The Festival of Sant Medir is every kids’ dream. In Catalan, it is called dolça festa, or “sweet festival.” The festival occurs on March 3rd every year in the neighborhood of Gracia., home of one of Gaudí’s most iconic creations, Casa Vicens. What is so special about this festival that brings so many kids and families to the streets? Let’s start with the history.
History of Sant Medir
Medir was a peasant who lived in the Collserola mountains outside of Barcelona. One day, the Bishop of Barcelona escaped the city as christians were being persecuted. On his escape, he ran into Medir, who was sowing his beans. The bishop told Medir why he was running, that he was not afraid to die for his faith and that Medir should tell the truth to whoever asked. As the Bishop said this, Medir’s beans began to grow.
When the Bishop’s pursuers asked Medir if he had seen the bishop, Medir told them the truth, that he had seen the bishop when he was sowing his beans. The men thought that Medir was making fun of them and hiding the Bishop, as there was no way that his beans could have grown so much in such a short amount of time. The men arrested and ultimately killed Medir. Now, there is a chapel with his name in the mountains.
History of the Festival of Sant Medir
The festival of Sant Medir begins with the baker Josep Vidal i Grandés, who had his bakery on Gran de Gracia. He vowed to make the pilgrimage to Sant Medir if he recovered from his illness. One year, he did recover and was able to keep his promise. When he returned to the city, he threw beans to people in honor of the saint. Over time, more people joined him on the pilgrimage and the beans turned into sweets.
Today, the festival brings kids and families out to the streets in droves. Over sixty tons of sweets are used in the parade each year! People bring backpacks, tote bags and even umbrellas to try to catch as much candy as they can.
Organization
The parade is organized in colles. Each colles, or group, is led by the cos de bandera, which is three riders on horseback with a banner naming the colla. Following are people on horses, or in carriages or floats and a band. Almost everyone in the parade, from the horseback riders, to the people in floats, have lots of candy to throw into the crowd.
During the parade, you’re either holding up your bag for the people marching to throw candy into, or you’re picking up the candy scattered on the ground as a band passes by.
Family Friendly
Children are a central part of the festival! Families bring their kids to enjoy the music and catch candy. You’ll see kids throwing candy from floats and kids playing in the marching bands! It is one of Barcelona’s best festivals for kids, but you can read about other family-friendly festivals in Barcelona here.
There is plenty of room to bring a stroller to the parade. If the candy isn’t enough, there are plenty of bakeries and restaurants nearby to grab a bite to eat. Check out our article on the best places to grab a snack with your kids in the city. Additionally, if the noise and crowds get to be too much for your child, the streets just a block over are silent and empty. It’s very easy to take a breather away from the crowds, if necessary.
Other Traditions
Besides the parade at night with the sweets, Sant Medir is celebrated in other ways. There is a floral offering at the Monument to the Colles, a group hike and the ever-popular Catalan tradition, castellers, or human towers.
Pro-tips:
- The parade starts at 8, but arrive earlier to get a good spot
- If you’re really looking for a good haul of candy, bring an umbrella and hold it stem-up when the floats come by
- Try the traditional treat of Sant Medir, Tortell de Sant Medir. It’s a rounded shape, with marzipan on top, and hides a small bean inside, in reference to the Saint
- Read more about the schedule here.
Have a great time at Sant Medir with your kids, and tell us how much candy you caught!
