What is the Dia de Les Verges All About?
Every year on October 20th and 21st, you may come across a group of musicians serenading in the streets. The singer, armed with a carnation, is hoping to win the heart of the young lady inside. The authentic and hopelessly romantic gesture is part of the celebrations for the fiesta of Santa Ursula. In return, the families of the young single woman inside offer sweet wine and bunyols to the hopeful singer and his mates outside.
These little deep fried potato fritters—akin to donuts in the UK—are so popular that Santa Ursula has seemingly granted permission for them to be enjoyed the rest of the year. So, you may have seen the stalls in local markets and tried them. Hot and sprinkled with sugar, they are delicious.
Come October, the bunyols are everywhere and local abuelas and tias head to schools to make them for the kids. On the day itself, in most towns, bunyols production explodes and the local square usually has a stand for you to buy a bag.
The tradition is being kept alive but the sweetheart singing at the doorstep is not like it was. Instead you’re more likely to see musicians play while the bunyols are made and eaten by their audience. And the young romantics settle with swapping their instagram.
