Traditional Basque festivals in January especially include the beginning of the Souletine masquerades in Soule, which last until April, and by the Tamborrada of San Sebastian.
January is also the month of the very first Navarre carnival, a very traditional one occuring in Ituren and Zubieta.
Also noteworthy are the celebrations of the Bixintxo, the patron saint of the city of Ciboure, from 17 to 26 January 2020. It is also celebrated in Hendaye.
You will therefore find in this article the dates information to remember on:
- The Three Kings in Sanguesa – Navarre (200kms from home/Biaudos, about 2 hours by freeway).
- The Souletine Masquerade – Soule (about 48kms from home and 48mns).
- The Tamborrada of Donostia – Guipuscoa (about 74kms and 1 hour by freeway).
- The Carnival of the Labourdine Kaskarots – Labourd (about 17kms and 21mns).
- The Carnival of the Joaldunak of Ituren and Zubieta – Navarre (about 86kms and 1h10 by freeway).
- The Caldereros de la Hungria in Donostia – Guipuscoa (about 74kms and 1 hour by freeway).
- Nurses and shepherds in Donostia – Guipuscoa (about 74kms and 1 hour by freeway).
Passion Play of the Three Kings in Sanguesa.
Although it is not a typical Basque festival but takes place throughout Spain, January 6, the day of the Magi (Reyes Magos) or the Spanish Epiphany, is particularly important in Sanguesa.
This festival, declared a Festival of Tourist Interest in Navarre, is a living religious drama, also known as the Auto de los Reyes Magos.
Since 1967, at precisely 11:30 am, the inhabitants of Sanguesa have been replaying the journey of the Three Kings of the East to Bethlehem. The play is performed in open air, in front of the most beautiful monuments of the city.
It is followed by a Mass of the Kings in the church of Santiago, under the chairmanship of the actors.
Place: Sanguesa, Navarre province.
Date: January 6, 2023 at 11:30 am.
Type: Christmas ceremony, liturgical drama, outdoor theatre.
For your stay, I strongly recommend you to stay in the hilltop village of Gallipienzo, at Heredad Beragu Hotel, 7kms from Sanguesa.
Click here to see some pics, reviews and the availability of this beautiful stone house hotel
The Souletine masquerade.
The Souletine masquerade takes place every year in a different village of Soule.
A performance takes place every Sunday from January to April.
In 2020, it was the young people of Aussurucq who played it at home and in the surrounding villages.
The Souletine masquerade is an extremely important moment in Souletine culture.
It combines carnival, dance, music, songs and burlesque theatre.
Through the masquerade, the young people of the village tell the story of the past year in a humorous and teasing way.
In the morning there are what are called barricades. In the afternoon the performance takes place.
The Souletin dances are among the most beautiful and impressive in the Basque Country.
Be careful, however, if you do not speak Basque because the show is not translated.
Place: Soule’s villages.
Date: From the end of January to the end of April.
Type: a key moment of Souletine culture, a theatre performed/danced/chanted in the open air.
The dates and places in 2020:
- Aussurucq, 9 February.
- Trois-Villes , 16 February.
- Larrau, 23 February.
- Idaux-Mendy , 7 March.
- Mauleon , 14 March.
- Sainte-Engrâce , 21 March.
- Alos et Tardets , 28 March.
- Espès, 5 April.
- Musculdy, 19 April.
- GaraÏbie , 26 April.
For your stay, I recommend you the beautiful Domaine Agerria.
Check the pic, price and availability for your stay here
The tamborrada of San Sebastian-Donostia.
The tamborrada (Spanish) or Danborrada (Basque) of San Sebastian (San Sebastian in Spanish, Donostia in Basque) is celebrated every year on January 20, San Sebastian’s Day.
This festival dates back to the 19th century and commemorates the Napoleonic occupation during the War of Independence (1808-1812).
Two groups march: the first with Napoleonic drums and costumes, the second with barrels and costumes of cooks and water vendors.
The tamborrada officially begins on January 19 at midnight, with the raising of the city’s flag and the “Marcha de San Sebastian” played in the Constitution Square. But the children begin around 8pm with their own opening.
Then the companies composed of 20 to 50 drums and 50 to 100 barrels parade in the neighbourhoods, always accompanied by a banda.
On January 20 at noon, the children’s tamborrada takes place, starting from the town hall square, along the Concha, the main beach of San Sebastian.
It ends after 24 hours, at midnight on January 20, again on Constitution Square, with the tamborrada of the oldest society in the city, the March of San Sebastian and other compositions.
Place: San Sebastian, Guipuzcoa.
Date: January 20, 2023.
Type: “military” parade, the feast of the city’s patron saint.
Don’t forget to try the best culinary experience in the world according to Lonely Planet: pintxos, Basque tapas, in the bars of the old town.
Experience them in the Basque style: enter a bar, choose one or two tapas and enjoy them with a glass of txakoli, the slightly sparkling local white wine and then start again in a 2nd bar until you are full. Don’t worry, the waiters have excellent memory. Just enjoy the moment!
In terms of accommodation, Maria Cristina is the most famous 5-star hotel in the city. Ideally located close to the waterfront, in front of the theatre and 400 metres from the historic district, this magnificent building has welcomed many celebrities such as Woody Allen and Liz Taylor. The famous French chef Hélène Darroze welcomes guests to the ephemeral restaurant from June to October.
