The Basque Country is full of colorful festivals and each city and town has their own special fiesta. Even towns as small as Munitibar – less than 500 people – have a big fiesta on their saint’s day, with the plaza full of people dancing to live music. Vitoria-Gasteiz, the political capital of the Basque Autonomous Community, is no exception. Their main fiesta, in honor of the White Virgin and celebrated around her feast day of August 5, draws thousands upon thousands of people and features an oddly unique character that ushers in the main festivities.

• The Fiestas of the Virgen Blanca, or White Virgin, (Andre Maria Zuriaren Jaiak in Euskara) started in Vitoria-Gasteiz, Araba, in 1884. For many years, the city celebrated its fiestas in September, but in 1883 it was decided to move them to August to honor the Virgen Blanca, as her feast day is on August 5. In 1921, she was declared the patron saint of the city. In 1954, she was named queen of the city. She is also known as Saint Mary of the Snows.
• The Virgen Blanca is a statue from the 14th century that sits in the Church of San Miguel in Vitoria-Gasteiz. Her veneration dates to the time that Araba was part of the Kingdom of Nafarroa and is attributed to Sancho the Wise, who named his daughter the same. He founded the city in 1181 and the cult of the White Virgin has existed ever since.
• Since 1957, the festivities begin with the descent of Celedón. Celedón is a rag doll that represents an old Araban villager. He is attached to a pulley system and lowered across the main plaza holding his umbrella which hangs from the wires. After, a real-life version of Celedón makes his way through the crowd and a traditional dance (the aurresku) is performed on the balcony of the church. The crowd chants “Gora Gasteiz! Gora Celedón!” Celedón is meant to represent the rural peasants that come to the city to celebrate the fiestas. Tradition holds that he was from the village of Zalduondo.
• The “cuadrillas de blusas” are the heart of the festival. Dressed in traditional costumes, they lead various activities throughout the city during the fiesta. The fiestas are characterized by free open-air concerts, various sporting competitions, bertsolariak, and lots of singing, dancing, and drinking.

A full list of all of Buber’s Basque Facts of the Week can be found in the Archive.

Primary sources: Arozamena Ayala, Ainhoa. VIRGEN BLANCA. Auñamendi Encyclopedia. Available at: https://aunamendi.eusko-ikaskuntza.eus/en/virgen-blanca/ar-128546/; Arozamena Ayala, Ainhoa. Virgen Blanca. Auñamendi Encyclopedia. Available at: https://aunamendi.eusko-ikaskuntza.eus/en/virgen-blanca/ar-142639/; Fiestas de la Virgen Blanca – Historia, tradición y la bajada de Celedón, Vitoria-Gasteiz