Calle 31 de Agosto (August 31st Street), San Sebastian

Every August 31st, the people of San Sebastian remember the horrors of war, pillage, and fire endured by the city in 1813. The allied forces of British and Portuguese troops, commanded by Arthur Wellesley, Duke of Wellington, had expelled the French occupying troops led by General Louis Emmanuel Rey. The siege had been extremely tough.

The allied rank and file wanted revenge. Looting, burning, and raping were the order of the day. One street was spared. The Trinity Street (Calle de la Trinidad), now known as August 31st Street (Calle de 31 Agosto). The street, selected by the allies to house their commands, connects the two oldest churches of the town that survived the fire: San Vicente and Santa Maria.

Each year, on the final day of August, local people light candles and torches. They parade silently through the city. An orchestra and choir provide hymns. August 31st Street is also famous among gourmets. The street houses some of the more popular pintxo bars. These are bar snacks like tapas, but with a "pintxo" ("spike"), a toothpick spear.