The town festival of Sitges (Garraf, Barcelona) - Festa Major de Sant Bartomeu -, 2012 has already begun, but fortunately for all of us who love Catalan traditions and folk culture, the best parts are still to come during the two main days, August 23-24.Here are the events where I will go, might go or, at least -, could think of going:
Wednesday, August 22
13:00; at Ateneu Popular de Sitges; address: C/ Sant Bartomeu, 40
Enjoy folk music with a drink - Concert: Vermut de Festa Major
Band: Filibusters
20:00; in the building Palau del Rei Moro
Photo opportunity – Catalan culture: Rehearsal of human towers (castells)
Team (colla): Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges
21:00; on the beach platja de Sant Sebastià
Music - Concert
Band: Beatrix’ Drum and Bugle Corps
23:30; in the street passeig de la Ribera
Catalan culture – Concert: Havaneres (in Spanish: Habaneras)
Band: Els Cremats
Thursday, August 23 – La Vigilia
12:00; in the town centre
Catalan culture – Gralla music by several bands
A gralla is the wind instrument used to accompany the construction of human towers (castells)
14:00; on the beach platja de la Fragata
Opening ceremony – 21 mortars being fired off combined with bell ringing
14:00; in the square Cap de la Vila
Catalan culture – Sardana concert: the two pieces La Processó de Sant Bartomeu and La Festa Major
Band: Cobla Maricel
14:00; starting point in the square plaça de l’Ajuntament; Finish: in the garden Hort de Can Falç
Photo opportunity - Catalan culture; Parade with performances by firespitting monsters, devils dancing under fire, giants (gegants), the Moixiganga de Sitges and different folk dances more or less typical for Penedès.
17:45; in the square Cap de la Vila
Photo opportunity - Catalan culture: Human towers (castells)
Team (colla): Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges
19:00; starting point in the street C/ Sant Josep; Finish: in the square plaça del Baluard
Photo opportunity - Catalan culture; Parade with performances by firespitting monsters, devils dancing under fire, giants, different folk dances and other cultural expressions.
Full route: C/ Sant Josep, C/ Artur Carbonell, C/ Sant Bartomeu, C/ Sant Gaudenci, C/ Sant Francesc, C/ Sant Bonaventura, C/ Sant Josep, C/ Parellades, pl. Cap de la Vila, C/ Major, pl. Ajuntament, pl. Baluard.
23:00; in the square Cap de la Vila
Photo opportunity – Fireworks
The Festa Major of Sitges has the most beautiful fireworks throughout Penedès, thanks to a unique background – the church on la Punta – and a 360 degree frame created by the houses along the beach walk, the piers, the many sailing boats out in the sea and the marina.
By: Pirotècnica Igual, S.A.
00:30 (approximately); on the stairs leading down from the church to the square plaça de la Fragata
Photo opportunity – Catalan culture: All cultural expressions - firespitting monsters, devils, giants and all the folk dances -, descend the steep stairs while performing.
01:30 (approximately); in the street passeig de la Ribera
Catalan culture – Sardana concert and dancing: Revetlla sardanista
Band: Cobla Sitgetana
Friday, August 24; Diada de Sant Bartomeu Apòstol – the patron saint of Sitges
Local public holiday
6:00; starting point in the square plaça del Baluard; finish in the square plaça de l’Ajuntament
Photo opportunity - Catalan culture: Early morning parade by many of the folk dances and other cultural expressions
Full route: pl. Baluard, C/ Fonollar, Baluard Vidal i Quadras, Port de n’Alegre, C/ Rafael Llopart, C/ Sant Damià, C/ Sant Sebastià, C/ Jesús, C/ Sant Bartomeu, C/ Sant Gaudenci, C/ Sant Josep, C/ Espalter, pl. Espanya, C/ Espanya, C/ Joan Tarrida, pl. Indústria, C/ Marquès de Montroig, C/ Parellades, pl. Cap de la Vila, C/ Major, pl. Ajuntament.
10:30; in the parish church Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla; address: pl. Baluard, S/N
Catholic traditions – Festa Major religious service held in honor of Sant Bartomeu
12:30 (approximately); starting point in the square plaça del Baluard; finish in the square plaça de l’Ajuntament
Photo opportunity - Catalan culture: "Leaving church parade" by the folk dances and other cultural expressions plus the bands Cobla Maricel and Suburband. Rounded off by a joint, simultaneous performance, followed by the national anthem of Catalonia, Els Segadors.
13:30 (approximately); in the square plaça de l’Ajuntament
Photo opportunity - Catalan culture: Human towers (castells)
Team (colla): Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges
17:30; in the garden of Casino Prado; address: C/ Francesc Gumà, 6-14
Enjoy your afternoon coffee with music - Concert
Band: Cobla Maricel
17:30; in the garden of El Retiro; address: C/ Angel Vidal, 17
Enjoy your afternoon coffee with music - Concert
Band: Suburband
19:30; starting point and finish in the square plaça del Baluard.
Photo opportunity - Catalan culture; Procession with a figure of the patron saint Sant Bartomeu and performances by firespitting monsters, devils, giants (gegants), and all the folk dances more or less typical for Penedès. Rounded off by a joint performance by the giants, the firespitting monsters, the castellers etc.
Full route: pl Baluard, pl. Ajuntament, C/ d’en Bosc, C/ Davallada, C/ Barcelona, C/ Santiago Rusiñol, C/ Jesús, C/ Sant Bartomeu, C/ Sant Gaudenci, C/ Sant Francesc, pl. Cap de la Vila, C/ Parellades, C/ Bonaire, pg. de la Ribera, C/ Nou, C/ Major, pl. Ajuntament, pl. Baluard.
Sunday, August 26
18:30 (approximately); in the square plaça de l’Ajuntament
Photo opportunity - Catalan culture: Human towers (castells)
Teams (colles): Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges, Castellers de les Roquetes and Minyons de Terrassa.
Minyons de Terrassa is one of the absolutely best castellers teams in Catalonia.
22:15; on the beach platja de Sant Sebastià
Catalan culture – Sardana concert and dancing: Revetlla sardanista de cloenda
Band: Cobla Sitgetana
Visca la Festa Major de Sitges!
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Find here the full Festa Major program in Catalan and here the official short version in English, Catalan, French and Spanish.
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By Erik Wirdheim – your guide in English and Swedish to the wine region Penedès (Catalonia, Spain).
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