Do you want to visit Zaragoza? Prefer the beginning of October to attend the Pilar Festival , the largest Spanish festival with international renown. What better way to discover the Aragonese capital than in a crazy festive atmosphere . Because of course, we celebrate religious traditions but Spanish joy invades the streets and it is an explosion of life for a week in Zaragoza .
Origin of the Pilar Festival in Zaragoza
The Basilica of the Virgin of Pilar
The popular celebrations of the Pillar are ancient manifestations of faith in Spain . The devotion to the Virgin Mary , of the apostle James the Greater and his eight disciples in the year 40, gave birth to the Basilica of the Pillar . History tells that the Virgin came to bring a pillar to the apostle so that he could build a religious building on the banks of the Ebro . Some speak instead of an apparition of the Virgin Mary on the pillar . This is why a 48 cm wooden statuette of the Virgin was placed on the famous column in her homage. Also, this pillar is still present in the Basilica of the Virgin of the Pillar of Zaragoza. In addition, it is one of the largest temples in Spain .
The Spanish celebrate the Virgin Mary in Zaragoza
Thousands of believers from all over Spain gather in Zaragoza to celebrate the city’s patron saint : the Virgin of Pilar . The center of attention is the Basilica of Pilar, a monument of great magnitude, with eleven domes and four bell towers. Thus, pilgrims rush to touch the sacred column of the Virgin . The architecture of the basilica has been constantly remodeled to accommodate ever more faithful while always preserving the integrity of the famous pillar of the Virgin. Finally, the last tower added to the complex dates back to 1961.
But the most important of the festivities in homage to the Patron Saint continue in the great Plaza del Pilar and in the streets of Zaragoza .
What is the Pilar Festival?
In fact, we speak of the Pilar Festival in the plural because the event takes place over several days in October and in different locations in Zaragoza . This festival has been declared a Festival of International Tourist Interest since 2019. A week full of colors and celebrations that manifest themselves in various forms, here are the most recurrent:
The Pilar Festival Program
- El Pregon : The official speech given by a local celebrity from the balcony of the City Hall. It is the opening of the Pilar festivities .
- Flower Offering to the Virgin of Pilar : October 12th is the most important day of the festivities. Indeed, a 15-meter-high structure stands in the center of the Pilar Square. At its top, the great Virgin is represented on a golden column surrounded by flowers . The crowd speaks volumes about the fame of this festival since no less than 200,000 people will come to lay around 7 million flowers in just one day. Most Spaniards, coming from all over Spain to honor the Patron Saint of Hispanidad , dress in their traditional outfits .
- The offering of the Cross of Lorraine : a cross of red carnations offered to the Virgin by the Royo Villanova Hospital, formerly a sanatorium in Zaragoza .
- Fruit Offering for the Virgin : On October 13, regional houses offer fruit. Approximately 5 tons are collected each year and then donated to various charities in the city.
- The procession of the Rosario de Cristal (the crystal rosary or chaplet): an impressive spectacle of all these glass lanterns and colored paper lanterns joyfully parading through the streets of the city accompanied by Spaniards in traditional dress.
- The parade of giants Gigantes y Cabezudos represents historical or imaginary characters with enormous heads made of cardboard .
- Jota dancers in the city center of Zaragoza (traditional Aragonese jotas).
- Music concerts , plays , dance performances , art exhibitions …
- A craft market where you can discover Aragonese specialties .
- Workshops and activities for children .
- Traditional bullfights in the bullring of Zaragoza.
- The numerous masses celebrated in the Cathedral of Pilar.
The Corridas of Zaragoza since 1764
The Zaragoza Bullring , the second oldest bullring in Spain , is only used for bullfights twice a year. The rest of the time, thanks to its roof, it serves as a concert hall and exhibition space.
The Plaza de Toros de Zaragoza is a first-class bullring. Serious bullfights take place here, featuring well-presented bulls and renowned bullfighters.
Closing show of the Pilar Festival
A grand fireworks display concludes the Pilar Festival , illuminating the bridge over the Ebro River with the Basilica of El Pilar in the background. In short, it’s the highlight of the show that makes the event even more special. Find the Pilar Festival program on the Zaragoza Tourist Office’s social media.
Offering of flowers to the Virgin of Pilar
In conclusion, if you were to do only one day of the Pilar festival , I recommend you attend the day of October 12 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. The day of the Offering of Flowers to the Virgin in the main square of Zaragoza. Throughout the country, it is the Spanish national holiday. It is in fact the most important day of the festivities and the most symbolic. In addition, thousands of people parade in typical costumes from Aragon and other regions of Spain. So, for the Zaragoza festivals , the alleys are colored with wreaths of flowers.
Colorful flowers adorn the lower part of the structure. While the Virgin’s mantle is composed of white gladioli. These mountains of flowers brought by the faithful create a marvelous scene. An unforgettable day with all these crowds thronging the streets and the incomparable Plaza del Pilar. All of Zaragoza is celebrating and the atmosphere that reigns there is unique.
When are the Pilar Festivals in Zaragoza?
The Pilar Festival spans several days of ceremonies in honor of the Virgen del Pilar . Typically, each year, the largest fiesta in Spain takes place in autumn. More precisely, it is the week of October 12th in memory of the date of the Virgin’s apparition to the apostle James. In short, this festival monopolizes and transforms the city into a bustling hive of tradition and joy.
Go to Zaragoza by train
To get to Zaragoza , don’t hesitate to choose the train. Renfe SNCF offers TGV trains that connect the cities of southern France to major destinations in Spain . Like me, you can enjoy a weekend in Spain. Why not even stop off in Figueres, the city of Dalí ? Finally, taking a train ride and not worrying about renting a car is a strong argument. It would be a shame to miss out.
What to do during the Zaragoza festivals?
If you want to vary your discoveries and get away from the crowds , go in search of the many street art works of Zaragoza . Even if you are not there for the Urban Arts Festival, you can see all the murals already present in the city.
And finally, to visit Zaragoza without missing anything, read my article on everything to do in Zaragoza on vacation.
