Many of the festivals and fiestas of Catalunya are centered around religious Saints days and other traditions of the Catholic Church. These are part and parcel of the culture of every day Catalunya and below is a sample of some of the things that go on. You have the opportunity to enjoy some of these as part of our scheduled tours, and we are always happy to arrange specialist trips for you to enjoy these cultural festivities as part of our private tour planning services.
Carnaval or Carnestoltes is the period leading up to Ash Wednesday (Dimecres de Cendra) the first day of the liturgical season of Lent, but the festivities begin the Thursday before (Dijous Gras). The Carnival , with its unconstrained revelry, has won great popularity in recent years and is celebrated in many localities with giant feasts - such as the Festa del Ranxo – fancy dress balls, parades, battles of sweets, competitions and numerous other events.
According to legend the name of this typical Catalan dish come from the word chateau, a reference to the size of the plate and the shape of this delicious winter salad. Originally cooked by the fishermen, this speciality is enjoyed every February on the coast south of Barcelona. “El Xato es mucho mas bueno en Sitges” the Xato is much better in Sitges is a famous saying.
Carnival has a special importance in Sitges. Thousands of visitors come to the village to see the different parades of masks and fancy dresses, to enjoy those Carnival nights that have made popular the notion that “everything is possible during Carnival”.
Rabbie’s run a fantastic day tour to Roman Tarragona and Sitges so you can discover these things for yourselves.
When the Carnival is over and Lent – the time for penance and abstinence- is well advanced, performances of passion play (La Passio) begin in various localities and continue into Holy Week. These dramatizations of the main episodes leading up to the death of Christ date back to the Middle Ages, though the today’s versions were written in the 17th and 18th centuries. They are acted out by local people and are staged in proper theatres, instead of in the church or in the squares, as before.
Branches and palms are blessed in the churches on Palm Sunday (Diumenge de Rams) in remembrance of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem. The most striking religious ceremonies in Holy Week (Semana Santa), which begins on Palm Sunday, are the solemn processions in the streets and churches. Many – including the “Dansa de la Mort” (dance of death) in Verges - take place on Maundy Thursday. Others such as the procession of the Holy Burial are held on Good Friday (Divendres Sant). They feature members of confraternities, the popular Roman soldiers, and sacred images carried on floats.
Easter is marked by religious services on the Sunday itself and the Paschal Vigil (Vetlla Pasqual), which is held the night before Holy Saturday. But it is a family festival too, like Christmas, and on this occasion godparents give their god children “Mones” (cakes decorated with eggs and other trimmings, and chocolate eggs). “Caramelles”, songs which groups of local people sing at houses and farms in exchange for gifts of food, are another tradition that is still flourishing. On Easter Monday (Dilluns de Pasqua) people go to chapels and shrines in the countryside to eat “Mones”. The feasts of the Ascension (recalling Christ’s ascension into heaven forty days after Easter) and Pentecost (Pasqua Granada, when the Holy Spirit came down on the Apostles fifty days after Easter) are religious in character.
Animals invade the old city of Vic. This farm country capital is famous for its centuries old market and its cattle industry. Experience one of the most typical markets of the region, join our Pyrenees tour on 31st March.
The most astonishing religious performance of Holy Week in Tarragona is the solemn Procession of the Holy Burial.
No need to explain to local people about the Holy Burial in Tarragona - it is probably the most famous Easter celebration in Catalunya. Numerous celebrations take place commemorating the death of Christ and his resurrection.
If you want to experience one of the most impressive religious celebrations of the region, join us on 6th April on a special Tarragona Tour. For more information contact us tours@rabbies.eu.com
For Sant Jordi, the feast of Catalonia’s patron Saint George, a rose and a book! This tradition, which combines a rose as a symbol of love and a book as a symbol of cultures, has turned into a festive celebration which engulfs the streets and squares with books and flower stalls. It is a day for walking around and enjoying the spectacle of streets turning into open air book shops.
