The festivals in honor of San Roque de Calatayud are the main celebrations of this Aragonese city and are declared Festivals of Regional Tourist Interest.

They take place in mid-August, generally from the 13th to the 16th, but the only two fixed days in the festivities are the 15th and the 16th, the day before the chupinazo (usually August 13th) you can already breathe the festive atmosphere with the 'Wine'. of honor', the day before the Chupinazo in which the presentation of the clubs takes place, giving attendees a wine and free entry to the events.

During the days that the festival lasts, the population doubles. The visitors are mostly from the region of Calatayud, Teruel and Zaragoza.

In the early morning of August 15 to 16, the supporters carry out a pilgrimage to the Hermitage of San Roque, located on the Armantes hill. Once there they pray, greet and kiss the saint, while singing the traditional 'Joys to the glorious San Roque'.

Download the Joys to San Roque

The "Peñas"

There are a total of 10 Sanroqueras clubs, one of them exclusively for minors up to 16 years of age (Desbarayud). The traditional clothing of the club member consists of white pants and the shirt of his club, each one of a different color:

Peña La Bota: Yellow with two black stripes and white scarf
Peña El Cachirulo: Red with two white stripes and cachirulo
Peña El Desbarayud: White with two red stripes and white scarf
Peña Euqor: Blue and white scarf
Peña Garnacha: Violet and purple cachirulo
Peña Those who were missing: Green (some shirts with white stripes) and white scarf
Peña Nogara: White with two navy blue stripes and navy blue scarf
Peña Rouna: Black with two white stripes and white scarf
Peña Solera: Pink and white scarf
Peña La Unión: Orange and white scarf
History of the clubs

The modern festivities of San Roque are said to have been born in the 1950s, in November 1958 Peña Euqor was founded, but it did not come out to the festivities until the following year 1959, the year of creation and appearance of the Peña Rouna as well.

In 1968, the famous badge accrediting the member's payment was created, since until then it was only a receipt that was difficult to control, easily exposed to falsifications.

Since then, the different events have been configured and new clubs have appeared and others have disappeared (Peña Bilbilitana, Juventud, los Clotaldos or Jarana), the days of duration of the celebrations have been modified up to the current four days plus the “Wine of honor”. ” (some years there were 5 days plus “Vino de honor”, the last one in 2000), the appearance of the traditional chocolate in the Era of San Roque in principle for the brothers, etc.

In 1978 the Interpeñas Commission was created, which was in charge of contracting the acts common to all clubs such as bullfighting. In 2009, for the first time, there were more than 5,000 supporters, exceeding this figure for the second time in 2010.

The Saint

Saint Roch was born in the mid-1300s in Montpellier (France). He was the only and late son of a devout and very wealthy family (his father was the Governor of the city), becoming an orphan very early, at the age of 20.

Upon losing his parents, he decided to sell all his possessions and go on a pilgrimage to Rome.

Shortly after beginning his pilgrimage, the Black Death epidemic broke out in Europe, killing 1/3 of the European population.

From that moment on, San Roque, who had always had devotion for the poor and the sick, and probably having some knowledge of medicine since in his hometown there was what was then one of the most prestigious Medical Schools. of Europe (founded in the 13th century), began to care for patients who had contracted the disease.

On his way to Rome, when he was in the province of Tuscany, specifically in the city of Acquapendente, he set out to help the plague patients in his hospital.

He cured many by simply making the sign of the Cross on their foreheads, he helped others in the “Good Dying,” and for many others who died, he himself dug their graves and buried them, since no one wanted to come near him. to corpses for fear of contagion.

Following his pilgrimage in the city of Caesarea he cured a Cardinal, who would later present him to the Pope. In Rimini he continued to heal people and preach the gospel, but when he arrived in Piacenza he contracted the disease, and he retired to the forest, to a cave, so as not to be a burden or a source of contagion for anyone.

But God, in His infinite Mercy, had other plans for good Roque, and a little dog appeared that brought him a bagel of bread every day (at that time the rolls were made in this shape), and also licked his ulcers. that the disease had produced in his body.

