Tamborrada Flag raising
Tourist and holiday information for Spain including concerts, gigs & shows.
San SebastianTamborrada Flag raising January 19-20, 2009Every year San Sebastian's marching band's put on a huge, exciting display.They call the band's 'Tamborada' and each year at midnight on the 20th January a representative from each band is invited to attend the flag raising ceremony at the Plaza de la Constitución as a prelude to the main event.The representatives will play the traditional tamborrada melodies together with the members of the Gaztelubide tamborrada group. Historically it is unknown when the first Tamborrada occurred in San Sebastian. Some people say its origin is the drumbeat made on buckets by maids and their companions, artisans, and soldiers, while waiting for their turn at one of the three fountains that supplied San Sebastian with water in 1836. It is more likely to simply be a development of an ancient holiday or fiesta. It has developed into a tradition of celebrating the patron saint's feast by going along the streets in the early morning to the sound of a "zortziko" march by the musician Santesteban took shape. At that time the march was played only with barrels, but later loud drums were added.The participants, who wore at first fancy dresses, were later put into uniform. Every year, at 3:30 in the morning, they came out of the "Fraternal" Society's premises, located by the Castle, beating on the drums the "Sheshenarena", since Sarriegui did not write the San Sebastian March until 1860. They went tireless along the streets until eight o'clock, stopping at the corner of "Iñigo" and "Narrica" Streets, where they waited for the coming of the "sokamuturra". The fiesta starts on the 20th of January at midnight when the flag is raised by the "Gaztelubide" Tamborrada in the former Town Hall, which is now the Town Library, located in the "Constitución" Square and continues for 24 hours. San Sebastian is a very noisy and clourful place for a whole day as the Tamboradas march around the town in traditional dress and costumes. The hymns by Sarriegui can be heard in all quarters during this time. At midnight of the next day "Unión Artesana" Tamborrada is in charge of lowering down the flag and finishing the fiesta.
Back
Ten Best Place's to visit in Spain