St. Isidro was an 11th-century poor peasant farmer who was born in Madrid and was renowned for his generosity toward the poor and animals. His feast day is celebrated on May 15th, the date of his death in 1130. His remains have been kept in the San Isidro Church, Madrid since 1769 in a tomb which has nine locks and only the King of Spain had the master lock. 

St. Isidro (San Isidro) is the patron saint of the peasants and labourers and is also the patron saint of Madrid. Tradition has it that on May 15th the people of Madrid are to make a pilgrimage to San Isidro’s meadow to celebrate his day and to drink the holy water of his fountain in his hermitage’s patio. 

Madrid’s biggest “fiesta” is celebrated yearly starting on the Friday before the 15th and running until the following Sunday, nine days of Saintly jubilee throughout the Community of Madrid. 

Many revellers still dress up in the traditional garb of the period called “Chulapo or Chulapa” which is Madrid’s regional dress. “Chulapa” comes from the word “Chulo” which means “a bit full of oneself” or “very dapper” and since the Madrilenians consider themselves the most audacious, the name stuck. They pride themselves on being true Madrilenians and the men wear a checked cap, waistcoat and handkerchief around their necks while the women’s getup is composed of fancy lace ridden dresses complete with a headdress and elegant wrap-around shawl. 

San Isidro is without a doubt Madrid’s most melodious fiesta. The main stage is always in the Plaza Mayor and during every day and night of the 9-day festival, one can enjoy various concerts and traditional dancing. Most opening acts kick off with a “Hevia”, a rather popular bagpipe and wind instrument player from Asturias. There is another even bigger venue in the Casa de Campo which features rock concerts. 

San Isidro has been an official festival in Madrid since 1947 and while technically the festivities run from May 8th to the 15th, like good Spaniards they stretch the fun and always start earlier and end later. The festival actually begins with the Mayor’s speech on the Friday afternoon prior to the 15th and ends with the ever-popular Cocido Madrileno or public Cookout.