Despegue urbano y continuidad de las costumbres públicas. Las celebraciones festivas en el Bilbao de la industrialización

Abstract

This article analyses the development of the festivals' calendar and of the main public celebrations of the city of Bilbao during the xixth century and the beginning of the xxth century. In particular, the analysis focuses on the decades of the industrialisation period, when economic, social and urban transformations hastened. Against to what it could have been supposed continuity won rupture during this evolution period. Urban festivals during the period of modernisation coincide to a high degree with those of 1800s, as much in their annual sequence as in their most basic elements. In that sense, the festivals of a city with almost 100.000 inhabitants could be recognised in those of a growing town of 10.000. New features derived from the flourishing of the mass society integrated without convulsions or further difficulties into previous ludic structures. Festivities acted as urban identity elements and as social integration marks for those newly arrived to the city. By the end of xixth century, these celebrations became a symbolic representation of the prestige of the Villa.