Els Indians is a neighbourhood in the district of Sant Andreu that owes its name to a small group of 19th century houses built for immigrants who had made their fortunes in the Americas (nicknamed indianos).

The Antic Barri dels Indians festival association is in charge of organising the annual festa major, which is held during the week of the La Mercè festival.

Some of the highlights include the “brotherhood supper” for the festival association members, the correfoc (fire run), the pregó (opening speech), a popular bike ride, folk dancing, the senior citizens’ breakfast, the cercavila de gegants (giants’ procession), the concert offered by the Roquetes Nou Barris municipal band, the festival dance, havaneras (romantic, seafarers’ ballads) with cremat (rum punch) and the fireworks display.

Origins:

The first festa major was held in 1984 and now most of the events are held on C/ Jordi de Sant Jordi. The 1987 festival saw the first performance of ‘La Sardana dels Indians’, the neighbourhood anthem. A local resident, Juan Guirao, wrote the words and a master sardana dancer, Tomàs Gil i Membrado, composed the music. A couple of decades later, in 2008, the City Council awarded the organisers Barcelona’s Medal of Honour to mark the 25th anniversary of the festival.