La Merce Festival Barcelona
Photos by JuanMa K Troy Caminante Fotográfico
The last few days of September bring La Merce to Barcelona, every year. This festival is recognized as the largest street party in Europe. It is an annual festival that is held in Barcelona. Ever since 1687, Catalonia in Spain has officially declared La Merce as a city holiday in Barcelona. In 1687, the local government at that time had initially organised a program that included special activities. This was done in commemoration of the Feast of our Lady of Mercy as per Roman Catholics. The actual feast day was fixed on 24th September but the festivities always take place a few days ahead of that date.
Dates this year for La Merce Festival in Barcelona
22 September 2016 to 25 September 2016.
The Festival will last for five days. It honours Mar de Deu de la Merce, the Patron Saint of Barcelona. This festival marks the end of summer and welcomes the cooler autumn months.
History of the Festival and its Religious Origins
This festival has its origin in religious ceremonies that honoured the Virgin of Grace along with Saint Eulalia. The very word `Merce’ in Catalan means service or help with a definite sense of compassion. There is a basilica that is dedicated to this Virgin of Grace in the Gothic quarter of Barcelona. There is a wooden image of her that is venerated here.
La Merce festival has its origins from an age when Barcelona was affected by a plague of locusts in 1687. In their struggle against these insects, the Consell de Cent which ruled the city went to plead for help to the Virgin. When she delivered the city from this pestilence, the entire town named her patroness of Barcelona. It took almost a couple of hundred years for the Pope to recognize her sainthood in 1868. Barcelona holds this festival every year since 1868 in honour of the Virgin.
Key Features of La Merce Festival
During the five-day festival, about a couple of million people attend the artistic and cultural presentations and programs that are held all over the city. The traditional activities of this festival are inspired by the popular culture
Many features that were added to this festival started around 1902. There was an introduction of parades that included giants or `Gegants I Capgrossos’ or Papier Mache giants. Along with these giants, a popular dance was introduced from Emporda and it became highly fashionable throughout Catalonia. This dance was known as the `Sardana’.
Some of the traditions that were introduced recently are the annual Catalan Wine Fair, a unique Correfoc – Fire Run (a ten-kilometre race and a pyro-musical that displays synchronised fireworks, music and water fountains that are presented at the base of Montjuic Mountain).
of the Catalonian region. You simply cannot miss those street parades that have originated from the amazing processions which used to take place hundreds of years ago while celebrating the Corpus Christi. Every day, people celebrate this festival with parades on the streets which are filled with all kinds of mythical characters amidst the background of traditional drumming.
There are almost six hundred varieties of events that are stretched across streets, museums, plazas and parks. There is no entry charge as the festival is open to public for free. The public transportation in Barcelona in the form of metro trains is functional throughout the night during this festival.
Street Theatre
Throughout the five days of this festival, street theatre becomes a unique element of artistic events. You will come across circus, dance, bands, touring shows and fringe as bulk of the events in this street theatre. It helps in bringing the people of Barcelona closer to various cultures every year by means of the `Guest City’ programs. Each year, the guest city is different. For example, it was Vienna three years ago.
Castellers
Castell is a castle in Catalonian. Castellers are people who form an arrangement of towers through their acrobatics and this event is a special part of the celebrations during La Merce Festival. It is a huge cultural phenomenon and this tradition has its origin in Valls, Tarragona at the end of the eighteenth century when rival tribes called Colles started competing in the construction of various types of human towers.
Location this year – Placa de Sant Jaume/ 24 September 2016
Gigantes
This is the parade of the giants. It is a popular event for the entire family. You will find big giants with various effigies of nobles, kings and queens. They march through several streets. These figures tower above people in the crowds. They go round and round so that everyone can see them in their glory.
Location – Placa St. Jaume/24 September 2016
Correfoc – The Fire Run
You will come across fire-spewing dragons that spray sparkers among the people. Protective clothing is worn for this reason. People bring their hats and they wear thick tops with long sleeves. They also wear protective glasses to protect themselves from flying sparklers. This event takes place around sunset time and follows on. The road assigned for it gets cordoned off and is then open to the participants who are referred to as the `devils’.
Location – Via Laietana/25 September 2016
Projection Show
During this event, images get projected on to the sides of buildings in a square. This event is repeated every evening and there is no charge for people who are attending this show.
Location – Placa St. Jaume/22 September 2016 – 25 September 2016
People come from all over the world to take part in Le Merce Festival in Barcelona and they revel amidst music and events on the streets at various venues. They have fun in the biggest party dished out by Barcelona every year.