our catalogue of FESTIVALS AND TRADITIONS

Transcription

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Festivals and Traditions
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F
estivals are the living heritage of the Costa
Daurada. The people of Tarragona province have
inherited ancestral traditions and magic that they
have redefined and now offer to you like an enchanting
visiting card, with all the wealth of the past, the strength
of the present, and, in the knowledge that, with this
affirmation of identity, they are contributing to a diverse
and plural future.
The festivals of the Costa Daurada are extraordinarily
full of nuances. Ceremonial processions, spectacular
human towers, totemic bulls, captivating jota dances,
essential theatricalities, delicious food, overflowing
sequins, fragrant pilgrimages, fire on land and on water,
etc. define an area of exceptional ethnographic interest
that, above all, invites you join in a fiesta open to all.
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Stars over Lavender
nheritors of a tradition begun by St. Francis of Assisi in 13th century Italy,
the live nativity scenes in natural settings are particularly interesting in
Castelló de Vandellòs, where the characters rebuild this ancient village,
and in Picamoixons, where biblical scenes blend in with traditional handicrafts.
In La Galera, the nativity scene transforms the houses and buildings of daily life
into Christmas scenes. During January, the musical Pastorets (Little Shepherds)
play in El Vendrell is the most interesting modern version of the medieval plays
in Latin that recounted the story of Christmas. On the eve of Epiphany, the day
the Three Kings arrive with their presents, the children of Vilaplana bang rastres
(pots and pans), to make sure the Kings don’t pass their village by. In La Riera
de Gaià, they light aromatic bonfires of lavender to guide the Three Wise Men
to their village.
Christmas
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1 - The Nativity. Castelló de Vandellòs. (R.L.M.)
2 - Live figures. La Galera. (R.L.M.)
3 - Traditional crafts. Castelló de Vandellòs. (R.L.M.)
4 - Domestic scenes. Picamoixons. (R.L.M.)
5 - Rastres. Vilaplana. (R.L.M.)
6 - Lavender bonfires. La Riera de Gaià. (R.L.M.)
7 - Falla bonfire. La Riera de Gaià. (R.L.M.)
8 - Domestic animals. Picamoixons. (R.L.M.)
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Winter Festivals, the Gateway to Carnival
Patron Saints
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arçà, with the chant of its dawn procession on the chilly morning of December 27, and Bellmunt de Priorat with the Holy
Innocents on the 28th usher in the winter festivals, in which
the ancestral rites and symbols of Carnival combine with customs
that Christian traditions link to popular saints. St. Anthony’s Day
on17 January is a grand festival of horses. The Sunday before the
saint’s day, the Tres Tombs (Three Circuits) of Valls, one of the most
multitudinous of these processions, is a living transport museum.
On the weekend nearest the saint’s day, the floats and white shirts
worn by the people taking part in the Encamisada in Falset commemorate the victory of local troops over the French, in the mist of a
distant war. St. Anthony’s Day is also very important in Ascó, (horse,
mule, and donkey races and a permanent bonfire), in Vila-seca
(horse races), and in El Perelló (horses, carriages and a chance to try
the potent drink known locally as the “tranquillizer”). On 2
February, L’Ametlla de Mar celebrates La Candelera with a candlelit
procession. On Saint Blase’s Day, February 3, fruit and cakes with
properties that protect against illness are blessed, including the more
than ten-metre-long coca of Falset. In La Fatarella they auction firewood to pay for the festival, and, like in Bot, they dance the jota to
the sound of the band. On St. Agatha’s Day, February 5, the women
take over in many towns and villages. In Arnes they dress in shawls,
and in Riba-Roja the santagderes wear on their heads the traditional
cakes that represent the breasts of the martyred saint.
1 - Horses in the Tres Tombs festival. Valls. (R.L.M.)
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2 - The Art of Transportation. Valls. (R.L.M.)
3 - The Encamisada. Falset. (J.A.)
4 - Carter. Valls. (R.L.M.)
5 - St. Anthony’s Day races. Ascó. (R.L.M.)
6 - Carts. Falset. (J.A.)
7 - La Candelera Procession. L’Ametlla de Mar. (P.E.)
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An Explosion of Spangles and Satire
Carnival
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1 - King Carnival. Tarragona. (R.L.M.)
2 - Elegant costumes. Tarragona. (R.L.M.)
3 - Gold costume. Tarragona. (R.L.M.)
4 - Floats. Tarragona. (R.L.M.)
5 - Breakfast and lunch in the square. Reus. (R.L.M.)
6 - Parade. Reus. (R.L.M.)
7 - Burning of the effigies. Tarragona. (R.L.M.)
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riginally brought to these lands from
Rome, Carnival is the winter festival par
excellence. On the first Saturday in
February, the Cós Blanc of Salou is a parade of floats under an incredible deluge of confetti.
Although the main days of Carnival start on the
Thursday before Shrovetide and continue until
the following Tuesday, on the previous Sunday the
people of Reus and Tarragona meet in one or the
other of the towns to exchange traditional satirical
barbs. In Tarragona’s Carnival the rich sequence of
ritual acts begins with the construction of a
monumental wooden barrel and ends when it is
burned along with the effigies of the festival king
and queen. The comparses, or carnival groups,
excel in their splendid, elegant costumes in the
Saturday and Sunday parades. Reus is famous for
the number of groups taking part and the multitudinarious meals on the Monday. Floats come
from all over the Penedès region to participate in
the more recently established parades of Calafell
and Cunit. Godall has the only Carnival celebration in Tarragona province that survived the Civil
War of 1936, in which costumes and fancy dress
combine with the traditional flour battles.
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Spring Moons over Thyme
ent sees the appearance of medieval theatricality in Ulldecona’s
“Passion and Death of Jesus Christ”. During Holy Week the processions rediscover the robes, pointed hoods, candles, flowers, and carved
depictions of the final episodes in the life of Jesus Christ. On Palm Sunday
the Passion procession in Tortosa takes us to the centrepiece of Holy Week.
On Maundy Thursday the village of Vilalba dels Arcs re-enacts a wonderful
Passion play in its squares and fields. At the break of dawn on Good Friday
the via crucis of La Selva del Camp makes its way through beautiful scenery.
Ulldecona’s turns into a Passion play as it enters Calvary. At midday in the
church of Riudecols a performance of the Agony rediscovers the atmosphere
of the Tenebrae with the intervention of Roman soldiers, while that of Pla de
Santa Maria is noteworthy for its ancestral masks. The Procession of the
Three Graces starts at about half past two, and ends with a plea from the
people to Christ of the Blood. In the afternoon the Roman soldiers of
Montblanc and Tarragona follow the effigies that, in the capital of the province, make the frenetic climb of the Baixada de la Pescateria, while in the
church of Sant Lluc in Ulldecona they perform the Descent from the Cross
with dialogue from the 16th century. The most interesting events of the evening are the Holy Burials in Tarragona (in which a great many people take
part), Reus (two 17th century floats), and Montblanc (an incomparable setting). On Resurrection Sunday we can see the Processions of the Meeting of
Jesus and the Virgin Mary in villages such as Sarral and Flix, the latter with
its Roman soldiers and the Samaritan who converts to Christianity.