The feast of our Lady of Montserrat, the patroness of Catalonia. is marked by special ceremonies at the shrine of Montserrat. Join one of our tours to Montserrat.
This Flower festival is used as an excuse to decorate all the old city of Girona with flowers, a fabulous opportunity to see this magnificent medieval city in full bloom. Please join one of our tours to Girona and Costa Brava.
The Festival of the Snail is the cooking festival par excellence of Lleida. For three days, thousands of residents, organised in lines, join around the table to taste dishes of the purest Lleida style.
We offer a fantastic specialist tour to enjoy this gastronomic experience and combine it with visits to the Medieval Castles of the “Terres de Lleida”. Contact us tours@rabbies.eu.com for more information.
It is called the “Festa de la Llana i casement a pages”, Sheepshearing and traditional country wedding. This double feast is one of the most ancient traditions in the city of Ripoll, the Cradle of Catalonia. This feast pays homage to the shepherd and gives you a unique opportunity to observe traditional sheep shearing. But it is also a remembrance celebration of the old style country wedding, which were organized between the “hereu” (the heritor) and the “pubilla” (oldest daughter in the family). If you take part in the celebration, you will be invited like the rest of the town to eat “coca” (fresh pastry) and to drink wine directly from the “porro”.
We offer you a chance to take part in this fantastic celebration and combine it with a walk in the stunning Pyrenees, just half an hour from Ripoll. (link)
Contact us for more details; tours@rabbies.eu.com
Corpus Christi falls on the Thursday after Holy Trinity Sunday. Corpus Christi is one of the most solemn festivities. In many places, people still decorate the streets with flower carpets (catifes de flors) and garlands (enramades). Also, in the cloisters of some cathedrals and monasteries, a ceremony called “l’ou com balla” is performed, at which an egg is made to dance on the fountain.
A festival to celebrate one of the historical battles of the 19th century. This feast commemorates the heroic fighting of the small village of Montserrat, El Bruc, against the Napoleon Army in 1811. Relive the story of a little boy “El Timbaler” who scared the most powerful army in Europe with his drum. A noisy and colourful experience that fills the Catalans with pride.
Enjoy a special tour to Montserrat on this day, contact us tours@rabbies.eu.com
Mats made from flowers fill the streets of the town centre. In the evening, there is a procession through the streets with the mats. They also hold a Flower Mat Competition. For more information about a special tour to Sitges on this day, contact us tours@rabbies.eu.com
A veritable explosion of fire, which has been made part of the UNESCO World Heritage. Berga also offers a fantastic view over the Cadi range, part of the Pyrenees. You can combine this cultural experience with a gastronomic tour, sampling traditional country foods and stay in a typical Catalan farmhouse “Masia”. If you are interested in enjoying a specialist tour experience please contact us tours@rabbies.eu.com
Seafaring towns are the scene of many summer festivals, notably round about the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel (16 July). They often feature processions of boats decked with garlands of flowers (processons maritimes). Many places celebrate their patron saint’s feast day at this time: Saint Peter (29th of June), Saint Christopher (10th July), Saint Christine (23 July), or Saint James (25 July). But one of the main feast days is the Assumption of Mary (15 August), popularly known as the “Mare de Deu d’Agost”.It is also the time chosen for numerous local summer festivals (“festes majors d’estiu”) because many people are on holiday.
In Catalonia, during the summer, people gather at music festivals to sing havaneres (sea shanties), enjoy accordion music, dance the sardana (at the famous “aplecs de sardanes”), or listen to popular music, modern music or jazz.
Some places stage theatrical performances based on medieval literature or liturgical plays with local people playing the leading roles. There are fireworks contests too, gathering of giants and dwarfs, car rallies and much more besides!
