La fiesta de la Mercè
pierre
Hi everybody!
As many of you probably know the 24th September is the day of ‘La Mercé’!
‘La Mercè (the Virgin Mary) is the Patron-saint of Barcelona. The story tells that on the 24th September 1218, the Virgin appeared to King Jaime I, to San Pedro Nolasco and to San Ramón de Penyafort and that the Pope made her the Patron-saint of Barcelona.
But this story is old and I’m not writing to tell you things you could find in books. Most of all ‘La Mercè’ is PARTY TIME!
To celebrate this event, barcelonian people enjoy it with live concerts, traditional music, dance, theatre, cinemas, street shows, circus and all kinds of different sports, the most famous being drinking!!
This ‘fiesta’ takes place in various public places and all are FREE! It starts on Wednesday 23rd and ends on Sunday 27th September, 5 days of ‘LOCURA’!!!
There will be more than 500 events in Barcelona; concerts, traditional music, dance, theatre, cinemas, street shows, circus and different Catalan sports. The most traditional activities of La Mercè are Catalan popular culture; the Sardana dance, the human castles (or ‘Castellers’) and ‘devils’ from all around Catalonia.
There are some things that you cannot miss in ‘La Merce’ :
-‘Els Catellers’ (human towers), a Catalan tradition, as incredible as you can see in the picture aside.
- “La cabalgata de los gigantes”, , you will gigants walking down the streets. It is so funny!!!
- The “Sardanas”, this is a traditional Catalan dance, you will se people dancing it and want to start dancing with them!
- The “Correfoc”, the craziest of all parties! Are you ready to dance under the dragons and demons as they spit fire over you? Remember to bring clothes to cover you. Hats and protective glasses are a must!
There are so many activities, that it is impossible to write everything, so you can all check this website for the programme or you can always come to reception and ask me.
So now choose the activities you want to join and have fun!!!
Pierre