Holy Week
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1 - The Passion. Vilalba dels Arcs. (R.L.M.)
2 - Via crucis. La Selva del Camp. (R.L.M.)
3 - Calvary. Vilalba dels Arcs. (R.L.M.)
4 - Floats. Tarragona. (R.L.M.)
5 - The Passion. Ulldecona. (R.L.M.)
6 - The Passion. Ulldecona. (R.L.M.)
7 - The Procession of the Three Graces.
Reus. (R.L.M.)
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Pilgrims from the South
Pilgrimages and
Gatherings
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any localities have chapels perched high on nearby hills or mountaintops. Once a year the people from the surrounding area come in pilgrimage to celebrate the saint’s day. In some places, the chapel is visited by
people from different villages on different days. A religious service is held, there
is jota or sardana dancing in the open air and, most importantly, a meal is prepared for everybody. Pilgrimages, processions and gatherings need good weather,
so Easter Monday is the most popular day. Probably the best-attended is at the
chapel of El Remei in Flix, but they are also traditional at the chapels of Sant
Antoni in Albinyana, Santa Cristina in La Bisbal del Penedès, La Mare de Déu
de l’Abellera in Prades, La Pobla de Montornès, Els Arquets in St. Jaume dels
Domenys, and La Mare de Déu de Montgoi in Vilaverd. On the Saturday before Easter, the people of the Priorat gather at the chapel of La Mare de Déu de
les Pinyeres in Masroig, while the people of La Fatarella make the procession to
Sant Francisco carrying their traditional pilgrims’ staffs, and Vilalba dels Arcs
makes the longest in Catalonia to the chapel of Santa Magdalena de Berrús,
where the population of La Pobla de Massaluca go on the following Saturday.
Since 1682 the inhabitants of Cornudella and other villages have climbed to
Siurana every 9 May to worship La Mare de Déu de l’Aigua. At Pentecost, Prat
de Comte goes to La Mare de Déu de la Fontcalda, and every June since 1783
the people of Bràfim have been making the pilgrimage to the chapel of El
Loreto. Although there are less gatherings in the summer, Alforja has its pilgrimage to La Mare de Déu de Puigcerver on the first Sunday in August. In the
same month, the people of Blancafort gather at the Sanctuary of El Tallat in
observance of a vow made by the villagers in 1483. On the second Sunday in
October the town of Alcanar celebrates the festival of El Remei with paellas.
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1 - Bands. (R.L.M.)
2 - Jubilee. Siurana. (R.L.M.)
3 - The Chapel of L’Abellera. Prades. (R.L.M.)
4 - Gathering of El Remei. Flix. (R.L.M.)
5 - Sanctuary of La Mare de Déu de la
Fontcalda. Gandesa. (R.L.M.)
6 - Jota dancing. Gathering of El Remei.
Flix. (R.L.M.)
7 - Salutation of the Flags. Flix. (R.L.M.)
8 - The Chapel of El Remei. Alcanar. (R.L.M.)
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Totemic Bulls and Sounds of the Ebro
ulls are totemic elements in the counties around the
River Ebro and they define the region’s festivals. The
calendar begins with St. Mark’s Day on 25 April in Mas
de Barberans, with St. Isidore’s Day on 15 May in Alcanar
being of special note, and ends with St. Martin’s Day on 1
November in Xerta. Amposta’s festival on 15 August offers the
most typical events involving bulls. The flaming horns of the
bou embolat constitute an explosion of sound and light that is
one of the most defining aspects of the festival. The bou capllaçat is a medieval tradition in which a bull tied at the head
runs along a long rope, recalling the ceremony of the nuptial
bull. The bulls in the ring and loose in the streets complete the
celebration. The saint’s day festivals, ten days in each town Camarles, Sant Carles de la Ràpita and Sant Jaume d’Enveja
(25 July), Deltebre (15-16 August), and La Sénia (24 August)
– are also times of intense celebration. Music is the other main
protagonist in the Ebro region. Vocal jotas telling a story and
sung by minstrels such as lo Canalero and lo Teixidor are
improvised in the round or on a stage. The brass bands, heirs
to earlier military traditions, or originally formed by groups of
Valencian immigrant workers at the beginning of the 20th century, cannot be found in any other part of Catalonia.
Saint’s Day Festivals
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1 - “Bull tied at the head”. Deltebre. (R.L.M.)
2 - Bulls in the ring. Deltebre. (R.L.M.)
3 - Bulls in the ring. Camarles. (R.L.M.)
4 - “Bull tied at the head”. Amposta. (J.T.)
5 - Brass bands. (J.T.)
6 - Communal meals. Amposta. (J.T.)
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Mirrors of Fire, Abysses of Water
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The Cycles of
Fire and Water
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he summer sees many celebrations featuring these two
opposing elements that make up the universe – fire
and water. The bonfires and fireworks of St. John’s Eve
are the opening scenes for a symphony of colour and sound
continued on Tarragona’s Miracle Beach during the
International Firework Competition in the first week in July,
in which firework manufacturers from all over the world
compete and which is considered to be the second most
important contest of its type in Spain. Salou puts on another
fabulous firework display on its beach for the celebration of
La Mare de Déu on August 15. These magnificent spectacles
are beautifully mirrored by the sea and it is the
Mediterranean itself that welcomes the fishermen and seafarers as they make a short procession on the sea with the Verge
del Carme each July 16. This custom, of Italian origin, has
been celebrated in Spain since the 18th century and is most
popular in the fishing villages of Cambrils, Sant Carles de la
Ràpita, and L’Ampolla, where the processions set sail at sunset and firework displays unite the elements of fire and water.
On 18 August, the miraculous waters of Saint Magí are
brought to Tarragona from the inland area of La Brufaganya,
in a captivating retinue of horses and carts. The presence of
the river determines the type of festivals held in the towns
and villages along the banks of the Ebro - Flix, Móra d’Ebre,
Móra la Nova, where the people hold regattas with the typical muletes (small barges) and organize games in which water
plays an essential part.
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1 - Aquatic fireworks. Tarragona. (R.L.M.)
2 - Firework display. Salou. (J.A.)
3 - El Carme procession. L’Ampolla. (R.L.M.)
4 - The arrival of the waters of Saint Magí. Tarragona. (R.L.M.)
5 - Watery fiesta for Saint Magi’s Day Tarragona. (J.A.)
6 - Games on the River Ebro. Flix. (J.A.)
