The streets of Vitoria-Gasteiz are preparing to come alive with the sounds of the retreta and tamborrada on the eve of San Prudencio. The director of the organization, who has held the position of drum major since 2020, experiences these days with special emotion, describing it as a "deeply rooted and family tradition".
For the second consecutive year, the tamborrada of the gastronomic societies will feature an afternoon route, an initiative that debuted with great success last year, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the celebration. According to the director, this change has allowed more families and children to enjoy the parade. "Traditions also adapt to the times," she stated, celebrating the excellent reception of the 'tardeo' format.
“"Traditions also adapt to the times."
The afternoon tamborrada will begin at 7:00 PM from the Torre de Doña Otxanda. The route will pass through Diputación street to converge in the Plaza Nueva around 7:55 PM, where the parade will join the retreta performance at 8:00 PM. Subsequently, the procession will continue along Dato street to San Prudencio street, concluding to regain strength at the society's dinner.
The celebration will continue with the night session. The drums will sound again at 11:30 PM from the same starting point to offer, at midnight precisely, the entire repertoire in the Plaza de la Provincia. The grand finale of the night will take place on the steps of San Miguel, in the Virgen Blanca.
Despite the yellow alert for rain forecast for the afternoon, the celebration is not in jeopardy. The director was emphatic on the matter: "We are going out no matter what." She recalled that rain is a common companion at this time of year and that the tamborrada is not suspended due to bad weather. "Otherwise, we wouldn't celebrate San Prudencio," she quipped.
“"We are going out no matter what."
To protect their costumes, many participants use raincoats or plastic covers. If the rain is just a drizzle, the parade continues without alterations. "If it rains a lot, we might stop and wait for it to clear up a bit," the director explained regarding the action plan.
The director's passion for the tamborrada is a family legacy, as her father also participated. Her journey began in the children's tamborrada and she has held every possible role: 'casera', 'majorette', 'cantinera', 'aguadora', and finally, drum major, a position she has held since 2020.
This year, nearly 200 people are part of the procession. The director noted a slight decrease in participation during rehearsals, which began in late February, attributing it to the calendar. The coincidence with the May 1st long weekend makes it an "enticing week for vacations." However, she concluded: "Those of us who are truly from here, we don't miss San Prudencio."