This little dog belonged to Gottardo Pallastrelli, a wealthy man, and when he saw that his dog repeatedly grabbed a donut from the table and left the house, he decided one day to follow him. The good man, upon seeing San Roque and witnessing what his beloved pet was doing with him, decided to host him in his house, where both he and his beloved pet fed and cared for him, while San Roque instructed him. in the Gospel.

When San Roque healed Sr., Pallastrelli decided to go on a pilgrimage as he had done to Rome.

Once healed, he decided to return to Montpellier, but in a town in northern Italy, he was arrested on charges of espionage, and sent to prison, where he remained between 3 and 5 years until his death, probably around year 1378.

Some historians believe that he died in the Montepellier prison, but many others place his death in the Ángera prison, the city where he had been imprisoned.

Saint Roch belonged to the 3rd Order of Franciscans, a branch of this congregation reserved for lay people who want to live under the spirituality of Saint Francis of Assisi. This fact was recognized by Pope Pius IV in 1547.

He was declared a Saint by Pope Gregory XIII.

San Roque is, together with San Sebastian, the advocate of epidemics, especially the plague, and together with San Antonio Abad, the patron saint of animals, especially dogs. The cult of him, as far as pets are concerned, is very widespread, especially in South America, where it is very common to entrust ourselves to him when our pets get sick or get lost.

The “Acta Brevoria” is the most reliable text of the life of this saint, written in Northern Italy, by an anonymous author, but which most historians believe was written by Gottardo Pallastrelli himself, probably around the 1430.

The Brotherhood

The Brotherhood of San Roque is not a San Roque club, but those days of August are when it is most active as it coincides with the Saint's festival.

In Calatayud, there has always been a special devotion to San Roque, in the past each guild (carpenters, farmers, etc.) celebrated his patron saint, but San Roque was a saint that encompassed all Bilbilitans.

During the year, La Cofradía is in charge of maintenance and improvements in the hermitage and its surroundings. In fact, last year important works and improvements were carried out in the hermitage: new ceiling with vault and domes, new electrical installation, painting and interior decoration. , and for this reason the Brotherhood was held and invited to a mass on July 19.

She is also in charge of opening the hermitage (morning and evening) starting on August 1, so that people can perform the traditional NOVENA.

Apart from the image that is in the hermitage, we have a beautiful, smaller image that is always in the house of a Brother, who is the so-called provost.

Well, this image only leaves that house on the days of San Roque. For this, the Brotherhood has a pedestal that it moves to the provost's house. Now the Saint has been in the provost's house all year, and he will leave for the day of the chupinazo.

The most emotional acts, in addition to presiding over the chupinazo, are:

-On the 15th, the Saint is transferred from the house of the outgoing provost to that of the incoming provost (who was drawn the previous year).

-The early morning of the 16th, where the pilgrimage goes up to the hermitage where mass is celebrated. On the way down, we drink traditional chocolate, which the Brotherhood also prepares and distributes to the entire town and visitors.

-On the 16th, after touring Social Centers (residences, psychiatric hospital, etc.), a General Meeting is held, with the drawing of the provost that the Saint will receive the following year.

The brotherhood has the poles, with ribbons of the colors of the clubs, which accompany, along with their standard bearer, the image of the saint during all the festivals. The provost has a very special staff, with a tiny Saint Roque, which is what accompanies the base.

The brotherhood will carry out a series of events during the year, to participate in Bilbilitan life and especially with children: the VII tree planting, the XV edition of the ninth Pedestre and the VIII edition of the Children's Drawing Contest ¡Memorial Cristina Marquina !.

More information on the website of the Brotherhood of San Roque de Calatayud

The hermitage

The creation of brotherhoods and hermitages dedicated to the invocation of patrons against epidemics and mainly against the plague: San Roque, San Sebastián and San Miguel, grew throughout Europe as the different epidemics and plagues progressed, mainly during the Middle Ages.

