Patum de Berga

Patum de Berga or La Patum is a traditional festival which is celebrated every year in the Catalan city of Berga in Corpus Christi. It consists of several performances with mythical and symbolic figures who dance to the beat of a large drum and live music. There are also fire and pyrotechnics are used.

In 1983 it was declared by the Generalitat de Catalunya for hard of national interest, since 2005 it is part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO.

Figures

  • El tabal ( The Drum)
  • Turcs i Cavallets ( Turks and horse )
  • Les Mace ( the lobes)
  • Les Guites ( The Mules )
  • L' Àliga ( The Eagles )
  • Els Nans Vells ( The old dwarfs )
  • Els Gegants ( The Giant )
  • Els Nans Nous ( New Dwarves )
  • Els Plens ( The " Plens " )

Origin and Meaning

La Patum was the end of the 14th century, a popular religious event that is documented since 1525.

At noon on the Wednesday before Corpus Christi pull El tabal and Els Gegants ( the giants) through all the streets of the city. They announce the beginning of the festivities from tomorrow until Sunday. The majority of events are performances that represent, for example, the struggle of Christians against the Muslims and the Battle of Archangel Michael against Lucifer and his demons. On Friday after Corpus Christi a similar event for the children of the city takes place.

Joan Amades, a Catalan writer writes in his book Costumari Català ( Catalan customs, 1950-1956 ) that you find nowhere else to Corpus Christi Feierlichtkeiten as in Berga. He finds that the ancient processional dances that make up the festival have " glory and a huge vitality ". The dances can be the meaning of the feast with regard to the Eucharist behind. It sees it as a unique performance of popular theater. He says that nowhere else in the country the old dances were so harmonious and spektakuläere unit. He thinks that these dances in must be viewed against the background of the simplicity of street theater and the few means, the people had for these performances are available.

In 1955, wrote the Catalan writer Manuel Riu, that La Patum a mimic and rhythmic, sacred drama, whether that is developing at an outdoor space and be a precursor of the modern theater.

Anthropologists and folklore specialists have also dealt with the festival.

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