“That’s what you get for living in the north, so let’s enjoy the fiesta properly,” agreed Maite Izeta and Josu Askasibar, together with their group of friends, as they got ready for another Sagardo Eguna (the thirty-fifth). It rained, at times heavily, but the people of Errenteria enjoyed a festive red-letter day in the town-centre streets, mainly on the Alameda de Gamón, where a marquee had been put up against the rain. Although the crowds took longer than expected to come out, the dulzaina players, trikitilaris, txistularis, dantzaris (dancers), txalapartaris and bertsolaris (improvising verse singers) did their best to liven things up.

With neckerchiefs round their necks and glasses of cider in hand, residents made for some memorable scenes, although this time without sunshine. As many as forty harvests were on offer in Errenteria yesterday. Nor was there any shortage of the customary roast veal prepared by Euskaldarrak or of the talo makers from Ataun.