Saint George’s Day (Sant Jordi)

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What tradition did I learn about?:

A new tradition that I learned about associated with this day is called castells, or "human towers". On the Day of Sant Jordi, several groups of of people get together and parade around Tarragona with a band playing traditional music and all wearing traditional costumes consisting of white pants, a collared shirt with the respective group's emblem, a black sash and a red bandana. After the whole parade is over, all the groups have a meeting point in front of the city town hall where they gather and delight all the audience by building human towers using men, women and small children. The human towers are formed by castellers standing on the shoulders of one another in a succession of six to ten stages. Each level of the tronc, the name given to the second level upwards, generally comprises two to five heavier built men supporting younger, lighter-weight boys or girls. The pom de dalt, the three uppermost levels of the tower, comprises young children. Anyone is welcome to form the c, the throng that supports the base of the tower.

 

Why does the community have this tradition?:

The tradition of castells originated towards the end of the 18th century in the Tarragona area, specifically in the town of Valls, derived from the popular dance called Ball de Valencians, which ended precisely with the erection of a human tower.

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