traditions

The legend of Sant Jordi alive and kicking

April 23, 2012 08:50 PM | CNA / Laura Fabregat

There is a special feel to the streets of Catalonia on 23rd April as for one day locals set aside their daily concerns to celebrate a unique tradition: Sant Jordi’s Day. Every 23rd April is awash with the colour of roses and the gleaming jackets of books hot off the presses. Tradition dictates that today is the day men give their loved ones a rose and in return women buy men a book. The results are spectacular as around 7 million roses and 1.7 million books are sold in the space of a single day.

‘Carnestoltes’, an old but always eagerly awaited tradition

February 16, 2012 09:18 PM | CNA / Joëlle Philippe

Carnival celebrations in small towns around Girona remain a huge social event and a great occasion for having fun with friends. Throughout this whole week small villages in the province of Girona celebrate the ‘Carnestoltes’, a whole set of celebrations based on the Carnival theme. Despite the economic crisis and many budget cutbacks, the festivity remains a hugely strong tradition and offers a mix of fun and excess before Lent begins.

Valls welcomes the annual Catalan gastronomic tradition of the ‘Calçotada’

January 30, 2012 07:47 PM | CNA / Sara Gómez

Among the many culinary traditions Catalonia can boast about, the ‘Calçotada’ is one of the most beloved among Catalans. People from all over the territory and in particular those from southern towns such as Valls, eat ‘calçots’ (similar to green onions) with family and friends in special get togethers for the next three months. On January 29th the season kicked off with a festival that brought together 30,000 people.

The Three Wise Men arrive in Catalonia carrying presents and causing excitement

January 5, 2012 07:56 PM | CNA

The night of January 5th is the most important and magical nights of the year for thousands of children in Catalonia. It is when the Three Wise Men –or the Three Kings in Catalan– bring presents. Traditionally in Catalonia, presents are not delivered by Santa Claus on the evening of December 24th, but instead on the evening of January 5th by the Three Kings who arrive in all Catalan towns. Parades are organised to welcome them. Afterwards, when the children are sleeping, they enter through the window or balcony and leave presents for every family member.

Ancient nougat will sweeten the Catalan Christmas with a sales increase

December 22, 2011 08:34 PM | CNA / Oriol Bosch / Sara Gómez

As Christmas approaches, so does the presence of the traditional nougat sweet, found in almost every Catalan home during the festive season. Torró, first introduced in the Iberian Peninsula through Catalonia, has been part of the Christmas tradition since the Middle Ages. Nowadays, artisans of nougat in Catalonia still respect the original recipe. Nougat from the town of Agramunt, in western Catalonia, is an example of a product, which expects an increase in sales this year.

Photography exhibition on Catalan human towers commemorates their first anniversary as part of World Cultural Heritage

November 17, 2011 08:12 PM | CNA / Sara Gómez

‘Castells’ or the traditional human towers originally from Southern Catalonia and generally built during town festivals were included in the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO last year. An exhibition at the Palau Robert in Barcelona will celebrate this first anniversary. It reflects on the tradition’s cultural and social value, and its role as one of Catalonia’s best known symbols.

“Mona de Pasqua”, the Catalan Easter cake topped with chocolate figurines

April 22, 2011 05:56 PM | CNA

Catalan tradition dictates godfathers to offer a “Mona de Pasqua” to their godsons or goddaughters for Easter Monday. The cake goes with a chocolate sculpture or figurine, which in some cases are true masterpieces. Chocolate houses, chocolate trains or popular cartoons made out of chocolate are some of the creations that top the cake. Catalan patissiers expect to sell 660,000 “mones” this year, although smaller ones due to the economic slowdown.