Noche Vieja Universitaria

When one of the staff at my Spanish language school told me about the mock New Years Eve party held in the student town of Salamanca in Spain every year, I knew it would be a great opportunity to party, and take a weekend away from Madrid, and as I like any excuse to party, I booked myself and two amigas (girl friends) on the next bus.

It meant skipping my final day of Spanish classes, but 35,000 students partying in a square for a New Years Celebration was too big to miss.

If you don’t know, Salamanca is the most famous University in all of Spain, situated approximately 200km West of Madrid. The university itself was founded in 1218, and is the oldest and most prestigious university in Spain (and the 3rd oldest in Europe). There’s another story about the famous “Lucky Frog” on the facade of the University of Salamanca, but you’ll have to read about that in another post, since this one is about the mock NYE celebration Noche Vieja Universitaria.

 

 

Noche Vieja Universitaria Salamanca 2011

On Thursday night, Salamanca received an influx of young people from all over Spain to celebrate a mock New Years Eve party. An estimated 35,000 students celebrated the end of classes in Plaza Mayor, since they would most likely travel home (and out of Salamanca) for the real New Years and Christmas period. More than 25 buses arrived in town for the event, including 16 from Madrid.

The organisers put on a show that started around 10pm, and finished just after midnight. The bars, cafes and restaurants in the town were open until the late hours, and all-in-all it was really well organised with very few problems. The police and emergency services did a wonderful job of maintaining peace, with only 3 fights officially recorded. The local newspaper reported a whopping 7 tonnes of garbage left in the streets after the festivities (I remember wading through it in the wee hours), however it was promptly cleaned up before the new dawn (Australian local government could learn from the efficiency of these guys).

 

Traditions

Gummy Bears, Jelly Beans, and Grapes were consumed on each chime of the cathedral bell at midnight. The tradition of consuming grapes at midnight was borne from the King of Spain when one year there was a bumper grape harvest. It is said that for each grape you successfully swallow, you are granted a wish, up to 12 in total for the New Year; but you have to finish them all before the 12th chime of the bell.

 

 

The tradition of assembling in the main square (Plaza Mayor) began in 2003 when a group of students decided to spontaneously get together the last week before the holiday season to celebrate New Years together. From this, the “Noche Vieja” in Salamanca was born. Every year it takes place the last Thursday before Christmas, and in 2011 it was held December 15.

 

Off to a good start

I organised our little weekend away with 2 nights in a private 3-bed hostel room. The weekend started off with mishaps, in my usual travel-style. I told the girls to meet me at the bus station for the 4.30pm bus, so we met there before 4.30pm and got in line for the bus. A 3rd friend we met at Salsa a week earlier went out of her way to make sure she got on the same bus as us, but when she arrived (last minute) as the bus was leaving, we discovered that we were actually on the 6.30pm bus. Not only had we turned up 2 hours early, and rushed to get there, but we caused our new friend to get a different bus and arrive in Salamanca a few hours before us on her own.

When we did arrive in Salamanca by 9pm we checked-in to our hostel, prepared for the night and found a cheap bar to eat dinner. Sure it was beer and bocadillos (bread rolls), but can you beat 4€? By 11pm we met in the Plaza Mayor, and caught up with a few friends from Madrid and thousands of already drunk students. We made a bee-line for a late-night kiosk for a few bottles of cheap red wine to have a Botellon (drinking in the streets) and save a few dollars. Being organised, I pre-purchased 5 bonos (drinking vouchers) for each of us, costing only 3€ each, and allowing us to have copas (cups) of any alcoholic drink in any bar.

The party was huge! With free DJs and other entertainment playing in the square for hours. The following photos can paint a better picture than my words can.

Full Moon

Around 1am we followed some new friends to an apartment above the crowded streets where we used the bathroom facilities, had a few more drinks, before heading off to the late night clubs. Being a bit drunk, and seizing the opportunity to play-up for the crowd I decided it would be funny to moon the street as a group, unfortunately, I was the only one who went through with it, and we had to close the curtains and leave the apartment before an all-out riot started in the streets… just from my bare-white-butt.

We danced in the clubs with all the other students until 5am, all-in-all a wonderful and enjoyable mock New Years Eve. If you’re ever in the vaccinity the last Thursday before Christmas, I suggest you attend… just make sure you wear something warm.

 

Did you know about Noche Vieja Universitaria already? Is it something that would interest you? Or have you been to a mock NYE party somewhere in the world yourself? If you have, leave a comment, tell your story.