Barcelona Apartments - Akaza Holiday Apartments in Barcelona

Carnival, which is also in Barcelona, is the time of joy, exuberance, before Ash Wednesday when the 46-day long lent to Easter begins. Carnival, in Catalonia is celebrated as in Central Europe. The celebration is about the season of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. (In Eastern Rite Catholic churches, Lent begins two days earlier, on clean Monday. One disguises oneself, there are carnival events and parades, which are almost as colorful as in Cologne or Mainz (Germany). And the bars are full of locals and tourists.

Fasting and abstinence are required during these days, why do not you celebrate the first part of the fasting here in one of the most beautiful city by one of our wonderful apartment at Akaza – www.akaza.net

The special costumes, the typical disguises and wizards make this carnival so worth seeing. Also, children will love the carnival in Barcelona.

If you tend to dislike carnivals and would like to take refuge from the clownish goings, we can relax you. In Barcelona, El Carnival is not as ubiquitous as in other main cities.

The carnival begins in Spain with "Dirty Thursday", in Barcelona this day is called Jueves Ladero - Greasy Thursday, or Dijous Gras in Catalan. This day is dedicated to the "Greasy" and "Vice" and celebrated with many festivals in which vast amounts are eaten as the last Thursday before the fast would begin.

The weekend belongs to the Carnival Guilds. Highlight is the Gran Rue, the big carnival Parade (see below) with loads of colourful decorated carriages and carnival Groups.

On Ash Wednesday the carnival comes to an end with the funeral of the sardine. The King of Carnival dies and is buried in his grave in a funeral cortège, accompanied by his widow and companions - the colourful costumes are appropriately exchanged to black mourning clothes.
Traditionally, on this day fish is eaten.

The 11th September is the national day of Catalonia. The Catalan National Day - La Diada Nacional de Catalunya commemorates the fall of Barcelona during the War of Spanish Succession in 1714 resulting in Catalonia losing much autonomy. This day was officially proclaimed as Catalonia's national day in 1980 by the restored Generalitat de Catalunya.

There had been an ongoing war after the death of the Spanish king Charles II when the Bourbon and Hapsburg dynasties challenged each other for the Spanish throne. The Catalans had sided with the ultimately losing Hapsburgs and were punished by Philip V on his succession; on defeat the Catalan national identity was attacked in punishment.Catalan laws, language and traditions were abolished; the celebrations on 11 September therefore represent the region’s historic fight for independence and its hopes for regaining its own nationality

The centre of the celebration is the Generalitat, the Catalan government, in Placa Sant Jaume. An important tradition is laying flowers at the monument of Rafael Casanova, leader of the Catalan resistance at the time of their defeat and a symbol of the Catalan´s ongoing fight

Activities take place all over the city, with the dancing of the sardana, castellers displays (human towers),much singing of the Catalan national anthem Els Segadors, and the Catalan flag senyeras being displayed from balconies, buses and even worn by the very enthusiastic.The deceased heroes of the war are venerated all year round by an eternal flame in the square just next to Santa Maria del Mar, known as the Fossar de les Moeres, placed on the site of their grave.  

When autumn arrives to Barcelona, it brings a unique event with it; the fiesta de la Merce. The festival used to be a religious happening, but nowadays it is a popular fiesta with not much to do with religion. However, the name Merce comes from the patron saint of Barcelona.

If you happen to be in Barcelona during one week in the late September, you definitely shouldn’t miss La Merce. One part of the popularity and tradition is that the festival itself was forbidden in Catalunya during the Franco time.

One part of the festival is the “giants” who walk in and around the city. They are several meters tall figures with large heads. If that is not enough for you, be sure not to miss the castellers, which means people who gather together to build big human towers. That’s right, a tower made of people, many meters tall. Also you can spot dragons and people with firecrackers so don’t forget to be aware of the fire! Although, if you are not afraid, you can join the party.

A more “normal” side of this festival is the various musical performances which will take place on many of the town squares. Finally, to conclude the week there will be a fireworks opera, which means shooting some spectacular rockets to the air while the speakers play different songs to accompany the light show.

Where will all this take place? All over the city. What’s the price? Free. When will it happen? The dates for La Mercé 2011 are Thursday 22^nd September until Sunday 25^th September.

For more information, check out the official website: http://www.bcn.cat/merce/en/index.shtml

This year the Fiesta Major de Gracia will be organized the 15^th- 21^st August. The festival is one of the biggest events of summer every year in the middle of August. You can find open air concerts, fireworks, beer and cava, and the amazingly decorated streets of the district of Gracia. It is open to the public so you do not need tickets to enjoy the special atmosphere of the bohemian district of Gracia.

Gracia was an independent, small city until the end of the XIX. century. In spite of the protest of the local habitants it became the part of Barcelona in 1898. Nowadays, it is famous about being the district of immigrants and hundreds of small intimate streets.

The Fiesta Major de Gracia derives from the years when the district lost its independency. Originally the festival had a religious meaning but soon it lost its religious nature and became a simple street festival with games and dances.

The decoration of the streets and the contest between them – the main element of the festival – is coming from 1920. It was the first year when the neighbours organized a competition between themselves and their decorated streets. Today the participants are working on the decoration of the streets during the whole year and use recycled materials. To win the prize of the best decorated street necessitates hard work and creativity. Every street has to choose a theme.

Some useful information:

·         During the weekend the metro will be open 24 hours.

·         To get to Gracia you can take the metro to Fontana – this metro stop will land you right at the heart of Gracia and from there you can start exploring. 

·         Dates: Monday 15 August 2011 to Sunday 21 August 2011

For the full program check: www.festamajordegracia.cat

Organisers of Gracia Festival:
Federació Festa Major de Gràcia
Tel. 93 459 30 80
Fax. 93 207 63 80
info@festamajordegracia.cat
 
Festa de Gracia office:
Carrer de  Igualada, 10
08012  Vila de Gràcia
Office hours: Monday, Wednesday & Friday from 17:30 to 21:00

Make sure that you do not miss one the most famous events in Barcelona. Enjoy the cavas, the wonderful streets and the atmosphere of the special barrio of Gracia!