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From legend to performance
Medieval Theatricality and
Creating a Historical Atmosphere
ince medieval times, the need to explain religion has resulted in a theatricality that continues today. At the same time, the desire to recreate earlier
times has led to the search for certain similar forms of performance.
Popular beliefs have handed down to us a legacy of theatrical works such as the
“Spoken Dance of the Holy Christ” performed in the church of Salomó every
Sunday in May, the “Dance of Saint Margaret” in La Riera de Gaià on 20 July,
the “Mystery of the Madonna Saint Mary”, a medieval drama depicting the
Assumption of the Virgin Mary organised on 15 August by the parish church of
La Selva del Camp (the oldest surviving complete theatrical text in Catalan).
Each 9 September Solivella, covered with carpets of alabaster powder, enacts the
“small biblical altars” in the festival of the Sacred Heart. Other towns have created new festivals with a historical or legendary theme. Thus, for Sant Jordi (St.
George’s Day), Montblanc revives the spirit of the Middle Ages, in July Tortosa
rediscovers the period of the Renaissance, Miravet returns to the time of the
Knights Templars, and Móra d’Ebre becomes a Moorish town again. The recreation of the past also survives in the re-enactment of traditional trades such as the
festival of “Reaping and Threshing” in Cabra del Camp.
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1 / 2 - Medieval Week. Montblanc. (R.L.M.)
3 / 4 - Rennaissance. Tortosa. (J.A.)
5 / 6 - The Siege. Miravet. (J.A.)
7 / 8 - Threshing Festival. Cabra del Camp.
(J.A.)
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Magic Sparkles, Atavistic Dances
he regions, of the Camp de Tarragona, Penedès and Conca
de Barberà express their identities with processions which
can be traced back to the Middle Ages, as with well as
human towers from the 18th century. Both of these expressions are
linked and can best be seen in Tarragona’s Santa Tecla Festival –
eleven days centred around 23 September. The calendar of festive
processions begins in Reus on June 29 (St. Peter’s Day) where the
appearance of the mulassa (figure of a mule), the “giants”, and the
traditional thunderous firecrackers are some of the highlights. On
St. Anne’s Day (26 July) the “parade of fire” around El Vendrell
includes a good display of mythical beasts and “devil dancers”. On
the fourth Sunday in August the devil dancers of Arboç perform
their entertaining spoken dance and execute their masterly twentyminute carretillada or “wheel of fire”. September begins with St.
Rosalia on the 4th in Torredembarra, followed by the eve of the
“Discovered Virgins” on the 7th, in which the devil dancers of
Borges del Camp precede the patron saint through the fields between the chapel and the town. Meanwhile, Montblanc commemorates La Mare de Déu de la Serra with a parade of giants, dwarfs
with large heads, and stick dancers. Santa Tecla in Tarragona is the
richest of the folklore processions in Catalonia with dances, mythical beasts, farces, spoken dances, masquerades, and traditional
musicians. Pyrotechnics, with thunderous firecrackers, rockets,
strings of fireworks, and the best “fire-running” groups in the
country highlight one of Spain’s most emblematic festivals.
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1 - The Eagle. Santa Tecla. Tarragona. (J.A.)
2 - The Old Dwarfs. Santa Tecla. Tarragona. (J.A.)
3 - Folklore Procession. Tarragona. (R.L.M.)
4 - “Prims” Dance. Sant Pere. Reus. (R.L.M.)
5 - The Mule. Sant Pere. Reus. (R.L.M.)
6 / 7 - Thundercrackers. Reus. (R.L.M.)
8 - Devil Dance. L’Arboç del Penedès. (R.L.M.)
9 - Lucifer. L’Arboç del Penedès. (R.L.M.)
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Country People, “Lightning” People
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astells, or human towers, date back to the last
part of the 18th century, having evolved from
the so-called “dances of the Valencians”, a dance
performed in the folklore processions that included a
tower that grew in height. From the six storeys of that
period, the towers of the today’s groups now reach up
to a maximum of ten. The castell season starts in Valls
on St. John’s Day, 24 June, with the first important
contest between the Old and Young colles, or groups.
It continues on 15 August in La Bisbal del Penedès
with a meeting of the best casteller groups. They get
together again on the fourth Saturday in August in El
Catllar, the hometown of the group that built the first
tower in 1770, and on the next day in Arboç del
Penedès, where that first symbolic performance took
place. The festival of Santa Tecla in Tarragona commemorates the historic epic achievements of the castellers
in the 19th century, especially the four-story tower that
climbs and then descends the steps of the Cathedral
before walking the considerable distance to the Town
Hall. Valls, the birthplace of castells, ends the season
on St. Ursula’s Day with a contest between its two
colles, and there is a brief epilogue for the fair of Vilarodona at the beginning of November.
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1 - Pinya or human tower base. (R.L.M.)
2 - Colla Joves dels Xiquets de Valls. (R.L.M.)
3 - Colla Xiquets de Tarragona. (R.L.M.)
4 - Pinya (human tower base). (R.L.M.)
5 - Hands to the second storey. (R.L.M.)
6 - The Cupola. Xiquets de Tarragona (R.L.M.)
7 - Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls in Vilafranca. (R.L.M.)
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The Mouthwatering Aromas of Popular Meals
T
he festive calendar also includes traditional products – the Christmas desserts
of torrons (nougat) and neules (wafers), the Three Kings tortell (marzipan
cake), the stews, pork, egg sausages, and crackling cakes of Carnival time,
blancmange and fritters for Lent and Holy Week, Easter cake (la mona), Corpus
Christi cherry cakes, sweet cakes (coca de Sant Joan) on the eve of St. John’s Day, the
saint’s day festival meals of the Ebro region with black pudding, mussels and beef
stews, chestnuts, panellets (marzipan cakes) and sweet potatoes for All Saints’ Day –
are all delicacies that mark the passing of the months. Some towns organize gastronomic festivals with communal meals and competitions. Some of the best known are
the Calçotada in Valls (last Sunday in January) and the Xatonada in El Vendrell (in
February, around Carnival time). There are other events during the rest of the year,
some of which are noteworthy for their history. Every year on Maundy Thursday
they eat fogasseta (bread with artichoke omelette) in Aldover, Ulldemolins cooks spinach omelette in juice on the second Sunday in March, in June Miravet celebrates
the Cherry Festival, and El Creixell cooks its esmarris with sardines and anchovies.
On the third Saturday in July the fountain in the main square of Prades flows with
cava instead of water, Llorenç del Penedès has its night-time watermelon festival on 9
August, L’Espluga de Francolí and La Conca de Barberà celebrate the grape harvest
on the first weekend in September, Vilanova de Prades has roast chestnuts on the
Sunday before All Saints’ Day, Almoster has the festival of the new olive oil on the
first Sunday in December, and in Bellmunt del Priorat there is the smell of cod cooking every 30 December in the time-honoured Badejada.
