L’Alt Penedès is a land which preserves its festivities and traditions. One could say the same of any other region in the country, probably of any region in the world, but we would highlight that in this region folklore is particularly rich and rooted. It has sometimes been said that the most intense festivities in Catalonia are the ones of La Patum in Berga and the Town Festivity of Vilafranca. They have always been very active and important, with great participation from the people, even in the recent dark years of our history.  The Town Festivity of Vilafranca is really exceptional: it has the best passacaglia in the country, with the same cadence year after year where up to 20 dancers participate. Those people who want to witness the magic of the popular festivity most intensely should not miss the entrance of Sant Fèlix on 30^th August at night time. On the same day it is also worth seeing the human towers, one of the most passionate and emotive experiences in the local culture.

The Vilafranca festivity model is reproduced – on an appropriate scale- throughout the region, in the boroughs and neighbourhoods. All of them have the giants’ dance, the correfoc (devils with fireworks) and most typically a day when the human towers are the centre of attention. All these elements are still alive, although their origins are very old. The Dragon of Vilafranca – along with the one from Olot - is the oldest dragon still preserved in Catalonia. Nowadays almost every town has its own dragons and giants. The “devils” (type of fireworks) have also seen an important expansion. One of the most attractive dances, very wide spread in the Penedès region, is Bastons: there are 10 registered groups in L’Alt Penedès, and Baix Penedès has 2 that are among the oldest, the ones from L’Arboç and Llorenç. The Falcons were recuperated in this town and then the Vilafranca ones were created. They have caused a revolution in the model and now there are also Falcons in Puigdàlber and Sant Sadurní. The aforementioned human towers are one of the most outstanding symbols of identity and integration in Catalan culture. Born in Valls, in the nearby region of Camp they were quickly accepted by the inhabitants of the Penedès region. Nowadays there are 2 human tower groups in Vilafranca:  Els Castellers, founded in 1948, and Els Xicots, founded in 1982. The “colla degana”, called “Els Verds” is one of the most outstanding in the country with an evaluation study (published in 2002 by Josep Bargalló - the present Conseller d’Ensenyament from the Generalitat) considering it to be the best group of the 20th century.  

If you would like more information about Human Towers, please download the following PDF documents about Human Towers Events:

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Apart from the town festivities there are other manifestations of popular culture that are worth mentioning, such as gatherings at church or important places which take place on Easter Monday and some other days. Els vots de poble – such as the ones from Olesa or Vilobí - also have a marked religious origin. For example, Christmas nativity scenes represented by people – such as in Gunyoles (Avinyonet) – children’s fairs – such as in Mediona - and the Three Kings parades, which are celebrated everywhere (in Castellví the kings come down from Castellot). In Sant Quintí and La Gornal there is “Els Tres Tombs” festivity. The celebrations of the Sant Sadurní neighbourhood are also very popular during the Corpus festivity.  Then there are other kinds of festivities related to the world of agriculture. The Must Festivity is gaining importance year after year in towns such as Sant Cugat, La Múnia or La Ràpita. The February  Carnival  is also an important festivity in towns such as Pla, Riudebitlles, Moja, etc. 

The fairs have always been a combination of commerce and festivity. The fairs of Sant Sadurni, in September, have remarkable importance and include the Filoxera Festivity. In October there is the Cavataste fair held in the same week as the Cava Week. In Vilafranca, we need to highlight the May fairs – which have a general commercial interest - and the renowned Cockerel Fair celebrated on the Sunday prior to Christmas. In Els Monjos there is a medieval fair in May and in the remains of Castellet they celebrate the medieval autumn market. Finally, we need to mention Firamercat in Sant Pere Molanta (June) and the traditional, handmade crafts fair in Torrelles (October).

Some festivities are really unique, such as the escudella of Santa Llúcia in Gelida or the soup kitchen for the poor in Sant Pere de Riudebitlles, as well as “bread gathering” which takes place in the church of La Salut in Gelida and in the Fontsanta of the Subirats Castle.  Among the most recent celebrations we need to mention Cavajazz in Guardiola de Font-Rubí. In La Granada they have transformed an old evil legend into a festivity where a fake donkey comes down from the bell tower.  There are also festivities which have their origin in protest, such as the Correllengua, celebrated in September which goes around different towns, and the Terrazel in Sant Llorenç d’Hortons, in August, a new festivity which seeks to promote the values of nature in an entertaining and imaginative surrounding.