La Cincomarzada

Every 5th March a popular festival is held in Zaragoza  to  commemorate the expulsion of Carlist troops by the townspeople on this day in 1838. Thousands of local people go to the Tío Jorge Park to have lunch in the open air.

The city of Zaragoza was in a magnificent strategic position, which together with the Carlists’ desire to conquer a large city (they only had influence in rural areas), lead Juan Cabañero to attempt such an audacious act. But the local people’s reaction was quick and they went out into the streets with the military. They defended and managed to expel the Carlists from the city. It was an important victory and after this event, the legend "Siempre Heroica" (Always Heroic) was added to the city’s coat of arms.

In the following years, Zaragoza’s constitutional council declared the anniversary a holiday and it was commemorated officially and solemnly. In 1843 events in Spanish history lead the Moderate party to power. From this point the official commemoration disappeared. But local people, who were used to the celebration, decided not to renounce it and for many 5th March became a day to go out into the country. They went to the Macanaz wooded grove and the banks of the river Gállego with plenty of food and drink. In this way a tradition that would last for many decades was born.

In the 20th century, other meeting areas such as Cabezo Cortado and Buenavista, La Almozara and the Utrillas station were included due to the city’s southerly expansion at that time.

On 4th March 1937, the local council decided to officially abolish the festivity and it was not celebrated again until 1977. In the same way, for forty years the Calle Cinco de Marzo was known as Requeté Aragonés.

In 1977 the festivity began to be revived slowly and discreetly. People stared to go out into the country near the city and in 1979 the first democratic local council changed the street name back to its original form.

In 1981 the local council revived the celebration definitively with the help of local festivity commissions, groups of friends and civic associations.

Since then, the day has been celebrated in the Tío Jorge Park, in the Arrabal district and it has become a day for leisure and protest.

Apart from the local festivity and the traditional lunch, several political groups and social and cultural associations set up stands which they use to spread information about their activities.

Local people fill the park on this festive day. They prepare barbecues and there is dancing, open air parties, concerts and street theatre.

March