TRADITIONS-GIRONA

Catalonia enjoys a great wealth of customs and traditions, with religious and local festivities bringing life, fun and entertainment to the squares and streets throughout the year.

The sardana is the national Catalan folkdance. It is danced in a circle to the music of typical brass band instruments. The bastoners stick dance and the jota of the Ebro area are other popular dances while the habaneras, from the coast, recall the past from overseas colonies.

Another very important cultural example is the building of human castles - a custom that started in Tarragona and which has spread to other parts of the country. The groups of castellers compete to build castles with the best structure and greatest height, sometimes up to nine storeys, crowned with the enxaneta - a small child who climbs up to the very top and raises his or her arm while the crow sounds.

A perfect combination of sentiment and culture is the celebration of St George's day, San Juan in Catalan - the patron saint of Catalonia. Every 23 April, the streets fill with flowers and books to celebrate Catalonia's national day of St George. Traditionally, young men give a rose as a token of their love to their loved one, who responds with a book.

A few days later, on 27 April, Catalonia's female patron saint is also honoured: The Mother of God of Montserrat.

On the shortest night of the year - 23 June, coinciding with the summer solstice - a massive night party is held on the eve of St John's Day (San Juan).  It is when the sun is highest in the sky and bonfires are burnt in villages and towns everywhere - according to tradition, they keep away the demons, illness and misfortune. Fireworks are let off and a traditional pizza-like, sweet cake called coca is eaten with a glass or two of cava.

The Christmas parties – extending from Christmas through New Year to Epiphany – are strongly celebrated in our country, especially between families. The same goes for Easter with the representations of the passions and Passover.