The Labastida Round.

Labastida burns with the bonfires that are lit during La Ronda, one of the most traditional festivities of this town in the Rioja Alavesa.

Annually, on December 7, La Ronda begins, a tradition that invites us to walk the streets of Labastida to the rhythm of music and the heat of the bonfires. The zurracapote, chestnuts and more than 10 bonfires distributed throughout the municipality of Labastida, have become essential elements of La Ronda, elements that help us to cope with the low temperatures that plague Labastida during this time of year. This popular event turns the night of Labastida into a spectacle; good atmosphere, warmth, food and drink. What more could you ask for?

Women and men, children and adults, locals and visitors gather every year around the town hall and the church of Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, two of the most representative buildings of Labastida, in the center of the town.

On the eve of the Immaculate Conception, the bastidarras take to the streets to brighten up the town center, will you join them?

History of La Ronda: Although the exact origin of this tradition is not known, there are many who indicate that its origin lies in the military. The argumentation of all of them refers to the round that the soldiers made through the streets of Labastida to check that everything was in order, an action in which they used the bonfires to protect themselves in the cold winter nights. Thanks to the Municipal Archives of Labastida we can affirm that the first documents that mention “La Ronda” date from the beginning of the XVII century. Testimony to this are the archives of 1619, 1625 and 1626, years in which, among other data, the total cost of the celebration was noted.

Tradition: Boys and girls take to the streets of Labastida with torches in hand to start “La Ronda”, a night in which the old furniture takes center stage in the bonfires that are formed in different parts of the municipality. At 22:00 the smell of bonfires begins to permeate Labastida along with the music and revelry of the crowd that dances and sings along with the music band in emblematic places such as the Plaza del Olmo or the Calle Mayor. The last bonfire to be lit is that of the town hall, the place where the bonfire route ends and where at 23:00 the distribution of roasted chestnuts and zurracapote begins.

Gastronomy: Gastronomy is present in La Ronda in the form of roasted chestnuts and zurracapote, two elements that accompany the fire during the cold night. The zurracapote, a traditional drink made from wine, sugar, fruit and other raw materials, shows once again that in the Rioja Alavesa there is no celebration in which wine is not present. By the way, both products are distributed free of charge in front of the town hall, a nice gesture.

Labastida: Labastida is one of those villages that you will fall in love with both inside and outside, and this Basque village, its historic center and its surroundings offer routes between vineyards, churches and wineries worth mentioning. If you are interested in knowing more information about Labastida we recommend reading our articles, “What to see and what to do in Labastida, Rioja Alavesa“, “Mesón Alai, traditional Basque cuisine in Labastida” and “Bodega Gontés, a different visit in Labastida“.

La Ronda represents one of the most popular and recognized festivals of Labastida, an annual event that we recommend not to miss.