Our Tour to Bijuesca in August 1998

La Fiesta de San Roque and more

All photographs by Frits van Krevelen (1998)

Soria, San Gregorio, Calatayud and Bilbilis
La Fiesta San Roque in Bijuesca
The official Bijuesca homepage
Back to the Van Krevelen homepage

Carmen, Ans and myself next to the statue of San Roque

San Roque, the 16th of August, is the big annual fiesta at Bijuesca. From all parts of the country the families with connections to Bijuesca return to meet each other and to participate at the fiestas and dancing for a couple of days. Every city and village of Spain has its holy patron, so every day somewhere in Spain fiestas are held, music, dancing and much dining and drinking, fireworks and more. This is defenitely a country of enjoying life and living

San Roque is particularly well known as a protector against the plague and many of the celebrations dedicated to him originated in vows made during epidemics, especially in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries. In Calatayud a huge crowd gathers to watch sunrise and hear mass on the feast day of San Roque, whilst the rich aspects of folklore can be enjoyed on this date in the village of Llanes (Asturias), similar to the celebrations held on the feast of Mary Magdalene. The brotherhoods of Seńor Sant Roque in Llodio (Alava) celebrate the feast with a meal in the hermitage, followed by a dance called the aurresku.

We were lucky to be at Bijuesca during the 1998 fiesta of San Roque.. At the right of the first picture we are standing next to the small statue of San Roque, belonging to the church but now exposed for the fiesta. Behind the church in the shadow of the large trees at the riverside dozens of tables were placed in the middle of the road.

A close look at the cazuela

Ans takes a closer look at the cazuela to discover all of the ingredients. This is *really* a large pan, we have never seen one this huge. There is enough for all of the fiesta people, even for a second round. When we walked aroud the place the chief of the fiesta invited Carnmen and the two of us to join the dinner. Thomas, the friend of Manolo and Carmen, let us jouin the queue at the front position, so we were very lucky that day!

Waiting in the queue, we got free cards from the chief of the fiesta (with the yellow shirt) Thomás is still wondering

The dinner took place at the middle of the main road where it passes Bijuesca at the river side. No car could pass any more, and none did fortunately. For four hours the road was blocked this way. This can happen solely in Spain, I assume.

Dining at the middle of the road

La Comida de San Roque at the riverside of Bijuesca

The food is delicious and in the shadow of the trees we enjoy the fiesta. A fresh Sangria (red wine on ice with fresh oranges. lemons and some licor) completes the meal. After the dinner a nice Spanish family offered us a delicious expresso coffee.

Ans, Carmen and Thomás

A little girl enjoying the fiesta

This fiesta is for all ages from grandfathert to babies. Most children were dressd very handsome and colorful. In the bright sunlight the picture of the fiesta was just gorgious.

A nice look at the castillo from the south

After the dinner we took a walk. Again the famous look at the castillo. It was a very nice day with brilliant light.

Looking from the castillo at the centre of Bijuesca

Here a picture taken from my video-camera. Looking from the castle towards the south at the centre of the village. In front the square where the dancing of the fiesta San Roque took place later in the evening (starting at 23:00). At Manolo's place we could easily hear the music.

Walking along the road to Bijuesca

A look at the castillo walking on the A1507 road from Berdejo to Bijuesca . Just behind the left edge of the castle at the other side of the hill is Manolo's place.

Back to the top of this page