Christmas activity: Santo Tomás markets

Christmas Day is less than a week away, and with the day fast approaching, this Thursday 21st we have decided to organise a Christmas activity for all our Spanish students - let's go to the Santo Tomás Christmas markets!

The Santo Tomás markets are part of the Basque tradition for the celebration of Christmas, with the 21st being the date when the festive season is inaugurated every year in the Basque Country. On this day, market stalls and fairs are set up in El Arenal and Casco Viejo (old town), covering a large part of the historic area, although mainly in the Plaza Nueva.

At these markets Basque farmers and livestock dealers come together with the residents of the city centre, while the streets are filled with the distinct smells of meat, vegetables, wine and spices, and the sounds of traditional Basque instruments fill your ears.

As soon as you go there you will notice the immense variety of horticultural and meat products that are available to try, as well as cured meats, black pudding, chorizo, drinks such as cider or txakoli (typical Basque white wine), sweets such as doughnuts, and even craft products.

You can enjoy all this while singing bertsos (verses of poetry), and playing Basque instruments such as the txalaparta (a Basque percussion instrument consisting of a plank on four wooden feet that is struck with four sticks), or the trikitixa, a small accordion whose use dates back to the 19th century in the Basque Country), among a plethora of others.

With all this to look forward to, why not go? If you're up for it, just be at the Instituto Hemingway at 12:30 on Thursday 21/12/23 so that we can all go together. Come with your coat buttoned up and an empty stomach, and of course, a good attitude!

See you there!