Gastronomic Festivals
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1 - Calçots (spring onions). Valls. (R.L.M.)
2 - Toasted bread, olive oil and salted sardines
(R.L.M.)
3 - Xató. El Vendrell. (R.L.M.)
4 / 5 - Omelette in juice. Ulldemolins. (R.L.M.)
6/ 7 & 8 - Badejada. Bellmunt del Priorat. (R.L.M.)
9 - Calçotada sauce. Valls. (R.L.M.)
10 - Nuts. (R.L.M.)
11 / 12 - Cherries. Miravet. (R.L.M.)
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1 6 0
f e s t i v a l s
Christmas
i n
t h e
Epiphany
DECEMBER
JANUARY
Exciting professional horse races on the town’s race track.
VALLS ** Decennial Festivals of La Mare de Déu de la
Candela
Held every ten years (those ending in 1) with a multitude of traditional
events and spectacles, with special emphasis on human towers.
THE SUNDAY
VILAPLANA
The characters rebuild this old village in one of the most evocative
folklore displays in Catalonia.
At the stroke of midday the boys and girls bang pots and pans to make
sure the Three Wise Men do not pass them by without leaving their gifts.
VALLS *
The Tres Tombs (Three Circuits)
LA POBLA DE MONTORNÈS
Living nativity scene
LA RIERA
DE GAIÀ
The villagers light aromatic bonfires of lavender to guide the Three
Wise Men along a scented path to the village.
BEFORE THE
17th
One of the most popular festivals of its kind, a living transport
museum. The turns from the Plaça del Blat to Major Street are noteworthy due to their difficulty.
THE WEEKEND
NEAREST THE
17th
FALSET **
L’Encamisada
PICAMOIXONS (VALLS)
EL VENDRELL *
Pastorets (Little Shepherds)
Biblical scenes alongside traditional crafts in a natural setting.
An attractive modern version of the medieval dramas in Latin retelling the story of the Nativity, with a large musical content.
20th ST. SEBASTIAN’S DAY. NEAREST SATURDAY.
17th SAINT ANTHONY ABBOT
EL MASROIG
Saint’s day festival
LA GALERA
The houses and buildings of everyday life are transformed into
Christmas scenes.
ASCÓ *
27th THE VIRGIN
Horse, mule, and donkey races and the Dance of the Coques (a
local type of jota) around the festive bonfire.
OF THE
SICKNESSES
MARÇÀ *
The chant of the dawn procession rings out in the cold break of day.
30
th
BELLMUNT DEL PRIORAT
Festival of the Holy Innocents
The Badejada, a meal made with salt cod, is one the most traditional gastronomic festivals in Catalonia.
31st. NEW YEAR’S EVE
FLIX
The town organizes itself into groups and streets and on the eve of
the saint’s day they light dozens of bonfires to celebrate the festival
with fervour.
EL PERELLÓ *
Saint’s day festivals
Blessing and parade of horses, auction of the last coca (cake)
during the dances, and tasting of the potent beverage known as the
“tranquillizer” (rum, coffee, and sugar).
MASDENVERGE
The most authentic local welcoming in of the new year with the
borrainada, a popular meal in which the people devour a plant
known as borage.
LA TORRE DE L’ESPANYOL
Winter saint’s day festival
During the dance around the bonfire in the square, groups of bachelors exchange jabs and punches with groups of married men in the
so-called Jabbing Dance.
T a r r a g o n a
VILA-SECA
5th EPIPHANY EVE
EVERY SUNDAY
WINTER
o f
CASTELLÓ DE VANDELLÒS
A classical representation set around the chapel and the ruins of the
ancient castle.
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c o u n t i e s
The carts and white shirts commemorate the victory of local troops
over the French in the thick mist of a distant war.
The people collect sets of household products, dance jotas, and
auction sugared cocas.
LAST SUNDAY
VALLS **
The Calçotada
The town’s gastronomic delicacy par excellence, the long, white
calçot, or spring onion, fills its squares to be grilled over hot coals
and dunked in a delicious special sauce before eating.
FEBRUARY
2 LA CANDELERA
nd
L’AMETLLA DE MAR *
A procession with more than two thousand torches commemorates
the day in which their light saved some fishermen from a violent
storm. A suquet, or fisherman’s stew, is cooked with red gurnard,
conger eel, and anglerfish.
2nd
AND
3rd
BOT *
Festival of La Candela and St. Blase
Jotas and dancing to the band.
3rd. ST. BLASE
FALSET
Blessing of cakes and fruits that protect against illnesses, such as
the more than ten-metre-long coca.
LA FATARELLA *
Auction of firewood to finance the fiesta and the dance of the “jota of
the blessed cakes”.
5th ST. AGATHA
ARNES
WINTER
GB_150fest.qxd
The women symbolically take power, dress in beautiful shawls and
dance the jota.
CORBERA D’EBRE
The procession of the image around the village, accompanied only
by the women, who later dance the jota.
RIBA-ROJA D’EBRE *
The santagderes carry on their heads cakes that represent the breasts of the martyred saints.
FIRST SATURDAY
SALOU *
The Cós Blanc is a parade of floats under an unimaginable deluge
of confetti.
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Carnival
THE SUNDAY
TARRAGONA
t h e
PASSANANT
BEFORE
CARNIVAL. REUS
AND
The people can be found alternately in one town or the other
exchanging satirical barbs.
MAUNDY THURSDAY
ALDOVER
The villagers eat fogasseta, a special type of bread prepared by the
bakers to hold an artichoke omelette.
FROM MAUNDY THURSDAY TO THE
TUESDAY
FOLLOWING
TARRAGONA *
WINTER
i n
A wealth of ritual acts begins with the building of a monumental wooden barrel and ends when it is burned along with the effigies of the festival King and Queen. The members of the carnival groups show off
their splendid, elegant costumes in the Saturday and Sunday parades.
FRIDAY, SATURDAY
AND
SUNDAY
CALAFELL
Parades of floats from all over the Penedès region, at night on the
first two days and in the afternoon on the third.
SATURDAY, SUNDAY
AND
MONDAY
AROUND
CARNIVAL TIME
EL VENDRELL
La Xatonada
The best known dish from the Penedès and the Garraf, linked to
Carnival-time, is made here with endives sprinkled with a special
sauce and left to stand, and then served with diced salt cod, tuna,
anchovies, and arbequino olives.
MARCH
SECOND SUNDAY
ULLDEMOLINS **
Spinach omelette in juice festival
Omelettes made with beans and spinach that have been slowly pickled, originally prepared at the time of the olive harvest.
Lent
SUNDAYS
ULLDECONA **
Medieval play representing the Passion and Death of Jesus Christ
on the Sundays of the Easter period.
