Experience La Merce In Barcelona
Considered Barcelona’s most important festival, La Mercè or La Mare de Déu de la Mercè (The Merciful Mother of God), this festival began in 1871, when the local government first organized a program of special activities to observe the Roman Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Mercy.
The year 1902 saw a new impetus to the celebrations, with parades containing the first appearance in Catalonia of the “giants”, the first castellers competition and the importation from the Emporda region, of a dance that was spreading throughout Catalonia: the Sardana. The holiday has enjoyed immense local popularity ever since.
The festival is possibly the best of all Barcelona’s festivals, of which there are many (Festa de Gracia, Festa de Sants, Festa de San Joan, Festa Major) and has many special features including a large book market around Plaza Catalunya and Passeig de Gracia, selling books in Spanish, Catalan and English. Make sure you book your apartments in Barcelona or Barcelona hotels in time to see it all.
Needless to say, this festival is celebrated with fireworks in the streets and on one particular night, a special event called the “correfoc” takes place. Here, people climb inside paper mache dragons and dress up as devils, then proceed to chase the crowds hissing sparklers, waving hand held fireworks and setting off bangers. It’s highly recommended to book your accommodation Barcelona early, wear protective clothing to this, as some of us actually know what it feels like to have a firework explode in our faces!
The festival will also see timeless traditions take place such as the castellers and the Giants Parade, which are giant figures made from paper mache and wood, great pride has been taken in repairing and maintaining the old giants from the start of the century and bringing them up to date. Representing a king and queen, a moor and people from the local population, there are roughly ten giants in total, standing at 15 feet high and they are paraded through the streets, looming over the crowds in twos and swaying along in their fantastically bright clothes, carrying shining mirrors and wearing hats. This parade typically takes place towards the end of the festival and is immensely popular, make sure you get there early on to get a good spot in the crowd. (23rd to 24th) This parade of giants began as a tribute to King James I, to commemorate the anniversary of his arrival and conquest of Mallorca which happened on 8th September 1229. It was celebrated for the first time in 1929, coinciding with his 700th birthday.
