The timetable for the August 2009 Gracia festival has now been published.  You can download it at the official site here, although it is in catalan only.

As promised, however, the key events (in English) are:

• Castellers – the human castle competitions:  Tuesday 18th at 10.30am and (the main event) 8.30pm on Thursday 20th August. The Castellers will be in the Placa de la Vila de Gracia, which until very recently was called Placa Rius i Taulet (it still appears on most maps that way).  Map here.
• Parade of giants and other participants – from 12.45 pm onwards, Saturday 15th August. The parade weaves through various streets, but also at least touches on Placa de la Vila de Gracia too.
• Carrefoc – a fireworks inspired march through the streets, headed by a flaming dragon.  From 10pm on Friday 21st August.  The Carrefoc starts at Placa Trilla, near Fontana metro, then goes via Placa del Nord, Placa del Diamant, Placa del Sol and ends up at the Placa de la Vila de Gracia.

These are just the highlights – there are hundreds of other, more local, street events going on over the week. Download the guide or pick one up from any of the squares during the festival.

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One of the highlights of the year in Spanish towns and villages is the annual fiesta – from the famous bull run of Pamplona to the crazy tomato throwing festival in Bunyol, Valencia, each has it’s own unique character and flavour.  The neighbourhoods of Barcelona (towns in their own right before the expansion of Barcelona a mere 200 years ago) are no exception and Gracia, with it’s young, party-loving vibe, has long been the best.

The Festa Major de Gracia takes place this year 15th – 20th August.  The streets themselves are elabourately and colourfully decorated, the residents competing for prizes at the end of the week, and a huge range of events are staged, most involving large quantities of food and drink. Read more »

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Ahh, the romance of it – roses, a gallant knight defeating the dragon for the beautiful princess and … er, well, books.

Yes, it’s San Jordi’s (that’s Saint George’s to the rest of us) day on Thursday (23rd) in Catalunya. According to local legend, it was actually here that the dragon was slayed, in order to save a beautiful princess who was next on the list to be offered up as a sacrifice.  Where the dragon’s blood spilled a rose bush sprang.

So the tradition is that the ladies all receive a red rose.

Just to mix things up a bit with this date, though, it’s also the day that both Cervantes and Shakespeare died.  So, the boys are all bought a book by their loved ones.

Confused or not, there is none of the cynicism that greetsValentine’s Day back home – it is a tradition that is followed by almost everyone here, from 3 year olds buying their mum’s a rose up to senior citizens getting dressed up and braving the hoards in the book and rose stalls on Passeig de Gracia and Rambla de Catalunya.

So get yourself out and buy something for the significant other – and if there isn’t one, boys grab a rose and make a girl’s day and girls, there’s no shortage of men doing just that.

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