T a r r a g o n a
DELS ARCS *
In the evening a wonderful Passion Play is performed in the village’s
squares and fields. Also on Easter Saturday.
Easter
GOOD FRIDAY
ASCÓ
Procession of the Little Angel
MONTBLANC
In the afternoon the Roman soldiers take the images and in the evening the procession of the Holy Burial makes its way through the
streets of the medieval quarter.
EL PLA
DE SANTA MARIA
The soldiers are exceptional in their ancestral masks in a revival of
theatre from before the time of Hollywood’s Roman epics.
EASTER SUNDAY
The only procession in this area to preserve the tradition of the
apparition of the angel that told the Virgin Mary of the Resurrection.
DELTEBRE
Procession of the Meeting
Signalled at its zenith, at midday, with musket shots and the peal of bells.
DEL CAMP *
At the break of dawn the via crucis makes its way through a beautiful landscape which serves as the backdrop for Roman soldiers, the
Reproaches, and the Biblical characters.
FLIX
REUS *
LA PALMA D’EBRE
LA SELVA
The Procession of the Three Graces begins at about half past two
and ends with a plea from the people to Christ of the Blood. The evening procession of the Holy Burial has two 17th century images.
RIUDECOLS
A midday performance of the Agony and the Seven Words rediscovers the atmosphere of the Tenebrae with the intervention of Roman
soldiers.
Parade with Roman soldiers and the Samaritan who converted to
Christianity.
A lively parade of Roman soldiers as Easter is welcomed with rockets and bell-ringing.
SARRAL
Procession of the Encounter
A morning procession with Jesus and the Virgin Mary.
RIUDOMS
EASTER MONDAY
PALM SUNDAY
After a culinary introduction of home-made fritters and blancmange,
the highlight of the day is the exceptional procession of Roman soldiers and the custom of killing the snake, with a demonstration of
how to do this with a cane.
GODALL
TORTOSA
Procession of the Passion
ALBINYANA
Gathering at the chapel of Saint Anthony of
Padua
TARRAGONA ** Holy Mass, mona (Easter cake), and sardana dances in the Baix
Penedès region.
The only carnival in the Tarragona area that survived the 1936 civil
war. Costumes and disguises combine with the traditional flour battles held in the afternoons.
In the counties of Tarragona the beginning of the processions that
recreate cornets, robes, candles, flowers and carved images of the
final episodes in the life of Christ.
The effigies collected by the Roman soldiers make the frenetic climb
of the Baixada de la Pescateria. In the evening a multitude of people take part in the procession of the Holy Burial.
SATURDAY
MAUNDY THURSDAY
CUNIT
LA PALMA D’EBRE
A parade of more recent origin in which floats from all over the
Penedès region participate.
The most ardent of the village Holy Week celebrations in which the
Roman soldiers are present in the afternoons and evenings.
REUS *
Noteworthy for the number of participating groups and the popular
Monday morning meal.
SATURDAY, MONDAY
26
o f
VILALBA
Slaughter of the pig. A tradition of the inland counties at Carnival
time in which the whole village takes part..
DATES
c o u n t i e s
AND
TUESDAY
Holy Week
ULLDECONA
The via crucis becomes a representation of the Passion as it enters
Calvary. In the evening, the Descent from the Cross is performed
with dialogue from the 16th century in the church of Sant Lluc.
WINTER
GB_150fest.qxd
ALCOVER
Gathering at the chapel of La Mare de Déu del
Remei
Sardana dancing and mona (Easter cake) at one of the most popular places for this celebration in the Alt Camp.
LA BISBAL DEL PENEDÈS
Gathering at the chapel of Santa Cristina
People from various parts of the Penedès and Alt Camp regions
meet at the Col of Rubiola.
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i n
t h e
T a r r a g o n a
SATURDAY BEFORE EASTER
(PASQÜETES SATURDAY)
MAS DE BARBERANS
Probably the largest gathering in the province of Tarragona. Many
people start the pilgrimage the evening before and camp near the
chapel. On the Monday, after eating lunch and the special Easter
cake, the people dance jotas. During the procession back to the
town there is a spectacular saluting of banners.
LA FATARELLA *
Pilgrimage to the chapel of Sant Francisco
Prelude to the beginning of a season of events with bulls in the streets and rings, as well as the opportunity to taste the meat of the
Hispanic mountain goat from the Els Ports mountains.
LA POBLA DE MONTORNÈS
Gathering at the chapel of La Mare de Déu de Montornès
EL MASROIG
Gathering at the Sanctuary of La Mare de Déu de les
Pinyeres
The people of this village live the Easter festival to the full, not only
in the religious services but also in the singing of goigs (couplets in
honour of the Virgin or the Saints), the kissing of hands, sardana
dancing, and a communal meal of rice open to all-comers.
PRADES
Gathering at the chapel of La Mare de Déu de l’Abellera
People come from all the villages in the area.
Clotxa (special sandwiches) for breakfast, Mass, blessing of cakes,
Easter cake, and games make up the traditional programme for the day.
SANT JAUME DELS DOMENYS
Gathering at the chapel of La Mare de Déu dels Arquets
The numerous participants make their journey with the special pilgrims’ staffs, a symbol handed down from the Middle Ages.
An important devotional gathering in the Priorat region with a religious service held on the esplanade, lunch, and a procession carrying the image to the village.
VILALBA DELS ARCS
Pilgrimage to the chapel of Santa Magdalena de Berrús
The longest pilgrimage in Catalonia, which begins in the evening
and takes about five hours. When the pilgrims return to the village at
night they sing a moving version of the rosary.
SECOND SATURDAY
AFTER
EASTER
EL PINELL DE BRAI
Pilgrimage to the chapel of Santa Magdalena
An unusual walk with hand bells that echo around the Pàndols
mountains.
Celebrated with a communal dinner.
VILAVERD
Gathering at the chapel of La Mare de Déu de Montgoi
LA POBLA DE MASSALUCA
23RD. ST. GEORGES’S DAY
MONTBLANC ** Medieval Week
A festival recreating the history and legends of the Middle Ages,
based around the story of St. George, the princess and the dragon,
that, according to the folklorist, Joan Amades, took place here.
ALTAFULLA
L’Olla (stew) Festival
Chicken, rabbit, pork, potatoes, chickpeas, vegetables, aromatic
herbs, and a romesco sauce are the ingredients that fill a large communal cauldron.
MAY
EVERY SUNDAY
SALOMÓ ** The Dance of the Holy Christ
A spoken dance performed in the church to commemorate the
legend of the merchant who returned from Algiers with the venerated image.
FIRST SUNDAY
GANDESA
Pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of La Mare de Déu de la
Fontcalda
The tradition of pilgrimages is alive and well in the Terra Alta region
and this is one of the most popular.
