Thursday 28 August 2008

ENG: The Festa Major Program of Vilafranca del Penedès in English

Today the Festa Major administrators of Vilafanca del Penedès have finally published the program in Catalan for the celebration of Sant Fèlix, August 29 to September 2. Following the links to earlier editions I see that, before, efforts were made to guide foreigners to a presentation of the main events in English, but it seems that this stopped after 2005.

That is a pity for many reasons. Firstly, because this is Catalonia's most typical Festa Major (hence, "la més típica"). Secondly, because on Saturday at 12.30, Vilafranca will probably offer the best show of human towers (castells) to be seen this summer. The town’s Plaça de la Vila does, after all, claim to the best one for castellers (la més castellera) and since the local Castellers de Vilafranca has the support of other equally famous colles (the Minyons de Terrassa, Colla Vella dels Xiquets de Valls and Colla Joves Xiquets de Valls) we can expect towers with up to nine levels.

I will not make a full translation of the program into English, but have up-dated my Festa Major glossary with the new expressions I have learnt today, above all the names of dances: ball de cotonines, ball de figuetaires and ball de malcasats etc. With a beginners’ level of Spanish (or any other Romance language) and this support, you will be able to decipher what can be seen where and when.

If you currently visit the Costa Daurada (Costa Dorada, in Spanish) as a tourist, I warmly recommend you the festival of Vilafranca. From Sitges, Cubelles or Cunit you easily get there via the road C-15 from Vilanova. The drive is fast but I suggest that you start early. Parking will be scarce and – “since Catalonia is not Spain”, as many locals would tell you – the acts usually start more or less on time.

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Technorati tags: Catalonia, Festa, Penedès

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