San Mateo
San Mateo festivities are the result of a peculiar combination of medieval times and grape harvest.
Its origins date back to the celebration held as a tribute to the city of Logroño in the 12th century. The township got the category of “city” and as a consequence it enjoyed the privilege of holding an annual fair. Thus, it became an important trading location. These fairs gained importance and started to be held more frequently.
During the celebration of the festivity, the vivid and festive character turned into the most important aspect. This is the way wine, fruit from La Rioja, was introduced in medieval markets.
The most important fair took place on Thanksgiving Day, in September. It was a way for Riojan people to thank for the harvest received. The fair was appointed on the third week of September and it coincided with the 21st September, San Mateo, the saint who had worked as a tax collector and as a result he became the patron of merchants. These festivities represent the starting point of grape harvest.
Nowadays, San Mateo festivities are the most outstanding ones in La Rioja. The inhabitants offer their patroness (the Virgin of Valvanera) the fruit harvested and the first must, and they celebrate the beginning of the harvest time by asking the Virgin for an excellent result of the harvest.
