The word "alirón" comes from English miners who worked in Bilbao mines in the late 19th century. When they discovered veins of very pure iron, their boss wrote "ALL IRON" on the mine entrance. The miners, earning double wages that day, went home singing "aliron, aliron" in celebration. Local football fans later adopted the word "alirón" to celebrate Athletic wins, commemorating the singing of the happy British miners.