So, since ours could not be different, it had to be raised after one of the plagues that devastated our Calatayud.

Starting, review the different periods from which there is knowledge of plague in our region. The first that there is news is in 1348 according to the chronicle of Pedro IV the Ceremonious, King of Aragon, who declared himself in the month of August and forced the transfer of the Cortes of the Kingdom that were being held in Zaragoza to the city of Teruel in which was already expired after having arrived from Valencia. It affected Calatayud but less than in Zaragoza.

The greatest virulence goes from the end of the 14th century to the beginning of the 15th century and in locations with larger populations; For example, in Teruel it suffered in waves from 1342 to 1385, reducing its population by a third. In Zaragoza it affected the area of the Ebro orchards, with the Jewish and Moorish neighborhoods suffering the greatest impact, with great socio-labor repercussions throughout Aragon (1350-1352).

In 1361 it appeared again in our region causing a large number of victims among children and young people.

In 1371 he repeated it once again, this time attacking middle-aged people.

Other epidemics are recorded in 1506-1507.

And in another from 1519 to 1523. Regarding this one, which is the one that already appears in Pepe Arevalo's news about the brotherhoods of Calatayud, he tells us: "As a thank you for the cessation of a pestilence, San Roque was chosen as his festival with a general procession to the Convent of the Carmen Calzado, in which a document from 1520 was preserved in which Miguel Aoiz testifies that in the Convent of Carmen Calzado of Calatayud there is a relic, consisting of a piece of the neck of San Roque on which there is a great devotion, brotherhood and annual procession. This festival was celebrated in said convent in a chapel dedicated to San Roque; but it is not specified whether at that time there was a hermitage dedicated to the saint.

The plague appears again in the space of 1529-1530.

In 1632, the vote of the city was established, by the City Council, to ascend as a corporation to the hermitage of San Roque.

The one considered to be the historian par excellence of Calatayud, Vicente de la Fuente, in his “History of the always august and faithful City of Calatayud” published in 1880, in the report in which he lists the abundant hermitages that populated the surroundings of Calatayud, is very sparse in words regarding the description regarding the topic at hand: "San Roque on the high hill of his name: he has a cult, and served as a watchtower to announce the approach of storms" this is all he says. This warning service lasted until the end of the 19th century, taking advantage of its location and altitude of 629m, being inhabited by a santero.

According to footnote 15 of the book published by the C. E. B. «Calatayud at the end of the 16th century and beginning of the 17th century (1570-1610) by J. A. Urzay A. Sanguesa and I. Ibarra: We do not know the exact date of the construction of the hermitage of San Roque, but we know that in the 16th century it was already built and raised in its current location as a thank you to the saint for the cessation of a pestilence in the city.

See Municipal Historical Archive: Box 3047: Book 3047-2: Juan Miguel Tris. Year 1598 (1600-1601), 06-12-1600.

In 1735, the City Council restored it; years later in 1763, it seems to have been consolidated again. Regarding this date; according to Gonzalo Borras and German Lopez Sanpedro, in their Guide to the Monumental City of Calatayud, Madrid MEC, 1975, p 151 "apparently it was built as a promise for the epidemic of 1763." In any case, the building would be renovated since the hermitage with this dedication had already existed since previous centuries.

In 1808 and following years, it suffered great damage during the War of Independence. The provost asked permission to rebuild it in 1814; The City Council suggests that due to the distance and the difficulty of transporting the materials, it be moved to Pilar or Cepa; The brotherhood did not accept and the restoration was completed the following year in 1815. It was able to host the celebration of the city's vote, which, as usual, was celebrated by bringing up the corporation, brotherhoods and faithful on August 16.

It appears outlined in the Plan of Calatayud of 1839 made by Manuel Ubiña, which deals with the fortification project that he proposed for its defense.

