San Cayetano

In August, Madrid celebrates its most traditional fiestas: San Cayetano, San Lorenzo and La Paloma. They begin with San Cayetano , in the area of ​​Rastro / Embajadores, continue with San Lorenzo, in Lavapiés, and end with the most important and largest of all, the de la Paloma, in La Latina.

San Cayetano is the first of Madrid’s ‘August fiestas’ or ‘verbenas’, open air festivities that take over the city during its hottest month. Many locals leave Madrid for the cool of the coast during August, but those who remain get stuck into the street party scene. San Cayetano (August 6-8) takes place in the Rastro and Embajadores neighborhood of Madrid. Expect to see chulapos – traditional Madrid dandies – dancing, streets decked with hanging lanterns and a thriving community spirit.

Chulapos (traditional Madrid dandies), chotis dancing, lemonade, streets decked with lanterns, locals dancing cheek to cheek… All this is part and parcel of Madrid’s local festivals, especially in summer, when the days are longer and can be enjoyed to the full. For two weeks, the city’s oldest streets are filled with traditional flavours and sounds, especially at dusk, when the air is cooler and people emerge to have a cold drink and a tapa or two in the many open-air bars set up especially for the festivals.

The Madrileños dress up in chulapo suits (traditional period clothes) and dance the chotis in the streets. The most traditional areas of the capital, such as Lavapies, La Latina or las Vistillas, are decorated to celebrate the fiestas of San Cayetano, San Lorenzo and La Paloma. During daytime there are processions dedicated to the Madonna and the saints, and at night open-air festivities that last several days with the participation of the public at large.

These celebrations have a strong community spirit and are an inseparable part of the real Madrid, one that holds dear its traditional image as a party-loving, sociable city with one simple aim – to have a good time. And of course, it extends a very warm welcome to anyone wanting to join in. The programme of events typically includes children’s games and competitions, card tournaments, performances by bands and pop groups, tapas routes and the procession honouring the saint or virgin in whose name the festival is being held.

The neighbours and traders of Madrid’s most traditional neighbourhoods still observe the old custom of decorating the streets where the festivities mostly take place, and every year the Municipal Committee gives a prize to the most attractive façade, street, balcony and urban ensemble.

Men and women between the ages of 16 and 40 can stand for election as the characters from the popular zarzuela operetta La Verbena de la Paloma: La Casta, La Susana, Don Hilarión (older gentlemen can compete for this character) and El Julián; as well as the Maja of Lavapiés.

Street fairs, popular races, mus (a card game) and rana (a coin throwing game) championships, marching bands, lemonade, children’s games, sangria, hot chocolate, dance and organ music, Manila shawl competitions, sardines, secrets, churros, elections to choose the child chulapa and chulapo (girl or boy dressed in traditional local attire), concerts… These are just some of the activities organised within the framework of these festivals for all the family.