9th. ST. GREGORY’S DAY
LA SÉNIA
Day of the Recapte
APRIL
25th. ST. MARK’S DAY
CABACÉS
Pilgrimage to the chapel of La Foia dating back to 1791, with an auction of flowers and blessed cakes.
SECOND SATURDAY
VINEBRE
The Apparition of St. Michael
Pilgrimage to the chapel of Sant Miquel in which auferta, or special
celebratory bread is given, followed by a communal meal of rabbit
and artichoke.
FINAL SUNDAY
An early morning walk to the chapel that takes more than two hours.
People from different villages come to eat the mona (Easter cake).
SPRING
o f
FLIX
Day of the Chapel of El Remei
RIBA-ROJA D’EBRE
28
c o u n t i e s
The food for this day consists of chickpeas, potatoes, black pudding,
and xoriços (spicy pork sausages), and has its origins in the food
prepared for beggars and tramps.
15th. ST. ISIDORE
ALCANAR *
Festivals of May
The definitive beginning of the most important saint’s day festivals
based on all the different types of events involving bulls.
Performances by the two local bands also play an important part, as
do folk tales, and tastings of local specialities such as beef stew,
king prawns, muscles, etc.
THIRD SUNDAY
L’AMPOLLA
Delta Oyster Day
The Delta oyster found in the bays of El Fangar and Els Alfacs is the
star attraction of this gastronomic festival.
Pentecost
FIFTY
DAYS AFTER
SPRING
GB_150fest.qxd
EASTER
SATURDAY
PRAT DE COMTE
Pilgrimage to La Mare de Déu de la Fontcalda
Legend has it that it was a shepherd from Prat de Comte who found
the image near Gandesa.
MONDAY
ALFARA DE CARLES
Pilgrimage to the chapel of Sant Julià
Procession around the chapel and communal meal.
9th
SIURANA
Jubilee
Since 1682 the inhabitants of Cornudella and other villages have climbed to Siurana to venerate La Mare de Déu de l’Aigua. The procession
ends at the ruins of the castle and the place where, according to
legend, the Moorish queen and her horse jumped from the cliff.
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f e s t i v a l s
Corpus Christi
L’AMETLLA
DE MAR
At midnight on the previous day people begin to lay out colourful carpets made of flowers, dyed rice, coffee grounds, sand, and seaweed on the streets along which the procession is to pass.
BELLVEI
The carpets are made with large microcalcics, a characteristic and
abundant mineral found in the area.
CAMARLES
Rice, the principal product of the Ebro Delta, is the main component
of the carpets.
13th. ST. ANTHONY
i n
t h e
ULLDEMOLINS
Pilgrimage of St. Anthony
EL VENDRELL *
Festival of the Blessed Bread
ARNES
The itinerary follows the old road from the parish church to the chapel of Sant Antoni and Santa Bàrbara. A litany of prayers to the
saints of the Montsant mountains is chanted.
Every day there is a neighbourhood fiesta and it is customary for
couples to bring bread or cakes to be blessed.
The second dance of the jota in the local festive calendar.
24th. ST. JOHN’S DAY
VALLS *
The first Saint’s day festival with an important human tower event,
both on the eve -les Completes- and on the saint’s day itself.
SPRING
This traditional fisherman’s dish, made with sardines and anchovies,
is the highlight of the day.
Work begins on decorating the streets of the old quarter almost
twenty-four hours before the procession.
MONTBRIÓ DEL CAMP
EL PERELLÓ
The giants of the La Closa and Avall quarters, “couples” for over a
century, are the protagonists of best-known part of the festival.
JUNE
A SUNDAY WITHOUT
REUS ** Saint’s day festival
Highlights include the mulassa (folklore mule), the giants, many different folk dances, and a traditional display of thunderous firecrackers.
A FIXED DATE
MIRAVET
Cherry Festival
FULL WEEK
TARRAGONA **
A symphony of colour and sound in the International Fireworks
Competition, regarded as the second most important in Spain, in
which firework manufacturers from around the world compete.
CUNIT
The highlight is the Folklore Procession.
15th
TORREDEMBARRA *
Festival of the Painting of St. Rosalia
A minor saint’s day festival with a procession of the painting which,
in 1640, saved the village from the plague that was decimating it.
THIRD SATURDAY
PRADES
The fountain in square gushes cava throughout the night.
16th VIRGIN
OF THE
CARMEN
L’AMPOLLA **
JULY
The procession sets sail in the sunset and is received with a firework
display that unites the elements of fire and water.
CAMBRILS
CABRA DEL CAMP
Reaping Festival
One of the most popular sea-going processions.
FIRST SUNDAY
On this day the villagers revive the ancient technique of reaping the
wheat with sickles and scythes.
SANT CARLES
SANTA COLOMA DE QUERALT
Gathering of the Romesco
This country romesco sauce is made of chopped salt-cod cooked in
an earthenware pot, and a sauce of almonds, oregano, pepper, and
pimento.
Bulls and communal meals are the highlights of this, one of the most
popular festivals in the Ebro Delta.
SANT CARLES DE LA RÀPITA *
During the ten days around this date, the town celebrates one of the
Ebro’s most comprehensive festivals with different types of events
involving bulls, brass bands, story-telling, communal meals, regattas
of muletes (traditional river boats), and pulling contests with teams
of horses.
SANT JAUME D’ENVEJA *
This town’s love of bulls gives it a special position in the fiesta season.
EL VENDRELL *
The “procession of fire” around the town includes an interesting collection of mythical beasts and devil dancers, especially the spectacular
Caramot, which, at more than thirty metres long, is the largest zoomorphic figure in the country.
THE
FIRST SUNDAY
One of the most time-honoured gatherings in this area, dating back
to 1783. The villagers dance sardanes and eat a communal lunch.
CAMARLES *
26th ST. ANNE’S DAY
The fruit par excellence of the Corpus Christi celebrations is the centrepiece for this festival in the shape of sweets, cakes, and liqueurs.
BRÀFIM
Gathering at the chapel of La Mare de Déu del
Loreto.
30
CREIXELL
Esmarri festival
FLIX
The town famous for its honey starts the evening before and works
all night laying carpets of flowers, plants, salt, and rice.
FIRST
25th ST. JAMES’ DAY
10th. ST. CHRISTOPHER’S DAY
29 . ST. PETER’S DAY
The villagers set off into the countryside of the Conca de Barberà
early in the morning to pick the flowers and herbs they work with.
T a r r a g o n a
22ND. ST. MAGDALENE’S DAY
th
CONESA
o f
FIRST WEEK
OF
PADUA
c o u n t i e s
SUMMER
GB_150fest.qxd
LAST WEEKEND
L’ESPLUGA DE FRANCOLÍ *
The stick dancers are the highlight of the Folklore Parade.
