Tuesday:

*  At 06:00 hours: Diana de Villarrobledo.
* Beginning of the Ostentation San Marcial.

* At 12:00: In the mount San Marcial, fulfillment of the Secular Vote of the year 1522 for the Municipal Corporation.

* From 13:00: Mass in San Marcial’s Hermitage on July 01, Wednesday:

*At 08:00 hours: In the square of Urdanibia, contest of cattle organized by Irungo Euskal Kirolak.

* At 10:00: In the square of Urdanibia Trikitilaris.

* At 11:30: In the square of Urdanibia Bertsolaris.

* At 12:00: In the square Rural Urdanibia Deporte.

* At 18:00: In the fronton Uranzu, Departed from Professional Ball organized by Kurpil Kirolak

* At 18:00: In the square of Urdanibia, the XIXth Championship of the Bidasoa of Dance to them Free, organized for Meakako Adixkideak Dantza Taldea.

* At 22:00: Exit of the Fanfarres Jostallu, Elizatxo and Gauerdi.

* At 22:45: From the Bidegorri of Santiago, Fireworks at the expense of Pyrotechnics Zaragozana.

* At 24:00: From the square of Txanaleta, gone out of the Correcalle end of the festivity, which will cross the Walk of Colon, Street Jurisdictions, Major Street to finish in the Plaza San Juan, with the participation of the Fanfarres Jostallu and Elizatxo.

The religious celebration of the Corpus Christi is the Body and Christ’s Blood celebration, it reminds the institution of the Eucharist, which the Holy Thursday carried out, during the Last Dinner when Jesus turned the bread and the wine into his Body and his Blood. At present the Corpus is celebrated on next Sunday following Thursday as this day is not bank holiday anymore.

In Segura the celebration depends on the lunar calendar, is in the habit of being a few days before the summer solstice, this year is celebrated on June 14. According to experts seems to intermingle the pagan rites of celebration of the solstice and the beginning of the crop with the religious rite, on the one hand with the flower offerings on the streets and the procession of Christ’s image along the streets.

Also in Oñati the Corpus Christi has a magnificent procession celebrated on Sunday from 1990, is undoubtedly the procesion that has manteined better its characteristics of the whole Basque Country being the most spectacular. Day of great solemnity, tradition, religiousness and dance be founded on the peculiar procession that after the mass, crosses the streets of the village.

On Eve and the day before Eve of the celebration of the Corpus, the basque dancers cross the streets and the neighborhoods of the Villa dancing and doing collection. The day of the Habeas, before the procession beginning, they receive one to one to the different steps that were taking part in the same one, then they go to the search of the living step of San Miguel that together with twelve Apostles provided with masks, they constitute the central part of the procession. The basque dancers cross the streets dancing during the whole tour procesional. They dance before the steps, before the small altars of the way, before the living step of San Miguel and it they do making sound their castanets constantly. Once inside the Church and before the Consecration they dance again before the Christ image.

In the evening, in the square, they represent the complete cycle of dances of “Korpus Dantzak”: San Sebastianen Dantza, Banako Makil Dantza, Launako Makil Dantza, Zortziko Makil Dantza and Arku Dantza. Finished the cycle they dance an Aurresku. The dantzaris dress, besides trousers and white shirt, a few coat-tails or red sayuelas called Valencian and red band and tie.

To enjoy this celebration you can come to the midday of June 14, 2009 and just after the mass it begins the central act of the procession.

In former Bilbao close to the celebration of the Corpus Christi, the holidays of the Villa were celebrated, with bullfights and other events of a form parallel to the religious celebration, how we all know nowadays the holidays of Bilbao are celebrated in August, named the Big Week (Aste Nagusia), but this is a more modern invention of the year 1978 to be exact, since there had got lost the tradition of celebrating both united holidays.

It is a party that continues waking admiration up in Bilbao, though to be sincere it had a few years in which it remained relegated to the interior of the temples. The procession of Bilbao was recovered by the bishop of the Bizcaya capital a few years ago and it has managed to be consolidated. The acts begin with a mass in the Cathedral of Bilbao, celebrated by the own Bishop.

When it finishes the liturgical ceremony, begins the procession, in which there take part the bishop, numerous priests, the courtship that is opened by the Parochial Cross and a confreres’ great representation of the Fraternity and Confraternities. In 2008 there was placed a huge carpet done with papers of diferent colors where a Custody was represented. Likewise acolytes, priests gave color to the celebration, the txistularis, a basque dancer, and certainly the Chapel of Music with a metal quartet.