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Zumaia » Festivals » Description
In Zumaia, Oikia and Artadi, they celebrate their traditional festivals almost in the same way as in past times. We have many festivals, each with its own idiosyncrasy. The most famous celebrations are those of San Telmo, recognisable by the blue colour of the suits of the “arrantzales” and the special marine flavour breathed in the atmosphere during those days. Take note that the celebration of this festivity dances to the tune of the calendar: it is dependent on Easter. San Telmo's day is always celebrated eight days after the Easter Sunday, and is therefore always a Monday. The procession held that day towards the chapel of San Telmo is especially notable, enlivened by "the March of San Telmo" played by the Municipal Band. The festivities in San Telmo are held over two weekends: the one just before the Monday (San Telmo's day) and the weekend before that. Among the celebrations programmed every year, the ones that stand out due to their tradition and popularity are the following: the Brotherhood dances in the little square, the running of young bulls on Itzurun Beach, the Children's – and Adults' - Drum Parades, the professional pelota games, the fishing boat regattas and the sports trials that, among other activities, include youngsters in their own programme.
Nevertheless, the patron saint celebrations are held in San Pedro. Although, today the tradition of wearing your suit for the first time on that day is not kept, they are if possible, the festivities surrounded by the most solemnity. San Pedro Day is on 29 June. Generally speaking, the programme usually includes the traditional giants and bigheads, dulzaina players, the release of young bulls in Itzurun and the Dance and Fireworks Show. In Oikia, Saint Bartholomew is celebrated on 24 August with a programme of festivities that have an attractive rural flavour, which include festival pilgrimages, Basque rural sport exhibitions, bertsolari performances (Basque musical verse) and, every two years, the traditional "Oilasko bilketaren festa". The Summer celebrations, known before as the Great Week, are celebrated throughout the month of August and they usually include in their programme: Fishing Boat Regattas, the Etxabe Dynasty Pelota Tournament, the open-air dance in full dress, aquatic games, Basque Festivals characterised by their flavour of cider and Basque cakes and Octopus Day. Also, the first 11 days of August are celebrated with the Summer Musical, an international music festival that offers daily concerts in the Aita Mari cinema assembly hall.
Saint Michael's day is celebrated on 29 September in the district of Artadi, where they too have performances from bertsolaris, games of Basque pelota, exhibitions of rural sport, festive pilgrimages and the traditional “sokamuturra”. And, not forgetting the following celebrations: San Pancracio in la Estación district, San Cristóbal in Narrondo and the day of the Virgin in Arritokieta. In addition, Zumaia has a very peculiar way of celebrating Christmas. Besides organising the Twelfth Night Procession and the live nativity scene, the zumaians keep some old traditions alive which the passing of time has not been able to extinguish. One of them is "Niño Jesusen eskia", a local custom that consists of running past the houses in the town on Christmas Eve morning with a white pillow used as a sack for residents to throw in oranges, mandarins, nuts, marzipan, figs, etc - but only after calling out the traditional phrase: "Niño Jesusen eskia". Later that same day, at night, the veteran Gabon Choir formed by more than a hundred residents of all ages, walk through the streets of Zumaia singing Christmas tunes with the aim of collecting money for charity. Many groups of children also liven up the streets with their songs and small cribs carried around on handcarts. |
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