DE LA RÀPITA *
Fishermen and seafarers take the Virgin of the Carmen out onto the
Mediterranean.
20th ST. MARGARET’S DAY
LA RIERA
DE GAIÀ *
The spoken dance of St. Margaret held in the town square preserves
the most ancestral spirit and form of this type of popular play.
VARIABLE
DATE
TORTOSA
Renaissance Festival
A festival set among the history and legends of the Renaissance,
reviving the splendour of the town in the 16th century.
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AUGUST
ALFORJA
Gathering at the chapel of La Mare de Déu de
Puigcerver
The devotion to this Marian dedication is well documented with
famous festivals, some of them as exceptional that of 1784.
CABRA DEL CAMP
Threshing Festival
Typical events are the bull run to the port and the tasting of culinary
delights.
DELTEBRE
The two towns of Jesús i Maria and la Cava, celebrate their main
festival with bulls in the streets and also in the two hand-built bullrings.
SALOU
The day on which the sheaves are brought to the threshing floor and
threshed in the traditional way.
MÓRA LA NOVA
St. Dominic of Guzman
SUMMER
t h e
LES CASES D’ALCANAR
FIRST SUNDAY
The competitive spirit between the townspeople of Flix, Móra d’Ebre
and Móra la Nova characterize the races held with the traditional
rowing boats known as muletes.
A spectacular firework display is held on the beach.
LLORENÇ DEL PENEDÈS *
Saint’s day festival eve
10 ST. LAWRENCE’S DAY
EL PINELL DE BRAI
This saint’s day festival includes the most characteristic events involving
bulls – the bou embolat, the bou capllaçat, and bulls set loose in the ring
and the streets of the town. There is a traditional rivalry between two
brass bands each with a long history - La Lira and La Unió Filharmònica.
LA BISBAL
DEL PENEDÈS *
Saint’s day festival in which the best human tower groups compete.
The games are the most distinctive aspect of this festival, particularly the “oil-lamp race” which is run with the lit lamp hanging from
the crotch.
RIBA-ROJA D’EBRE
Jota dancing for everybody.
RODA DE BARÀ
The town relives the period of Moorish domination.
SEPTEMBER
4th ST. ROSALIA
TORREDEMBARRA *
The folklore procession and the human towers follow the programme of the fiestas of the Camp de Tarragona and Penedès regions.
LAST SATURDAY
This festival, one of the richest in El Montsià, revolves around animals and music and includes bulls, horse, mule and donkey races,
pipes and drums, and a brass band.
OF THE FIRST FORTNIGHT
29th SANT JOAN BAPTISTA EN LA DEGOLLACIÓ
MÓRA D’EBRE
Notable for the dansada or jota dance of Gandesa.
TORTOSA **
Saint’s day festival of La Mare de Déu de la
Cinta
MID-MONTH
A river festival - muleta (traditional rowing boat) and swimming races,
duck catching, the greasy pole, and parades with brass bands.
The cucafera is the most important symbol of this festival and one of
Catalonia’s most interesting mythical beasts. Also, panoli, the traditional festival cake is handed out.
MIRAVET
The Siege
FOURTH SATURDAY
FIRST WEEKEND
EL CATLLAR *
L’ESPLUGA DE FRANCOLÍ
Grape harvest festival
A historical festival that takes us back to the time of the Knights Templars.
The siege of the town is re-enacted around the castle.
15 THE ASSUMPTION
AMPOSTA **
PRAT DE COMTE
MÓRA D’EBRE
Moorish Móra
A medieval drama of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary is performed
in the parish church using the oldest complete script written in Catalan.
The miraculous water of St Magí arrives from the inland area of La
Brufaganya in an enchanting procession of horses and carts bedecked with flowers. Later there is a lively fiesta in which water plays a
large part.
MARY
24th ST. BARTHOLOMEW’S DAY
GANDESA
Fontcalda
18th
OF
T a r r a g o n a
LA SÉNIA *
Saint’s day festival of Sant Bartomeu and Sant Roc
Jota dances in which the ladies wear a carnation and the gentlemen
smoke a cigar and in which the dancers are encouraged by the cries
of the spectators as their rhythm speeds up.
th
o f
FIRST SUNDAY
A traditional dish made by the fishermen of Tarragona in which the
rice turns pink as it is cooked in olive oil and fish broth.
A singular festival with a “sindriada” (watermelon party) at night, plus local
aficionados who build human towers just for this festival. The Falcons, a
local group which builds “gymnastic-towers”, play a prominent part.
c o u n t i e s
Procession of the blessed bread, the identifying symbol of the festival.
LA SELVA DEL CAMP **
The mystery of the Madonna St. Mary
L’AMETLLA DE MAR
Arrossejat festival
9th
th
32
i n
TARRAGONA *
St. Magí’s Eve
THE PENULTIMATE SATURDAY
ALFORJA
Pataco Night
A dinner of this dish which the farmers used to eat in the fields, cooked with well-desalinated tuna gills, potatoes and fried onion, garlic,
summer marrow, and tomato.
Saint’s day festival with the country’s best castellers, in the home
town of the group that, in 1770, built the first human tower.
I LA
CONCA
DE
SUMMER
GB_150fest.qxd
BARBERÀ *
Coinciding with the harvest, the grapes are pressed to make the first
must of the season.
FOURTH SUNDAY
L’ARBOÇ DEL PENEDÈS *
Performance of the best castellers in the place where the first
human tower was built in 1770. The devil dancers execute their masterpiece twenty-minute carretillada or “wheel of fire”.
VARIABLE
DATES
BLANCAFORT
Gathering at the Sanctuary of El Tallat
In 1483 the villagers made a vow to God and since then they have made
the pilgrimage to the sanctuary where they cook a communal meal.
7th EVE
OF
LA MARE
DE
DÉUS TROBADES
LES BORGES DEL CAMP *
Riera
On the eve of this saint’s day, the largest group of devil dancers in
Catalonia precedes the patron saint as the procession makes its
way through the fields from the chapel to the village.
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8th FESTIVAL OF LA MARE DE DÉUS TROBADES OR
NATIVITY OF LA MARE DE DÉU BENIFALLET
BENIFALLET
Saint’s day festival of La Mare de Déu de Dalt
SUMMER
The jota dance is the identifying element of this festival. The girls are
beautifully attired in Manila shawls.
HORTA DE SANT JOAN
Bulls are the stars of this festival. In the xarlotada the costumed toreadors take on the bulls in a ring formed of carts and trailers.
MONTBLANC *
Saint’s day festival of La Mare de Déu de la Serra
Folklore procession with giants, big-heads, and stick dancers.
8th
VIMBODÍ
Festival of La Mare de Déu dels Torrents
Every fifth year (those ending in 4 and 9) acquires a special character –
the Quinquennals. The procession of the Fanalets carries the image to
the town.The streets are decorated with flowers, lights, and floral carpets.
