Celebrating Saint Thomas Day in San Sebastián – December 21

If you’re lucky enough to be in San Sebastián on December 21, you’ll be celebrating Saint Thomas Day with all the residents of San Sebastián!

During the Saint Thomas Day festivities, the entire city of San Sebastián becomes an enormous country market, full of vendors selling food and handmade goods, farm animals on display, and local residents proudly wearing Basque regional costumes.

This lively festival, known locally as “Día de Santo Tomás,” brings the entire city together for a joyous day filled with Basque traditions, food, music, and fun. 

As you wander through the bustling markets set up in the city center, you’ll see locals dressed in traditional Basque outfits.

The star of the day, however, is the food and drink. You’ll get to indulge in talo, a delicious corn-based flatbread usually served with grilled chorizo sausage, and wash it down with a cup of sidra, the famous local apple cider.

It’s a pleasure to be in San Sebastián for the Feast of St. Thomas. With live music, folk dances, an atmosphere of excitement, delicious food, and flowing cider, you’ll be happy to share in the celebrations!

St. Thomas Day in San Sebastián

History of St. Thomas Day

The feast of St. Thomas originated in the 1800s when regional farmers, baserritarras,  traveled to San Sebastián to pay the annual rent to the owners of the farms they cultivated.

The farmers also brought goods and food the city to trade and sell, in order to buy provisions they couldn’t grow themselves. This exchange of goods became the fair of Santo Tomás.

Where to go on St. Thomas Day

The main events of the St. Thomas Day celebration take place in several key locations across San Sebastián, with the bustling heart of the festivities centered in the city’s iconic squares and streets.

First, head to Constitution Plaza in the middle of the Old Town. The Plaza de la Constitución, located in the city’s Old Town, is the primary hub where most of the market vendors set up their stalls.

This historic square comes alive with traditional music, folk dances, and local food stands, so it’s the perfect place to take in the festival’s lively atmosphere.

Beyond the Old Town, other key areas like Boulevard and Plaza Gipuzkoa also host events, featuring additional markets, food vendors, and performances.

Many of the rural farmers who sell their goods also display livestock like sheep, cows, and pigs, adding to the rustic charm of the day. (Look for the enormous hog on display in Constitution Square!)

Overall, the city transforms into a celebration of activities with sights around nearly every corner, offering travelers the chance to explore San Sebastián while fully engaging in this authentic local experience.

St. Thomas Day Markets

Market stalls will be overflowing with an array of traditional Basque products. You’ll find farm produce, cheeses, honey, sausages and other cured meats, breads, traditional pastries, and more.

You’ll also find crafts, toys, handwoven textiles, wooden utensils, ceramics, jewelry, and handmade home goods for sale. Textiles are also popular, with vendors selling handwoven scarves, blankets, and traditional Basque berets (boinas), often made from locally sourced wool.

Of course, this is a well-timed chance for you to finish your Christmas shopping! Or you can just shop for souvenirs for yourself!

What to Eat on Saint Thomas’s Day

Truly, there is no shortage of food on St. Thomas’s Day in San Sebastián! Stalls throughout the city sell all sorts of food. You’ll find cakes, pastries, cheeses, breads, fruits, hams, and so much more. 

However, the must-eat food on December 21st is Txixtorra, the star food at the Feast of St. Thomas! The txistorra sausage is a fresh chorizo-like sausage,  served in a freshly made flat corn cake, called a talo. 

A talo is a corn flatbread often paired with grilled chorizo, made fresh by vendors right in front of you.

At various stalls throughout the city, people, usually women, make the talo from corn flour and cook them. They fill the fresh talo with the fried sausage, and sometimes additional ham or cheese. 

Wherever you look, you’ll see people drinking cider, called sagardo. The green bottles are everywhere in San Sebastián!  Piles of them will multiply on the streets throughout the day.

Is it worth visiting San Sebastián on St. Thomas Day? 

It is really fun to be in the city of San Sebastián for the festival of St. Thomas. Most of the people of San Sebastián wear traditional dress and celebrate the day. 

St. Thomas Day feels like a very local holiday. The city isn’t overrun with tourists, and it’s the locals who are enjoying the festivities.

If you are in San Sebastián to take in all the other sites the city offers, you may be disappointed, because many restaurants, shops, parks, and museums are closed that day. So check sites’ schedules in advance and plan accordingly.

Where to stay in San Sebastián – Donostia

Here are some options for where to stay in San Sebastián to be conveniently located for St. Thomas Day.

If you go to San Sebastián on St. Thomas Day

If you do visit San Sebastián on December 21 for the St. Thomas Day celebrations, you’ll need to stay longer than just on St. Thomas Day.

Many museums, parks, and restaurants are closed for the holiday!

Check out my guide to the best things to do in San Sebastián –  Donostia.