La Mercè Festivity
Photo: Kevin Rodriguez (Flickr). License: CC BY
La Mercè festivity is the main festival in Barcelona. It takes place every 24 of September since 1871, when the city council made a programme of events to celebrate this festivity in Barcelona.
In 1902 parades were added to the programme, with big-headed figures from all over Catalonia, as well as a contest of "castells" (human towers) and the dissemination of the Catalan dance "sardana." Since then, La Mercè festivity has been a day of cultural events for everyone.
Among other traditional events, there are the Catalan Wines Fair, the castells, the "ball de dimonis" (demons' dance) and the "correfocs" (people dressed up in demons costumes parading, dancing and jumping holding fireworks in the streets), the marathon along the city streets, and the famous "piromusical," a musical and light spectacle of fireworks and lights of the Monthjuïc fountains.
Photo: marimbajlamesa (Flickr). License: CC BY-NC-SA
Undoubtedly, one of the most special things during the festivity is the peculiar parading and religious processions dedicated to Corpus Christi, the oldest tradition. Still today, there are cultural associations that organize these events, maintaining alive the theatrical spectacles since the beginning of this festivity.
PRACTICAL GUIDE
HISTORY
LOCAL FESTIVALS
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