The Catalan Festival of Barcelona: Human towers and other traditions

Probably one of the most common enquiries on our Gothic Quarter Free Tour is “where can I see a human tower being built?”. Well, as luck has it, the City Council of Barcelona is proud to show off the unique Catalan culture to visitors. Every Saturday evening during the Summer months and in front of the Cathedral, you can find human castles, giants, traditional dances and much more. Want to know what, where and how? Read on for the lowdown on groups and the 2018 timetable (2019 dates to be released soon).

Barcelona Human towers and other Catalan traditions:

The Catalan traditions will take place most Saturdays in front of Barcelona’s Cathedral at 7:30 pm from the 9th of May until the 29th of August. This is what you will see each day:

“Castells” (human towers)

An Impressive Catalan display of a tower made up of humans. There are different types depending on the number of people on each floor. It is considered built when a young child climbs to the top and raises their hand. Hopefully, they won’t all topple down after, but if they do, the young children are wearing helmets for protection.

Dates: 16th May, 23rd May, 13th June, 20th June, 27th June, 29th August.

“Falcons” (human buildings)

These groups make human shape formations such as pyramids, revolving towers, etc. Some of the structures can be pretty intricate. The music, as in the castells, is always present, although they do not go as high up as the human towers.

Dates: 16th May, 30th May, 4th July, 18th July, 15th August.

“Gegants” (Giants)

These are large papier-mâché figures that walk around the streets. A real person is carrying it from under the skirt and different giants represent different neighbourhoods or associations. It is quite amazing to see these Goliath figures performing their own individual dances.

Dates: 23rd May, 6th June, 20th June, 4th July, 18th July, 8th August, 15th August, 22nd August, 29th August.

“Bastoners” (stick dancers)

I love this very ceremonial dance using sticks. It derives from a demonstration of skills with weapons in the old times. Small wooden bats are used in the jig but you still have to be pretty deft not to get your fingers clobbered.

Dates: 25th July, 8th August.

“Sardanas”, “Moixigangas”, etc (traditional dances)

The most traditional dance in Catalonia is the Sardana. Everyone forms a circle holding hands as they trace their steps. Not so fashionable anymore with the younger generation, this jig is mainly performed by the proud golden oldies. During this festival, you will see older and younger together though.

Dates: 9th May, 30th May, 13th June, 27th June.

Calendar of events for the Catalan Festival 2018:

9th May

Moixiganga de Barcelona (dance)
Moixiganga de Vilafranca del Penedès (dance)
Ball de Panderetes de Vilafranca del Penedès (dance)

16th May

Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia (human towers)
Castellers de Rubí (human towers)
Falcons de Barcelona (giants)

23rd May

Castellers de la Sagrada Família (human towers)
Castelers i Mixiganguers d’Igualada (human towers)
Gegants Ramon i Lola del Raval (giants)

30th May

Falcons de Barcelona (human buildings)
Falcons de Llorenç del Penedès (human buildings)
Esbar Català de Dansaires (dance)

6th June

Special “Festes del Pi” (giants)

13th June (5:30 pm)

Aplec Sardanistes de les Violetes del Bosc (dance)

20th June

Castellers Xicots de Vilafranca (human towers)
Gegants de Gràcia (giants)
Gegants de Montbau (giants)

27th June

Castellers Colla Jove de Barcelona (human towers)
Castellers de Castellar (human towers)
Colla Jove de Vilafranca (human towers)
Grup Sardanista Mare Nostrum (dance)

4th July

Falcons de Barcelona (human buildings)
Falcons de la Vilanova d’Espolla (human buildings)
Gegants de la Barceloneta (giants)

11th July

Esbart de Sant Martí (dance)

18th July

Falcons de Barcelona (human towers)
Falcons de Piera (human buildings)
Gegants de Sant Pere de les Puel·les (giants)

25th July

Bastoners del Raval (stick dancers)
Bastoners de Gràcia (stick dancers)
Bastoners de Gavà (stick dancers)
Colla Jove Bastoners de Castelldefells (stick dancers)

1st August

Esbart de Sant Martí (dance)

8th August

Special Gràcia Festival (stick dancers, giants, etc)

15th August

Falcons de Barcelona (human buildings)
Falcons de Vilanova i la Geltrú (human buildings)
Gegants i Nan Cu-Cut de la Plaça nova (giants)

22nd August

Ballets de Catalunya (dance & music)
Gegants de Sant Jaume (giants)

29th August

Castellers de Barcelona (human towers)
Castellers Brivalls de Cornudella (human towers)
Gegants del Cas Antic (giants)

Photographs by Alessandra Pezzotta, DavNava, tierra de barrenaus, Stasiu Tomczak, Ajuntament d’Esplugues de Llobregat and David Spender