Three weeks before Christmas, San Sebastian turns into a farytale city. Christmas lights are lit on the streets and squares, holiday decorations are set on the seafront and suspended over Urumea river, Christmas market show up on the riverfront and multiple Christmas trees light up on city squares. Read more…
In the nineteenth century, farmers from Guipuzcoa province were coming to San Sebastian to sell farm produce and home products and to enjoy shopping in the city. Nowadays, city residents dress up in costumes and walk around town drinking cider with chistora – a favorite produce of local farmers. Read more…
Spanish winter holidays start on Christmas eve and end with fairy kings parade - an important Catholic ritual that symbolizes the journey of the Magi from all over the world to Jerusalem to present gifts for a newborn Jesus. A ritual that nowadays is very similar to Santa Claus’s visit on Christmas eve. Read more…
Tamborrada or San Sebastian Day is held on January 20th. The opening ceremony will take place at midnight on January 19th, when a president of gastronomic community Gaztelubide will raise the flag of the city at the Constitution Square. City residents celebrate the day of the patron saint for more than 150 years with a 24 hour parade of drummers in costumes and brass bands. Read more…
Festive processions dedicated to Carnival begin in San Sebastian 40 days before the Passover Week. Starting from Thursday, mummers walk through different quarters of the city, singing songs dedicated to the goddess Momo - the queen/patron of the carnival. Read more…
he week before Easter in Spain is known as Semana Santa, or the Holy week. Starting from the Holy Thursday, Passover processions take place throughout Spain. This religious processions are dedicated to the events that occurred after Christ entered Jerusalem. In Guipúzcoa, this spectacular procession can be observed in Hondarribia and Irun. Read more…
On the day of summer solstice Spaniards celebrate the day of St. John (San Juan in Spanish), the roots of which go back to paganism. It is believed that after this longest day of the year is over, Light begins to lose its strength and Darkness takes over. Read more…
