DÍA DE SAN SEBASTIAN || TAMBORRADAS 🥁

DÍA DE SAN SEBASTIAN || TAMBORRADAS 🥁


Every 20th January, Donostia moves to the sound of drums. The tamborrada (drum-beating) provides the soundtrack to San Sebastián Day, the city's festival in honour of its patron saint, San Sebastián. The festival consists of a series of parades of drummers (dressed in Napoleonic military costumes) and replicants (who carry wooden barrels and are dressed as cooks) who play pieces, most of which were composed for the event by the musician from San Sebastián Raimundo Sarriegui in the 19th century. During that day, around 18,000 participants take to the streets, divided into more than 140 tamborradas (drum-beating groups).

Events scheduled for San Sebastián Day

On 20th January at midnight in the Plaza de la Constitución, the first event of San Sebastián Day takes place, the raising of the city flag. From this moment on, the Gaztelubide Society and other bands begin to play Sarriegui's compositions such as the Marcha de San Sebastián, Diana, Retreta, Tatiago, Iriyarena or Caballería de viejas, among others.

In addition to the adult drumming, at 12 noon the children's drumming takes place, which has been held since 1927 and has more than 5,000 participants. It is at this meeting when more bands come out at the same time; almost 50 societies made up of the youngest children parade from the town hall to the different streets in a spectacle capable of astonishing and marvelling.

The most authoritative figure of the children's drumming is the Drum Major, who wears the uniform of the drums of the company to which he belongs with some distinguishing element. He is given a personalized baton of command and leads the drumming from the balcony of the town hall, starting the children's parade. There are also the figures of General and Assistant, who wear a different costume from all the participating companies and make the journey on horseback.

At midnight on the same day, the flag is lowered in the Plaza de la Constitución, which ends the events scheduled for the Tamborrada. The mayor of the city lowers the flag to the sounds of the March of San Sebastián, considered the anthem of the city, performed by the Sociedad Unión Artesana.

Every year, coinciding with this date, the City Council awards the Medal of Citizen Merit to those people or entities that have provided or provide extraordinary services to the city. The Golden Drum is also awarded to those who have contributed to the consolidation of a positive and attractive external image of the city, whether due to their work, career or professional projection.

During this day, the city of San Sebastián is filled with an unparalleled festive atmosphere. It is one of the best times of the year to enjoy the sound of drums and take advantage of the opportunity to try the pintxos in the bars and have a glass of txakolí.



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