In 1638, women from this Spanish Basque town dressed as soldiers and joined their menfolk in a victorious battle over the French.

But this weekend, when women dressed as soldiers and tried to join the victory parade, men kept them out with insults and fists, the daily El Pais reported Monday.

Town tradition governs the parade marking the battle at Hondarribia, a fishing port on the French border. Even though women helped win the battle on the field, they are only supposed to carry water containers during the parade, which was held Sunday.