“Habanera” is THE symbolic event in Catalunya during the summer. Habaneres are a kind of seamen’songs sung for generations by the seamen who used to travel to Cuba. But Habaneres is more than a song festival, it is a homage to the spirit of the Catalan traders and the Catalan seamen who were looking for adventure in the new world. On the first Saturday of July, hundreds of people gather on the small beach of Port Bo in Calella de Palafrugell to hear these traditional songs, sung from a boat ancored a few meters from the coast. Of course you will also taste the “Rom cremat” (burnt Rhum), the drink of the seamen!
If you would like to join our special “afternoon and night Tour” to the Costa Brava. Contact us at info@rabbies.eu.com
Everybody knows the river Noguera Pallaresa as the best place for rafting and kayaking. But it was not always like that. Years ago, the “raiers” had to navigate this wild river to transport the wood from the mountains to the valleys. Sailing down on these fragile boats made of trees bound together was a hard and dangerous task. Every year, local people give homage to these tough raftsmen by sailing down the river. This is a wonderful occasion to celebrate and enjoy the local specialties.
We organize a special tour to the Pyrenees to take part in this event. On this day, you will be able to see the Pyrenees peaks and also to discover the cultural patrimony of one of the best preserved region in Catalonia. For more information contact us at info@rabbies.eu.com
Join our special tour to Girona and Costa Brava and admire the procession of the “Verge del Carme”, the Virgin of the Seamen. The Virgen is decked on a fisherman’s boat, fully decorated with flowers and will navigate in the bay of Llanca. The Virgin’s boat is usually followed by dozens of fishermen and tourist boats. When the Virgin comes back to the beach, she is welcomed with dances and celebrations. Don’t miss this typical summer event by joining our special Girona and Costa Brava tour on the 16th of July.
Not the main feast of Tarragona but on the other hand a more personal and local celebration. Join our Tour to
Tarragona and Sitges combining history, culture and nice afternoon in the seatown of Sitges.
An “Oasis of tradition” in Sitges. The local people take back Sitges - they invade the streets and organize numerous dance shows to commemorate their Patron Saint, Sant Bartomeu. This feast is a homage to old music instruments typical from the region of Sitges, the “Grallers”.
Do a break and give a “traditional touch” to your holidays. Join our special tour to
Tarragona and Sitges on 23rd or 24th of August. Contact us at info@rabbies.eu.com
Every year, the shepherds gather in this small Pyrenees town to celebrate one of the most famous sheepdog trials. From all over the Pyrenees, on both the French and Spanish sides, shepherds come with their “champion” to Castellar to demonstrate their abilities.
This is of course the best opportunity to try the local cheese, accompanied by some local wine, directly taken from the “Porro”.
More information about this special tour at info@rabbies.eu.com
On our way to the Pyrenees, we will do a stop in the small town of Ripoll, which is called the Cradle of Catalunya. Ripoll, the first capital of the Catalan counties in the IX century is rich in history and traditions. Every year, local people commemorate the history of the city and more especially the history of their main hero, the Count Guifre, holding a medieval market and different shows dating back from the 12th and 13th centuries. Join our tour to Vic and the Pyrenees and enjoy this special opportunity to travel back to the past of Catalunya.
At harvest time, traditional festivals are held in the farming community to recall various agricultural tasks and skills: reaping and threshing festivals, sheep shearing festivals , sheepdog trials, celebrations to mark the grape harvest (called Verema in Catalan) from September onwards. Major fairs of agricultural produce are also staged in many places.
The fact that the most significant of these festivals is the grape harvest, or “Verema”, gives an idea of the importance of the viticulture in Catalonia.
Human Pyramids, or “castells”, are an attraction at many festivals throughout the year. Most of the teams or “Colles” who build them come from the Penedes and Camp de Tarragona regions, and 2 major competitions are staged in October.
On this very special day, the Vall de Nuria looks back to the origins of the shrine of the Virgin. The same way as it happened centuries ago, shepherds hike up 2000meters to the Santuary of Nuria to give homage to their Virgin. This is a time to recall the presence of Sant Gil in this place and revive the legend. This is also a time for the shepherds and their sheepdogs to measure their abilities. Live the legend and attend one of the most frequented sheepdogs trials in the Catalan Pyrenees. Join our Classic Tour to Historical Vic and the Pyrenees.
