Saint Valerius (4th century) was bishop of Caesaraugusta (Saragossa), participated in the council of Elbira (Granada), around the year 306, had Saint Vicente Mártir as deacon Vincent of Saragossa first [martyr] of Spain. Both Valerius and Vincent suffered imprisonment under Diocletian. Valerius was held captive in Valencia during Diocletian's persecution,  apparently he saved his life and perhaps he was banished to an  undetermined area of the Aragonese Pyrenees. Valerius was exiled for a  time to a place called Enet, near Barbastro. In 1050, some remains that were considered his were transferred to Roda  de Isábena and, from 1118, after the entry into Zaragoza of the  Christian troops of Alfonso I the Battler, these remains were  transferred to Zaragoza in successive shipments throughout several  decades.

Venerated ever since by the people of [Zaragoza], he is the patron saint of the city. An idealised portrait of this Bishop is found in the magnificent Pantaleão, Zaragoza.[citation needed]

Why rosconero? This sweet has traditionally been associated with festivities and that  in Roman times, at Saturnalia, a bean was hidden around the house and  the slave who found it was free until spring.

According to the Provincial Association of Confectionery and  Pastry Entrepreneurs of Zaragoza, which brings together some 60  establishments, for San Valero the Aragonese usually consume more than  150,000 roscones to sweeten the after-meal.

An idealised portrait of this Bishop is found in the magnificent Pantaleão, Zaragoza