The city of Logroño has this tradition to celebrate and thank their patron saint, San Mateo (Saint Matthew), for their harvest. To celebrate the harvest of grapes, the city is filled with wine related traditions such as wearing wine-colored panuelos (scarves), crushing grapes, spraying wine at the chupinazo, and replacing the city fountain with water the color of wine! The celebration unites the city and reminds us all of how grateful we should be of the harvest and the beautiful region.
The festival of San Mateo is greatly connected to the geography and environment of the city! Logroño is surrounded by countless vineyards, and is in the perfect climate for farming grapes. This makes the region of La Rioja famous for its grape harvest and wine exports. By celebrating a successful harvest, we acknowledge how large a role the environment plays in our cultures and traditions.