We invite you to the capital of the Cava, the Spanish sparkling wine. On 8th September this little town in the heart of the wine region Penedes celebrates a strange feast dedicated to the phyloxera plague, responsible for the destruction of all the vine trees at the end of the XIX century. Wine, Cava and gastronomy are the main attractions of this colourful celebration. We offer you to combine this experience with the visit of the cellars. A fantastic opportunity to discover the Catalan wine region a different way!
Since 1962, the “Bodegas Torres” and the city of Sitges organize a colourful celebration dedicated to the Grape Harvest, La Vendimia. On Sunday, you will certainly be able to attend the election of “La Pubilla”, the queen of the Harvest. It is also a single opportunity to taste the famous “xato”, speciality of Sitges.
Join our tour to Roman Tarragona and Sitges on Sunday 9th September.
For 15 years, the meeting point of the music business in Catalunya and Spain. During a couple of days, Vic attracts thousands of people (120000 pax in 2005) to attend one of the 100 concerts and shows all over the town. Flamenco, Jazz, pop Rock…in concerts organized on a free basis.
Join our Classic Tour to Historical Vic and the Pyrenees on 15th of September to the market city of Vic in a musical atmosphere. After Vic, we drive on in the afternoon to the Pyrenees to enjoy the view on the 3000meters mountain peaks. Gastronomy, Culture, Music and Landscape: The perfect day!
Declared “Popular feast of National Interest” by the Parlament of Catalunya, the feast of Santa Tecla is one of the most emblematic celebrations in Catalunya. The Castells, or human Towers, the street parades and all the traditional celebrations convert the streets of Tarragona into a permanent show during one week. If you have never seen a Castell in your life, this is the place to be. You will shiver looking at the brave men and children building these breathtaking human towers. The street parades enact the dance of the Devils.
The celebration of Santa Tecla dates back from the XIV century, when the king Jaume II arrived at Tarragona with the relics of the Saint.
Join our Tour to Tarragona and Sitgeson 23rd September.
La Fiesta Mayor de Barcelona! Celebrated in the city since 1687. People from Barcelona say you cannot physically make it all, at one moment your legs will say stop! If you want to discover this feast through insider’s eyes, if you want to learn more about the origin of this feast, contact us for a private tour in the Gothic Quarter. Contact us at info@rabbies.eu.com
Queralbs, el poble millenary, the thousand year old village hosts the animals’ market. Shepherds and Cattle raisers gather at 2000m to bargain and sell their best animals.
Organized since 1982 to promote the “Cava”, the Catalan Champagne. There is no better day to taste the different Cavas in the region, coming from more than 30 different wineries. Of course the taste of Cava will be accompanied by the most typical gastronomic specialties from the region. Join our classic tour to Montserrat and Cavas.
October is the month of the Bolets, or Mushrooms in Catalonia. In many villages, gastronomic celebrations will be organized for the “Bolets”, the mushrooms collected a few days before in the forest. If you don’t know the secret places to pick up these precious “bolets”, don’t miss this feast in Ribes de Freser. This is also important for the local farmers who take advantage of this celebration to participate in the animal market “Fira del Bestiar”. If you are interested in joining our special tour to Ribes and Vall de Nuria, contact us at info@rabbies.eu.com
Concerts and streets parades will be organized during the main feast of Girona. It is also a good time to taste the local specialties sold in the traditional market held in the narrow streets of the medieval quarter. To join our special
tour to Girona and Costa Brava contact us at info@rabbies.eu.com
All Saints’ Day (Tots Sants) is the main feast of the Autumn months and signals the approach of winter. Many people are in the habit of visiting cemeteries at this time to tidy up and decorate the graves of their deceased relatives.
