[EN] Crumbs in hand and wine in tile: the peculiar gastronomic festival of this town in Zaragoza

There are many traditions, but few as curious as that of the people of Romans. Declared a Festival of Tourist Interest of Aragón since 2016, the festival of crumbs and wine in tile is one of the most unique celebrations in the province of Zaragoza. The event is a tourist, cultural and gastronomic event for the town that will take place at 6:30 p.m. during its festivities in honor of San Bartolomé.

The tradition, whose route begins in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, consists of the distribution of crumbs and wine to anyone who wants to. Of course, the crumbs are served by hand and the wine is drunk on tile. And not just any tile, but an old one of Arab origin.

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL OF CRUMBS AND WINE

So that everything is ready for the 26th, the preparations begin a week before, when the so-called «migueros» begin to prepare the crumbs. Due to the great success of the public, and so that no one is left without their handful of crumbs, more than 900 loaves of bread will be cut to make them.

The migas are made following the local recipe, which in Romanos stands out because the migas are not fried but blanched, that is, when they are dry they are stirred in oil and cooked briefly. The more than 100 liters of wine that are drunk during this festival are donated by a local resident.

On the 26th it is the «migueros» themselves who, dressed in traditional clothing, serve the wine, transport and distribute the crumbs in wrought iron carts specially prepared for the event. The crumbs are served with the squeegee directly in the hands and the wine is drunk directly on the tile and poured into it with an almud, a measuring instrument used since the Arab domination of the Peninsula to calculate the quantities of drinks or aggregates.

According to them, the origin of this fiesta is due to the initiative that the residents of Romanos had to distribute food on the day of their festival. The tradition is also said to have begun more than 200 years ago, although the first documented reference dates back to 1926. The distribution of the crumbs and wine is carried out along a tour of the town enlivened by the brass band.