The tradition of the caramelles

Súria

On April 4th and 5th, the streets of Súria, in the Bages region, will once again be filled with music, dance, and tradition. Hundreds of caramellers of all ages, grouped into various ensembles, will fill the town's streets in a tradition passed down from generation to generation. The caramellers of Súria have been documented since the 16th century and, since 2016, have been included in the Catalogue of Festive Heritage of Catalonia. Some carameller groups complement their musical performances with Catalan dances, as bell and stick dances are deeply rooted in Súria. Also present are the trabucaires, characteristic figures of the caramellers in this town since the 18th century. Easter Sunday is the main day of the festival, but it begins on Saturday with the groups visiting the surrounding farmhouses and the carameller gathering, which takes place in the evening.

You can't lose...

The Súria Mining Interpretation Centre is a must-see to discover the town's mining past, when potash extraction was the main activity. It's located in Súria's old town (Poble Vell), where it's also worth exploring the streets, which retain the charm of their medieval past.

Cardona

This municipality in the Bages region defines its Caramelles festival as "a song in spring." This year it will take place on April 4th and 5th. The Caramellaires de Pagès, the Caramellaires de la Coromina, and the Colla Jove are the main groups of the festival. They sing through the historic center of Cardona and in one of the four rural neighborhoods that dot the outskirts of the town. Each year they visit a different neighborhood. On Sunday morning, they sing through the streets of Cardona until, later, the Town Hall becomes the meeting point for all the Caramelles groups. The event concludes with a final joint performance by the Caramellaires. Sardana de CardonaDuring the singing, the bell dance also takes center stage. This dance has been documented in the municipality since the late 19th century, always linked to the Easter tradition.

You can't lose...

The historic center and the Cardona Museum are essential to understanding the charm of this town. But don't miss the Salt Mountain, a site that years ago was one of the most important potash mines in the world. Visit it with the little ones and experience it in a whole new light!

Solsona

On Easter Sunday and Monday, the traditional Catalan song processions, known as "caramelles," fill the streets of Solsona, led by the Orfeó Nova Solsona and Esplai Riallera choirs. Accompanied by a musical group, they offer their songs to residents and visitors alike. The Trabucaires (traditional Catalan rifles) and the Cobla Juvenil Ciudad de Solsona (a local youth band) also participate, along with the town's traditional dance group, Esbart. As in other towns, the singers are dressed in traditional Catalan attire. On Sunday, the procession begins at the Casal de Cultura (cultural center) and then makes stops in some of the busiest streets and squares of the Solsonès capital. On Easter Monday, the procession moves to some of the surrounding neighborhoods and the Vinyet district.

You can't lose...

At number 37 Sant Llorenç Street is the Quarto dels Gigantes (Giants' Room), the space that houses most of the giant figures used in the Corpus Christi procession and the Solsona Festival. Other must-see places worth visiting include the Episcopal Palace, the Solsona Museum, and the Pou de Gel (Ice Well), among many others.

Saint Martin of Tous

In this municipality of Anoia, the tradition of the Caramelles dates back to the late 19th century, when a group of musicians and singers joined the tradition of singing sardanas and other folk songs through the streets and squares of the town on Easter Sunday. Currently, the festival involves nearly 200 people. Not all are singers; there are also the Ballesters—who accompany the singers through the streets and launch toys and flowers with long crossbows that reach balconies and windows—, the Locas—young women who collect donations during their door-to-door procession—, and the Herederas and Herederos—children who are members of the Tous Music School.

You can't lose...

Visit Tous Castle, which stands on a small hill 457 meters high, and go hiking around the village to reach spectacular places such as the Saltant de la Fou, a waterfall that you will find in an almost magical setting surrounded by caves and grottos, such as the Cova del Diable.

Saint Julian of Vilatorta

This town in the Osona region has celebrated the Caramelles on Easter morning since 1590, when the Cofradía del Rosar (Brotherhood of the Rosary) was founded, initiating this tradition of choral singing in the municipality. The singers wear long black capes, top hats, and purple Catalan ribbons. Each Caramellaire carries a turned staff with a small plaque bearing the image of Our Lady of the Rosary on the front and the text of the hymns on the back. The songs that typically fill the streets and squares are sardanas, waltzes, and habaneras, performed in two or three voices with instrumental accompaniment. The themes usually revolve around Easter, the arrival of spring, and the joy of singing, although in recent years they have also focused on more local topics.

You can't lose...

The Seven Fountains Park, where water flows from seven jets fed by a natural spring, is a very special place in the town. Visitors can also explore the Chapel of Sant Roc, next to the Alameda farmhouse, and the remains of the fortified Romanesque manor house of Bellpuig, dating back to the 12th century.

Flix

Since 1952, this town on the banks of the Ebro River has celebrated the Caramelles festival. With singers affiliated with the Orfeó de Flix choir, their songs resonate throughout the town on Easter Saturday night. This year, on April 4th, they will once again take to the streets to perform these songs, which retain their cheerful and humorous tone. During their procession, the singers collect donations, just as the town criers of old did when they went from farmhouse to farmhouse in Flix announcing the resurrection of Christ around this time. The fifty or so male singers place the collected money in a basket, which, tied to the top of a pole, they pass from balcony to balcony to collect the money that will pay for their group dinner later.

You can't lose...

The GR 99 trail, the old towpath, is a great way to explore the natural areas along the banks of the Ebro River, such as the Sebes Reserve, where you can see storks and Camargue horses. You can also visit the Iberian archaeological site of Sebes, which offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the surrounding area.

Tárrega

In the capital of the Urgell region, the voices of the Mestre Güell children's choir will once again resonate through its streets and squares on Easter Sunday morning. Founded in 1963 by Josep Cercós and Emília Rivera, this choir was originally established to promote the traditional caramelles dances. Today, it has become a musical symbol of the city of Tàrrega. During the performance, the youth section of the Esbart Albada dance group accompanies the children of the choir with traditional caramelles dances. The children, dressed in red scarves and barretinas (traditional Catalan caps), are accompanied by their families. They also distribute bouquets of vine leaves to the public and often raffle off Easter cakes to liven up the day and attract more people.

You can't lose...

Tàrrega is part of the route Western Lighthouses The town boasts the Church of Santa María del Alba, notable for its frescoes and for housing the relics of the Holy Thorns in a 17th-century reliquary. In the municipality, you can also follow the Pedrolo Route and stroll through Sant Eloi Park.