Logroño is the capital of La Rioja, which is the smallest region in Spain. Regions in Spain are like states in the US. La Rioja is known for its vineyards, which is how grapes are grown. Specifically, the region grows grapes for making wine and grape juice. The grapes are usually red. San Mateo, or Saint Matthew, is the patron saint of the region and many people pray to this saint in hopes of a great harvest.
The festival of San Mateo is a week-long festival that takes place during the second week of September. This past year, the festival started on September 15, 2018 at noon. The start of the festival is a huge event that is called the chupinazo. There is not a word that directly translates to English, but at the chupinazo, everyone in the town gathers at the city hall. There are some speeches and then a single firework is fired off. Everyone starts dancing, singing and celebrating the start of the festival. I attended this event and it was so much fun!
The town lights up during the week of the San Mateo festival. Many people are out with their families and they attend a variety of events during the week. There are many concerts, shows, parades, puppet shows, food stands, a carnival and more fireworks.