The data provided, and referring to the 19th century, comes from the Bilbilitana Chronicle of the 19th century written by José Galindo Antón and on page 266 I collect this paragraph: The Mass to San Roque, until 1821, was celebrated in the Carmen Calzado because there was a chapel dedicated to the Saint. , but when the House is closed they plan to move it to Santa María whose council accepts it and is even willing to go up to the hermitage. This custom should not have persisted, since in 1844 the brotherhood requested a return to that ascent on the morning of August 16.

In 1847, we know that at the end of the festival in Santa María, people went to the Plaza del Mercado to ask for the heifers.

The municipalities of the year 1855 decided to hold the solemn festivity in Santa María. And it took them thirty years to go back up to the hermitage (1885).

In the restoration of 1862, the city council contributed 2,000 reales.

From this same publication I highlight the following anecdote: "the episode that occurred on the night of June 3 to 4, 1848, when from 12 to 1 in the morning, the residents of that neighborhood were awakened by a loud ringing of the hermitage. The night was clear and there was no threat of a storm, a situation in which the hermit had to play. Apparently this was related as a warning or signal to the factional" read Carlist forces due to some movement of troops in the surroundings.

From this same publication I highlight the following anecdote: "the episode that occurred on the night of June 3 to 4, 1848, when from 12 to 1 in the morning, the residents of that neighborhood were awakened by a loud ringing of the hermitage. The night was clear and there was no threat of a storm, a situation in which the hermit had to play. Apparently this was related as a warning or signal to the factional" read Carlist forces due to some movement of troops in the surroundings.

All these data are what I have been able to find out in different publications at my disposal, so: in summary, we still do not know the exact date of the construction of the hermitage of Nuestro Señor San Roque, I simply emphasize that according to the existing document in the Convent of Carmen Located in front of the Collegiate Church of the Holy Sepulchre, there was already in 1520, devotion, brotherhood and procession, although of course, centralized in a chapel dedicated to the Saint, within the aforementioned convent.

These documentations, upon the confiscation of Mendizabal in 1836, were transferred to the National Historical Archive in most cases and in some others to the Carmelo headquarters, so their consultation and location would practically be finding a needle in a haystack.

Given the great movement in building hermitages at the end of the 16th century and beginning of the 17th century, we would not be very wrong if we gave this period of time but prior to 1632 (date of the creation of the city vote) in which our hermitage, the object of this data collection.

Note

As a curious fact, although not referring precisely to the hermitage, but rather to the festival of San Roque: in 1550, according to data from the Historical Archive of the City Council, there was "an agreement with the landlords of the Butcher Shop to frankly give three brave bulls to the city for the festivals." of the Virgin of August, the Fair and Corpus Christi»

Tales and Stories

The hill crowned by the main castle and that embraces the city of Calatayud has always been considered an indisputable geo-strategic enclave. But we forget that, directing our view towards the west, we find the hill of San Roque to which we currently only grant the importance of housing, in its highest part, the hermitage of the saint from whom it takes its name.

It is possible that, in previous centuries, this hill had a geo-strategic relevance as important as the Arab castle itself. From here, we can contemplate (and keep watch), directing our view towards the south, the entrance to the Jiloca valley and, in the foreground, the Celtibero-Roman city of Valdeherrera (we do not yet know its real name); to the west the Jalón valley to the Ateca mountains, to the north the entire Armantes mountain range and to the east the city itself with five castles.

It would not be absurd to think, therefore, that there could have been some type of small military construction at the top, like a watchtower, from which you could watch all the surroundings of Calatayud, except for the eastern area, but for that purpose it already exists. the Main Castle. Therefore, I think that the location of the current hermitage was not a trivial choice but, possibly, it would have been the site of some previous watchtower-type construction. Let us not forget that from this magnificent enclave, the accesses to the city that came from Armantes could also be monitored, although today they are practically disused. Thus, on the map published by Manuel Ubiña, in 1839, the current Barranco de las Pozas is called “Camino de Moros” and that when he died in the city, between Cerro de la Peña and Cerro de la Torremocha, he did so in a fifth access door: the Furiega Gate (of which there are still some remains).

