Santa Ageda bezpera - Saint Agatha´s eve.

Saint Agatha's Eve is a traditional event taking place the evening of the 4th of February (the day before Saint Agatha´s day) in many places of the Basque Country. Groups dressed up in Basque traditional costumes march across the neighbourhood singing and wielding a characteristic stick beaten on the ground to the rhythm of the traditional Saint Agatha's tune. The singers ask for a small donation, which can be money, a drink or something to eat.

Inudeak eta Artzaiak - Nursemaids and Shepherds.

The tradition of Inudeak eta Artzaiak dates back to 1885.

This festivity takes place the day after the Caldereros festival, and it is entirely carnival-themed. All participants dress up as shepherds, nursemaids, mayors and even as bishops.

In this parade, the members of the group parody some nursemaids that are courted by shepherds to the rhythm of the music composed by Raimundo Sarregui. The nursemaids dance carrying doll babies in their arms.

"Caldereros" Spanish for boilermakers, tinkers ... To the sound of coppers and pans!!

Donostia was a transit point for nomad tribes and transhumant artisans who repaired different metal tools and saucepans before the 19th Century, and therefore, this is the origin of the caldereros troupes that started their performance in 1884. Although there is some evidence of carnival records in the 19th century, it was not until the above-mentioned date that tradition was made official in the way it is celebrated today. 

The Caldereros (Tinkers) go out to the streets during the weekend before the beginning of Carnival and announce the arrival of this pagan feast. These characters evoke the gypsy tribes that came to sell and repare different metal products on these dates. The parade is lead by a bear and is followed by a colorful assortment of groups that are gaily costumed. The group includes a queen, carts and gypsies, who sing to the sound of old pans, coppers, saucepans and hammers. The most important moment is the parade, which starts in San Sebastian’s Old Town at around ten in the evening.

This parade is great fun. If you can visit San Sebastian in February, then be sure to be in time for this parade!