La Merçè: Correfocs i Gegants
A couple weeks ago my friends and I woke up early to
see the parade of Gegants and Castellers during La Merçè. It
was amazing and I have never seen anything remotely like it all my life! I love how much passion and enthusiasm the
Catalan people have for their traditional holidays, and although I too see that
in America, there is still something different and unique about it here. The Gegants were so elegantly crafted I could
tell whoever was behind their creation spent a lot of time and dedication. On top of that, the musicians who played in
the parade alongside the props were also very talented and complimented the
festival very well. However I think my favorite
part of La Merçè were the Castellers
that performed in Plaça Sant Jaume right in-between the government and historical
buildings. They amazed me with their
bravery, especially the very young children, including girls, who climbed to
the very top to be the centerpiece of the whole manmade structure. I could not believe my eyes when I saw how
many levels high they grew to, and it was something that pictures fail to do it
justice. I am so happy I decided to stay
in Barcelona for that weekend because I think that for me, a non-native of the
area, I am unsure I will ever see it again in person. The whole festival made me really appreciate
Catalan culture and understand how deep its connections are with histories
past. Hopefully I will continue seeing
other spectacles similar to these before I leave Barcelona this semester!
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