To endorse this hypothesis it would be essential to locate some vestige. Something practically impossible due to two reasons: firstly, the number of transformations that the area in which the hermitage is located has undergone and, secondly, a deep-rooted custom in our city: the reuse of materials for construction. of new buildings (practically all the plinths of the Renaissance palaces and churches of Bilbilis are built with limestone blocks that belonged to the Roman city of Bilbilis. We can even find them in the bullring!).

As for the hermitage, I can find little or nothing regarding its historiography. It was named for the first time, with just four lines, by Mariano del Cos in 1845. And López Sampedro and Borrás Gualis contribute little else, except that it could be built as a promise for the epidemic that hit the city in 1763.

In short, and sticking to reality, it is possible that before the erection of the current hermitage there was nothing on the hill. We do not know. But at least it has allowed me to conjecture and I have let my imagination fly to be able to write this writing in tribute to this saint so loved in Calatayud and so celebrated in Spanish geography.

The pilgrimage of San Roque (by César Simón Pérez)

The history of Saint Roch is quite confusing, but if he was involved in the great plague it must be placed around the year 1347. He could have been born in Montpellier (Languedoc, France) around the year 1300 and died between 1376 and 1379 in Anguera ( Italy). His life and legend developed in Italy. Pope Gregory XIII declared him a Saint in the 16th century. This Franciscan never made a pilgrimage to Spain.

It is difficult to believe that his cult has spread popularly to this day, without the existence of some local facts. Since on the aforementioned date there is no evidence that there was a plague epidemic in Calatayud, we would have to look for the origin of the Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of San Roque, which takes place in the early morning of August 16, in an earlier time.

The archaeological sites found in our City, in recent years, have confirmed the Roman origin of Calatayud; although it is also true that Celtic remains have appeared in the urban area. Therefore, the place currently occupied by the Hermitage of San Roque would possibly have been occupied by a pre-Roman deity and could later have been dedicated to Jupiter. In Roman mythology, Jupiter was the king of the gods, guardian of the law, defender of truth and protector of justice and virtue; in addition to being the Roman god of divination. He was associated with the Egyptian god Ammon, who possessed similar properties. The Greeks associated it with Zeus. The sanctuaries of Jupiter had ammoniated water (ammonium hydroxide) which, when reacting with acids, produces ammoniacal salts. Ammonia evaporates at low temperatures and condenses at high temperatures; Therefore, on nights with low temperatures, which was when the faithful went to the oracle to have their future divined, this ammoniated water seemed to boil and during the day, with higher temperatures, it remained at rest.

Ammonia was discovered by the Egyptians thousands of years ago and is continually formed in nature. It can be obtained by dry distillation from the horns of bulls, for example, and also from animal bones. Ammoniacal salts are one of the few preventive remedies against plague.

Surely, the place occupied by the Oracle of Jupiter endured in the popular tradition of Calatayud, continuing with the pagan pilgrimage. To Christianize this place, the intervention of San Roque, an advocate against the plague and one of the great popular saints, was necessary. Competing with Jupiter must have been very tough.

In Calatayud there is no archaeological evidence of what has just been described, therefore it is presented as a hypothesis. However, the fact that the Sanctuary of Jupiter was Christianized by San Roque has been documented in several places in Spain, such as Lugo (https://lucusaugusti.net).

The initial festivals (around the 16th - 17th centuries, although they possibly date back to the Middle Ages) were in honor of the “Virgin of August”. Until very late in the 19th century, the festivals of San Roque were not celebrated.

Be that as it may, the truth is that every morning on August 16, something that lasts in popular memory causes thousands of Bilbilitans to ascend in pilgrimage to the current Sanctuary of San Roque, becoming the climax of the Festivities.

The popular fervor felt towards San Roque has led to him being considered the patron saint of Calatayud. Although certainly and officially, he is co-patron, along with San Iñigo (since the 17th century). Like Saint Teresa of Jesus, she is co-patron, along with the Virgin of La Peña.