Wine battle

How else to entertain yourself in Spain? Drink wine? Why, if you can just splash around in it. But only once a year and in a certain place.

Haro Wine Battle is a fervent holiday celebrated in the Riojan town of Haro on the morning of June 29. This action is timed to the day of the patron saints of the city of Haro: from June 24 to June 29, it is necessary to honor St. John, St. Felice and St. Peter.

The history of the holiday is as follows: in the sixth century, the death of the patron saint of the city, St. Felice of Bilibia, occurs, and local residents begin to visit the cave where his remains were located. Thus arose the pilgrimage, which will later give way to what we know today as the battle for wine.

This event, combining religious and pagan, takes place on the morning of June 29 in the vicinity of the caves in the Bilibio rocks, about 6 km from Aro. Mass is held, and then the wine battle begins, then, of course, lunch to replenish strength. It's classic. And in fact, while the people are climbing the mountain to the music, everyone has already poured red wine from sprayers, casings or even just buckets over each other from head to toe. Hundreds of liters of wine are brought by cars. White wine, for some reason does not participate in the holiday. After the meal, the participants continue on foot to return to Haro by 12 o'clock, where they perform typical festivities in the central square to complete this glorious day.