POSTED Feb 13, 2024
Feb 09, 2024 The Santa Eulàlia Festival
“The Santa Eulàlia Festival, the winter festival of Barcelona, is for all the family. During these magical days, tribute is paid to the brave Laia, the girl who rebelled to defend her aims. For the city of Barcelona, this girl was a symbol of solidarity, in defence of justice and commitment to young people. Santa Eulàlia and la Mare de Déu de la Mercè are co-patron saints of Barcelona” (from the Festival web site).
There are various events to celebrate the Festival in Barcelona from Feb 9 to Feb 12. We set out Friday evening to the Plaҫa de Santa Jaume to see what was happening. Many people were doing the same thing. There was already a crowd in the plaza when we arrived. There were also a few figures when we got there. The figures/giants there were a Royal couple, a lion, and an eagle in the square. It appears that there are various organizations that take part in the Festival. Each group handled one or two giants. There were at least two very small musical groups that were basically a drum and horn corp. There were also a squad of people for each figure. Each figure was carried by one person at a time, but there were multiple people attached to each figure. When the figures stopped the person carrying each figure was changed. Eventually the band started playing and marching. There was also a crew dressed in old military uniforms carrying ancient muskets. I wasn’t recording when they shot off the guns one at a time. They were very LOUD. The figures, bands and most of the people set off on a march, and we went along. The destination was the Basilica of Santa Maria del Mar. The giants and the bands marched around the Basilica, we went inside to get a seat on the main aisle. We heard the bands playing and the muskets firing as they all marched. The military guys led the march into the church, then came the eagle accompanied by its handlers, then the lion and its handlers were next. Then came the King and Queen. The King got me with his cape, but no harm done. The giants all took positions at both aisles at the front of the church. The priest came out and made a very short speech. Then the whole parade marched back out of the church. We followed them for a bit, and then went back home.
No comments:
Post a Comment