9th
SOLIVELLA *
Festival of the Sacred Heart
Representation of the “small biblical altars” throughout the procession as
it makes its way through streets covered in carpets of alabaster powder.
i n
t h e
SECOND SUNDAY
* ULLDECONA
Saint’s day festival of La Mare de Déu de la Pietat
The very popular night-time “Jota Dance of the Shawls” in which you
can see a fine collection of woven handicrafts. The customary bulls and
the brass band take on a special air every five years (those ending in 4
and 9), during the Quinquennals, thanks to the beautiful floral carpets.
THIRD SUNDAY
LA SÉNIA *
Festival of La Mare de Déu de Pallerols
The streets where the procession passes are decorated with coloured sawdust.
3RD. SANTA TECLA
The climax of all the saint’s day festivals in the Camp of Tarragona,
La Conca and the Penedès, with the most splendid folklore procession in all Catalonia – dances, mythical beasts, farces, spoken dances, masquerades, and musicians. Pyrotechnics, with thunderous
firecrackers, rockets, firework displays, strings of fireworks, and the
best “fire-running” groups in the country underscore one of Spain’s
most emblematic festivals, which lasts for eleven days.
25 MARE
DE
DÉU
DE LA
MISERICÒRDIA
REUS **
Festival of La Misericòrdia
The festive groups form a procession to the Sanctuary of La Mare
de Déu.
AUTUMN
T a r r a g o n a
15th ST. TERESA
THE SUNDAY FOLLOWING
EL VENDRELL *
Fair
One of the classic exhibitions of the human tower season.
21st. ST. URSULA
THE SUNDAY FOLLOWING
VALLS **
Fair
FIRST SUNDAY
SECOND SUNDAY
TARRAGONA
Biennial human tower competition
ALCANAR *
Festival of La Verge del Remei
Performances by the best human tower groups who execute their
most complex formations in the Bullring in front of eight thousand
spectators.
Pilgrimage to the chapel and a meal of rice for all-comers, cooked in
huge pans. Every five years (those ending in 4 and 9), the special
Quinquennal celebration is held in which the image is taken each
day to one of the nine sectors of the town, which are decorated for
the occasion with elaborate floral carpets and other embellishments.
FIRST SUNDAY
GANDESA
Wine Festival
A meal which not only includes the wines of the Terra Alta region, but
also clotxes (special bread filled with sausages or salted sardines).
11th ST. MARTIN
XERTA
Jota dancing in the streets and closure of the bull season in the Ebro
region festivals.
The birthplace of human towers rounds off the season with a contest between the town’s two great rival colles or groups, the “Old”
and the “Young”.
1st. ALL SAINTS’ DAY
SUNDAY PRIOR
VILANOVA DE PRADES
The Castanyada
DECEMBER
FIRST SUNDAY
ALMOSTER
New Olive Oil Festival
One of the most traditional gastronomic festivals during which the
Designation of Origin Siurana olive oil is used as a dressing on
bread with pork sausages and salted sardines.
Roasted hot chestnuts - one of the great traditions of All Saints.
8th LA PURÍSSIMA
SUNDAY
PRIOR
VILA-RODONA
Fair
EL MOLAR
Festival of the xiques
Jota dancing is the main feature of this celebration.
A brief epilogue to the human tower season during the town fair with the participation of important groups.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Sixty-five of the festivals in this calendar were selected from the
following sources and another ninety-five were added by the editorial team:
OCTOBER
34
o f
NOVEMBER
TARRAGONA *** Santa Tecla Festivals
th
c o u n t i e s
AUTUMN
23/1/04
- Agenda de les tradicions catalanes 2000, Generalitat de
Catalunya, Centre de Promoció de la Cultura Popular i Tradicional
Catalana, Descobrir Catalunya, 2000.
- Bertran, Jordi, López-Monné, Rafael i Tutusaus, Jordi: Festes de
Catalunya. Una mostra de la diversitat del patrimoni popular,
Lunwerg, Barcelona, 2001.
- 108 festes i tradicions catalanes, Guies d’informació cultural, 8,
Generalitat de Catalunya, Departament de Cultura, 2000.
- Carbó, Amadeu: El cicle de l’any. El calendari festiu, Quaderns de
cultura popular, 14, Ediciones Primera Plana, Barcelona, 2000.
- Declaracions de festa tradicional d’interès nacional per part del
govern de la Generalitat de Catalunya.
- Espinàs, Josep Maria: Catalunya també és una festa, Tot
Catalunya, 4, Diàfora, Barcelona, 1976.
- Sánchez, María Ángeles: Fiestas populares. España día a día,
Maeva, Madrid, 1998.
- Sánchez, María Ángeles: “Citas de Carnaval” a El País. El Viajero,
27-II -2000, pp. 1-3.
- Soler, Felip: Dies de llum i festa. Patrimoni popular a Televisió de
Catalunya, Televisió de Catalunya, El Mèdol, Tarragona, 2001.
- Terraza, Santi: “La ruta festiva” a El País, 30-VII-1995, p.10.
* The number of stars given to each festival refers to the number of writers
that mention it. Those with no stars are included in the more than eight-hundred festivals catalogued by the editorial team according to ethnographic criteria as well as territorial balance.
“Traditional festival of national interest”, as designated by the Catalan
Autonomous Regional Government.
“Festival of national touristic interest”, as designated by the Spanish National
Government.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
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C ATA L U N Y A
T
his selection is based on the concept of the festival as ethnographic heritage, as opposed to other types of festivals or seasons of concerts, plays, conferences, cultural weeks, culinary
competitions in hotels and restaurants, children’s fairs, or literary prizes.
More recently-created celebrations have not been included, pending
their future consolidation.
More information on the Costa Daurada festive calendar can be
found at:
www.altanet.org
www.costadaurada.info
Published by the Tarragona Provincial Government Tourism Board
Coordination: Rafael López-Monné
Grapic design and layout: Pitu
Documental research and texts: Jordi Bertran
Photography: Joan Alberich (J.A.) - Pep Escoda (P.E.) - Rafael López-Monné (R.L.M.)
Jordi Tutusaus (J.T.)
Illustrations: Popular ceramics of Catalonia
Translations: Jordi Bertran (Spanish), Paul Turner (English), Christiane Guérard
(French), and Olivia Frank (German).
36
Printed by: ........................................
D.L. T© texts and photographs: the authors
© of the publication: the Tarragona Provincial Government Tourism Board
Passeig Torroja, s/n - 43007 Tarragona
Telèfon +34 977 23 03 12 - Fax +34 977 23 80 33
www.costadaurada.info
E-mail: [email protected]
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our catalogue of FESTIVALS AND TRADITIONS

Transcription

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