Summarising the history of Euqor Crew is no easy task. It has been many years of celebration and merriment through the streets of Calatayud, proudly wearing our blue shirt with the greatest possible pride. However, every crew member enjoys looking back and remembering how the story of the founding crew began. Perhaps these lines will stir your emotions as well…
Our story begins here.
How Was EUQOR Crew Founded?
It was towards the end of September 1957 when Eduardo Rubio "Tato" travelled to the festivities in Cascante (Navarre) and returned full of enthusiasm for everything he had experienced there. He was so inspired that he began telling everyone that Calatayud needed celebrations just like those. That very night, work began on creating a new format for the San Roque Festivities in Calatayud!
The new concept for the festivities was carefully planned: the organisation and number of crew members, the cost of hiring a brass band, and the way it would all be financed.
Nothing more was needed for our festivities to become what they are today! Thanks to the enthusiasm and determination of a handful of pioneers, the birth of Euqor Crew—and with it, the San Roque Festivities as we know them today—was drawing near.
In November 1958, Euqor Crew was founded by twenty-seven founding members. Rafael López Pérez had the honour of becoming the crew's first president, and together they drafted the association's rules and regulations that every member was required to follow. They were also responsible for choosing the name of this first San Roque crew, calling it Euqor ("Roque" spelt backwards).
Another important matter was the creation of the badge—one of the crew's defining symbols of identity. It was designed by Don Juan Cruz Melero, Professor of Drawing, who chose to depict a lucky horseshoe with seven nails. In the centre appears Mount San Roque with its chapel and the path leading to it. The horseshoe is completed with the inscription "PEÑA EUQOR. CALATAYUD".
And what would we be without our unmistakable blue colour? The chosen outfit consisted of a loose light-blue shirt embroidered with the crew badge on the left breast. The trousers were white. Around the neck, members wore a white neckerchief embroidered with the badge. Finally, the footwear consisted of traditional white hemp espadrilles fastened with blue ribbons.
The First San Roque Festivities as We Know Them Today!
The big day finally arrived... 15 August 1959. Around 55 crew members took to the streets of Calatayud for the very first time as Euqor Crew. A group of friends, all dressed alike, dancing to the music of a brass band.
Now then... would you like to join us on a journey through the history of our crew?
The 1960s and 1970s
Many people say that, in the past, the San Roque Festivities did not last as long as they do today. In 1961, the celebrations were extended from two days to four. That was also the first year in which an official programme was produced. Around 4,000 copies were printed, featuring a dancing crew member on the cover—the face was that of the son of a local authority figure who was often criticised for not doing enough to help the festivities grow.
By 1968, Euqor Crew remained at the heart of life in Calatayud. It organised football matches, accompanied the opening of the Sports Centre with its brass band, and wished all the people of Calatayud a Merry Christmas by displaying posters in bars and shops. That same year saw the creation of the famous membership badge, replacing the paper receipt that had previously been used and was difficult to control.
As for music, the years 1975 and 1976 marked a golden era. The crew even hosted internationally renowned artists Al Bano and Romina Power. It was an outstanding success!
The 1980s and 1990s
During the 1980s and 1990s, Euqor Crew became a pioneering organisation within the city. In 1983, the Peñista del Año award was presented to a woman for the first time, with Mari Carmen Monge Lavilla becoming both the first female recipient and the first member of Euqor Crew to receive this distinction.
Then, in 1984, the crew organised the first public full striptease ever held in Calatayud. It proved to be a tremendous success thanks to its novelty and the fact that nothing like it had ever been seen before.
However, every coin has two sides. At the beginning of the 1990s, Euqor Crew went through one of the most difficult periods in its history. The organisation stood on the brink of collapse and—most seriously—was close to disappearing altogether. Several members of the Executive Committee even put up their personal property and salaries as guarantees to ensure the survival of the crew.
Little by little, the crew recovered and once again became an important part of life in Calatayud and, above all, of the San Roque Festivities. In 1995, for the first time in its history, the annual programme informed members of the crew's income and expenditure for that year, the budget for the following year, and included a complete list of members. Then, in 1997, breakfasts were introduced for the first time as part of the crew's activities.
Finally, in 1998, to celebrate the crew's 40th Anniversary, a photographic exhibition and display of historical memorabilia was organised. The event became a meeting place for the founding members and provided a magical opportunity to share memories, anecdotes and unforgettable moments from years gone by.
The 2000s and the Present Day
The new millennium arrived, and Euqor Crew continued to evolve. In 2003, to mark the crew's 45th Anniversary, a CD was recorded by the brass band Los Templaos from Teruel. Later, in 2008, one of the crew's most ambitious projects came to life: the publication of a book telling the history of Euqor Crew as accurately as possible, from its foundation up to that very year. The project relied on the invaluable collaboration of former presidents, founding members, Peñista del Año recipients and many other members, all of whom contributed their personal experiences to preserve the crew's history for future generations.
Euqor Crew has also always sought to support the people of Calatayud by taking part in social initiatives. For example, in 2013, the crew donated 600 kilograms of pasta—one kilogram for every crew member from the previous year—to the food collection organised by the Inter-Crew Federation to help families in need.
Then came 2020 and the unfortunate pandemic, which deprived us of our beloved San Roque Festivities not only that year but also in 2021. During those difficult months, the crew did everything it could to support its members and the local community.
With the return to normality in 2022, Euqor Crew purchased the first property in its history. A plot of land in Barranco de las Pozas now serves both as storage for all the crew's equipment and as the venue for an annual celebration where members come together to eat, drink, dance and, above all, enjoy the friendship that defines our crew.
Today we continue striving to give the very best of ourselves for our crew members. None of this would be possible without the history that supports us and reminds us where we came from and what we stand for.
We would like to thank everyone who, from the very beginning in 1958 right up to the present day, has contributed ideas, support and dedication. Without them, it would have been impossible for the crew to continue year after year and keep the spirit of the San Roque Festivities alive. May future generations preserve everything that has been achieved!
A family-oriented crew with an unbeatable atmosphere, where everyone is a friend—that is what Euqor Crew is today. To make this possible, the Executive Committee works constantly with our members in mind, focusing on what they truly enjoy and value. As a result, we became the first crew to provide meals throughout all four days of the festivities, in addition to breakfasts, afternoon snacks, dinners, late-night suppers, live performances, fancy-dress parties and gatherings with other crews. One event is especially meaningful to us: welcoming the youngest generation of the San Roque Festivities by hosting El Desbarajuste Crew at our headquarters. Every year we invite the children to enjoy refreshments, games and many unforgettable moments together.
We want to be a crew where friendships flourish and unforgettable memories are created!
Would you like to experience it for yourself?
Thank you all. Long live Euqor Crew, and long live San Roque!
Group Photographs Through the Years
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