Click here to check the pics, reviews, prices and availability for your dates
The famous Hotel de Londres y de Inglaterra, also on La Concha, often offers very attractive promotions.
It is also the favorite hotel of tourists for its view of the famous Concha, the main beach of San Sebastian. Try to book on the 7th floor for the most beautiful view.
Click here to check the pics, reviews, prices and availability for your dates
If you are travelling with a family or small group (up to 8), I recommend Amara Astoria-luxury Apartments, in the Amara district. This 3-bedroom apartment, with a surface area of 105m², is the best plan for families and groups.
Click here to check the pics, reviews, prices and availability for your dates
If you wish to stay outside the centre of San Sebastian and prefer a more rural atmosphere while retaining the charm of the old, I recommend the Heredad de Unanue.
Click here to check the pics, reviews, prices and availability for your dates
The carnivals of the kaskarots from Labourd.
The Labourd carnivals, the earliest in the French Basque Country, start at the end of January or beginning of February.
In each village, a group of kaskarots, the main characters of the Labourdin carnivals, do the collection from house to house, while performing the traditional Labourd dances.
Place: Labourd villages.
Date: January to March 2023.
Type: carnival, traditional dances.
In 2022, I went to Bardos. Parade and traditional dances, judgment of San Pantsar, fire dance in the ass, mutxikoak evening with the group Rita Mutxiko.
For your accommodation, you can book the independent apartment for 5 people in my house, by contacting me via the contact section.
The carnival of the Joaldunak
The carnival of Ituren and Zubieta opens the season of the famous carnivals of Navarre, the most interesting and richest carnivals in the Basque Country.
It takes place on the Monday and Tuesday of the last week of January, in the villages where the Joaldunaks or Zanpantzar come from.
On Monday, the parade takes place in the village of Ituren. Tuesday in Zubieta.
For having been to each of the two villages, I preferred Monday morning in Ituren: preparation of the clothes, parade in the typical village. However, I did not see a parade from one village to another. The tourist office was laconic about the actual program and I couldn’t figure out if the Joaldunaks really walk from one village to another or only walk a little bit as I saw.
On Tuesday afternoon, I started in Ituren where all the Joaldunaks were gathered. They paraded a little bit then I followed them when they started their march towards Zubieta…. except that they quickly climbed into vehicles!!! As a result, they arrived long before me and I couldn’t film the arrival on the old stone bridge of Zubieta. There were also chariots and it was rather gore, as the tradition wants that young people dress up as characters representing chaos, that the Joaldunaks, hunters of evil spirits, go hunting with their bells (“Joaldunaks” actually means “bells”). It became even worse in Zubieta’s square, and not very reassuring, between the young people covered with blood or brandishing dead organs or dead animals and those who were scaring people with their chainsaws…
Place: Ituren and Zubieta, Navarre.
Date: Monday and Tuesday of the last week of January. 30 and 31 January 2023 – pending confirmation.
Type: carnival of Navarre.
For your accommodation, I recommend you Tresanea Apartamentos, in the beautiful rural village of Ituren.
Click here to check the pics, reviews, availability and prices for your trip
Caldereros de la Hungria in Saint Sebastian, Anoeta, Astigarraga, Irun, Tolosa.
Before the beginning of the carnival, the Hungarian boilermakers are celebrated. The inhabitants of the city disguise themselves as boilermakers to commemorate their arrival in San Sebastian in the 19th century, and announce the carnival.
The first procession by the original troop took place in 1884.
Location: San Sebastian, Guipuscoa.
Date: Depending on the year, the last Saturday in January or the first Saturday in February.
Type: parade, singing, dancing, traditional music, outdoor.
Look above (January) for reviews of San Sebastian accommodations. Click below to book.
Nurses and shepherds in Saint Sebastian.
The day after the Caldereros de la Hungria, it is Inudeak eta Artzaiak or nurses and shepherds.
This festival commemorates the courting of nannies by shepherds and the vaccination of children.
Not to be confused with the variant of the same name, in Bera de Bidasoa, which I love so much!
Place: San Sebastian.
Date: January 29, 2023 (pending confirmation).
Type: parade, carnival, outdoor, traditional music.
Check above for accommodation ideas.
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Conclusion: Basque Festivals in January.
Through these 7 traditional festivals of the Basque Country, you will be able to discover a part of the traditional and festive culture of the region. Local festivals are always a wonderful way to discover traditions and better understand a local culture; and we are lucky in the Basque Country to have traditions that are still well preserved.
Have you ever participated in a local festival in the Basque Country? What is your favorite traditional festival, whether in the Basque Country or elsewhere? Tell us all about it in comments!
To return to the home page of the calendar of Basque festivals, click here
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Notes and Références.
Passion Play Of The Three Kings In Sanguesa.
Souletine mascarade in Camou 2013: Personal Video.
Kaskarots Briscous 2017: Personal Video.
Carnaval in Ituren and Zubieta: Personal Video.
Caldereros de la Hungria Saint Sebastian: Personal Video.
Nurses and Sheperds Saint Sebastian