Festa Major de Sant Genís dels Agudells

Activity dates

Dates de celebració

Second fortnight in June in the Sant Genís dels Agudells neighbourhood, Horta-Guinardó district

Horta - Guinardó

Description

Sant Genís dels Agudells is a neighbourhood in the Horta-Guinardó district. It is famous for its Romanesque church which is one of the oldest on the Barcelona plain. Situated on the slopes of the Collserola range, in the 10th century the  Sant Genís settlement was small group of farmhouses. In fact, until the second half of the 20th century it was a predominantly rural neighbourhood. Since then, it has undergone an urban transformation which has over-reached its possibilities.

The neighbourhood's three-day-long festa major, the main festival is held in June and includes all kinds of activities: community meals, festival dances, events for children and young people, sports competitions and itineraries around the neighbourhood to discover its heritage. Even though there are not many specialist groups, popular culture is present in the festival, in the form of dance exhibitions and havanera singing.

About festivities

Highlights

Cercavila procession. On the Friday afternoon, many of the neighbourhood's associations take to the streets in the cercavila procession that opens the festa major. The parade reaches Casa Groga, where the proclamation is read and a firework, known as the txupinazo, is let off.

Cantada d’havaneres and traca. On the last day of the festival, there is a recital of havaneres, songs which originated in Cuba. In the interval, flaming rum is given out to the people who have come to watch and there is a draw for a basket of food. To bring the celebrations to a close, at midnight a traca, a long string of firecrackers, is let off.

Supplementary information

Organisers

Associació de Veïns de Sant Genís dels Agudells.