At home they sit down to a “Castanyada”, a feast at which roast chestnuts and sweet potatoes are eaten with “panellets” (sweets made from almonds and pine nuts which are typical from the season).
Besides Chestnuts, the forests yield another form of produce which is highly popular in Catalonia: wild mushrooms (bolets). Mushroom picking competitions are held and mushroom markets take place. Around this time major agricultural fairs (fires) are also staged. They include the cattle fairs and fairs specializing in foodstuffs, such as potatoes, garlic, oil, apples, anchovies, brandy, torro (almond sweets) or chocolate.
La Garrotxa is a natural park full of mysteries; old sleeping volcanoes, dense oak forests and peppered with medieval villages, some of them the best preserved in Catalunya.
The oldest of these villages, Besalu, celebrates every year an original feast dedicated to the “Ratafia”, a liquor elaborated from green nuts. On the main square of Besalu a traditional market is held for 2 days to present the local produce. A fantastic opportunity for you to discover the “Catalunya profunda” and its gastronomy.
During this special tour we will visit various medieval villages and we will make sure that you see the best of the “Fira de la Ratafia”. For more information, contact us at info@rabbies.eu.com
The most important and moving family festival in the year is undoubtedly Christmas. People attend the traditional midnight mass (Missa del Gall) on Christmas Eve (24 December) and then enjoy a light meal. In some churches a very beautiful liturgical ceremony dating back to the Middle Age is held that same night: the Cant de la Sibilla (the Sybil’s song). On 25th December, families gather for Christmas Lunch. Typical seasonal fare includes “Escudella I Carn d’Olla” (various stewed meats…), stuffed chicken or capon, torrons (almond sweets) and cava (sparkling wine) of course.
In the homes there is along established custom of making a crib called “Pesssebre” (model of the scene of Christ’s birth in Bethlehem). More recently this has given rise to a new custom: the “pessebre vivent”, a sort of tableau vivant in which local residents replace the earthenware figures. These plays are staged in many localities
Christmas gifts are not brought by Santa Claus on the night of 24th December. Presents and gifts are brought by the Three Kings on the Epiphany (6th of January) according to the Spanish Tradition.
On our way to the Pyrenees, we will make a special stop on this day at Ribes de Freser to enjoy the Christmas Market in this typical small Pyrenean town. Local gastronomic specialties, the Christmas atmosphere and the stunning view over the surrounding 3000 meter peaks will make this trip the experience of your holidays.
Join our Classic Tour to Historical Vic and the Pyrenees on 8th December.
The most famous Poultry Fair
in Catalunya. A very good opportunity to taste the
gastronomy of this region famous for its sparkling
wine, Cava. We combine a visit to this feast with
a visit to some cellars. For more information on this
special tour, contact us at info@rabbies.eu.com.
Catalonia celebrates the
highly popular Festa dels Reis (Epiphany) when,
according to ancient legend, the three kings bring
toys to the children. In the towns and cities
of Catalonia, the three legendary figures (the
White King, the Blonde King and the Black King)
take part in a great parade through the streets
called la Cavalcada, throwing sweets to the crowd.
The feast of Sant Antoni
Abat (Saint Anthony the Abbot), the patron saint
of muleteers, is marked in many places by the
blessing of horses and a cavalcade called Els
Tres Tombs.
The celebration of Sant
Antoni comes from the ancient times, when Catalonia
was a land of farms and cattle. During the celebration,
the farmers came to the towns to have their animals
blessed by the bishop and make sure that they
would have a good harvest. More than 350 horses
and “carros” loaded with local products invade
the old town. Eating Calcots is not only a gastronomic
experience but also a visual one, probably one
of the meals you will never forget! January and
February are the months when people get together
to eat Calcots, which are tender onions broiled
on the embers or Xatonada, a local tasty salad.
(see 13 February below) We organize a day trip
to Valls and combine it with the visit of Tarragona,
the old Roman capital of Spain. For more information,
contact us: tours@rabbies.eu.com
