Price of Sant Jordi roses increases due to rising transport and energy costs
Flowers brought from South America are 50% more expensive, but shops will assume the extra amount
Flowers brought from South America are 50% more expensive, but shops will assume the extra amount
“Gegants” are an expression of identity in Catalonia often seen in local festivities
No Catalan nativity scene is complete without these defecating figurines
Catalonia’s fall tradition faces competition from imported Halloween celebrations
Health minister Vergés says 'families will not be able to mix' in festive meals, where social distancing will have to be maintained
Food and family are the key words over the holiday period, when Catalans face two weeks of feasting before they finally get their gifts
In Catalonia, this date that leaves no one indifferent brings two events which are not only different – they’re in a bit of a competition
The Agramunt Nougat Fair and the Alcovers Fira de Bandolers both saw excellent results for attendance and sales
More than 30,000 people filled the streets during the 40th anniversary of the iconic Aquelarre in Cervera
Bonfires and firecrackers are the most characteristic elements of the June 23 celebration, in which the Catalan language also plays an important role
A common sight at Catalan festivals, ‘castells’ can be up to 10 human storeys high, with a small child usually being placed on the top. Teams compete to create the most elaborate construction, in a tradition which is believed to date back to the 18th Century. It is one of Catalonia's more unusual spectacles and since being declared a UNESCO element of Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2010, interest in ‘castells’ has grown beyond Catalonia. Many ‘castellers’ groups have performed abroad in cities such as Shanghai, New York, Montreal, London and many others and new groups are even emerging outside of Catalonia. While most observe this tradition from the outside, we got up close to take a peek at the inside.
By 21 August thousands of people are expected to have attended Gràcia’s local street festival, organised around its Patron Saint’s day. The programme of 'Festes de Gràcia' includes Catalan traditional human towers (called 'castells'), live music, exhibitions, activities for kids and much more. However, one of the most popular traditions in Gràcia during this festival is the street decoration. Indeed, most public spaces are included in an amateur competition where groups of neighbours embellish their own streets and squares so that many spots in the neighbourhood are thematically decorated. Although locals play a very important role in the festival, each year thousands of visitors, from the rest of Barcelona, but also from all over the world, come to the neighbourhood and take part in the celebration, which is gaining popularity worldwide.
The 27th of April is the feast day of the Mare de Déu deMontserrat,Our Lady of Montserrat, or as she is more affectionately called in Catalonia, la Moreneta, "the little dark-skinned one". One of the only black images of the Virgin Mary in Europe, the Virgin of Montserrat is the patron saint of all dioceses in Catalonia and together with St. George (Sant Jordi) is considered the patron saint of the territory. In recent history, she has also become a symbol for Catalan national identity and Catholic Catalan nationalism. Up in the mountains of Montserrat, the Santa María abbey celebrated on Monday with a mass dedicated to the Virgin, and outside in the main square there were numerous traditional activities including people making human towers (castells), music bands and food stalls, as well as groups dancing the traditional Catalan dance, La Sardana.