Barcelona is no stranger to a celebration, but its winter festival, Festes de Santa Eulàlia might be one of the city’s most spectacular. The Catalonia tradition is to celebrate the Festas Majors, its best and most beloved festivals. Today, we’ll talk about Santa Eulalia, but you can learn about the others here.
History of Saint Eulalia
Santa Eulalia is one of the two patron saints of the city. The other is Our Lady of Mercy, or La Mercè, who is celebrated in the summer. As the story goes, Eulalia was a girl who lived in the city in Roman times, just as Christianity was spreading to the Iberian Peninsula. Eulalia, at just thirteen years old, was a devoted Christian. She refused to give up her faith to please the emperor. For this, the Roman rulers of the city tortured her in thirteen different ways. In the end, she became a martyr. They say that when she died, a white dove flew from her neck, confirming her entrance into heaven. She is the namesake of the Barcelona Cathedral and was the lone patron saint of the city until the 1600s.
Festival of Santa Eulalia
The festival occurs over four days, February 7-9 and February 12th. In Barcelona, the kids don’t only watch, they participate! The activities intentionally engage the youth of the city with their culture and traditions.
Protocols de l’Àliga
The most solemn and profound event of the festival, the city’s bronze eagle statue leads the procession from Plaza de Sant Jaume to Santa Maria del Mar. The parade ends with the Eagle’s dance, which is performed in front of the altar in the Basilica.
We can trace the Eagle’s history back hundreds of years. In the 14th century, its dance was one of the highest honors a visitor could achieve. It disappeared in the 18th century due to restrictions placed on Catalonia after the Spanish Civil War. The city recovered it in the 20th, due to the Project for Recovering the Festival Imagery of Old Barcelona.
Exhibition of the Small Giants
As a way to engage them in the festival, children carry the giants that come out for Barcelona’s major festivals. They parade the colorful and unique figures through the city for all to admire. The kids love to watch this bright and fun parade. Make sure you arrive early to get a good spot!
Sardana Dance
This tradition is a must-see for visitors! Sardana, the traditional Catalan dance is performed several times throughout the festivities, over the weekend and on the final day. On Sunday morning, the kids are the stars! The show highlights the kids who love to perform their national dance. The dance is performed again, in Plaça Sant Jaume on the final night of Santa Eulalia after the sun sets. The live band starts playing to everyone’s delight. Next, people form circles spontaneously, dancing in celebration of their beloved patroness.
Correfoc
The correfoc, literally translated to “fire run” features people dressed in fantastical costumes. They run and dance to the beat of the drums featuring lots of pyrotechnics. There are two separate correfoc parades. The local children lead the earlier, kid-friendly correfoc. Always be sure to keep an eye on your kids in the crowd. Most importantly, practice basic fire safety to ensure a good experience. Above all, this fan-favorite tradition is sure to dazzle.
Castells
It wouldn’t be a Catalan festival without human towers! Perhaps one of the best known Catalan traditions, the castells are always show-stoppers. Your child will be in awe as the towers are built and deconstructed. What’s more, there are even kids as young as five or six climbing to the very top!
The dates for the festival vary every year, but you can always check the official Barcelona website for the most up to date information. The program is easy to navigate, so you can pick and choose which events you want to go to, and plan time to get lunch! Santa Eulalia is perfect for kids to experience the unique culture and traditions of Barcelona. Make sure you don’t miss out on one of Barcelona’s biggest celebrations!
