A time with diverse traditions

The Fia-haia of Bagà and Sant Julià de Cerdanyola

The municipalities of Bagà and Sant Julià de Cerdanyola, in the Berguedà region, celebrate the Fia-faia festival every December 24th. This pre-Christian tradition is believed to have been a ritual to pray that the days would not shorten any further and coincided with the winter solstice. In fact, the exact beginning of this tradition is unknown, but it is known to have survived the Romanization and Christianization of the territory. This tradition has been celebrated in the town of Bagà since its inception in 1350. The festival consists of the burning of enormous torches, about four meters long, calledyou were doing(Fallas), which the torchbearers carry from the Siti mountain to the two towns. When the torches reach their destination, and after the traditional prayer call, a large bonfire is built with the torches while songs are sung and dances are performed, a brotherhood dinner is held, and the men of the festival are chosen.

Gurb tile descent

Fire as an ancestral element to welcome the winter solstice. The Saturday before Christmas – this year, December 20th– Gurb welcomes the cold season with a community celebration. This relatively recent tradition, which began in 2011, symbolically revives the presence of fire during this time of year. On the afternoon of the 20th, fire-makers and locals gather to climb to the town's castle, where they light their fire-makers' torches and begin the procession down to the town, ending at the Place 1 d'Octubre (October 1st Square). The Gurb Fire-Maker Association organizes this festival, which culminates with the arrival of the fire and the lighting of the Great Firework, followed by music and celebrations for residents and visitors alike. To enjoy this event, the main gathering point is the Pla des Bruges (Witches' Plain), where people can watch the professional fire-makers' descent before joining the general public down to the town.

Centelles Pine Festival

On December 30th, Centelles celebrates a festival with ancient origins. In fact, the first written records of the Fiesta del Pi date back to 1751, and since then it has been linked to the feast of Santa Coloma, the town's patron saint. The day begins early, when a group of galleadores (traditional Basque cowboys) participate in the festivities. –That's what the party participants are called.– They go into the forest to find the most beautiful pine tree in the area, which they then cut down with axes and carry upright on an oxcart to the door of the Church of Santa Coloma. While the pine is being transported to the village, arriving around midday, it is shot at with blunderbusses and muzzle-loading shotguns. At one o'clock in the afternoon, it is taken up to the platform in front of the church, where it is made to dance to the music of the orchestra and the voices of the men who carry the tree. Afterward, it is taken inside the church to the presbytery, where it is tied by the lower part of its trunk and hung upside down above the main altar with five bouquets of apples and wafers. At this moment, it is hoisted to the height of the image of Santa Coloma, which is located in the altarpiece behind the altar, while the men who carry the tree sing the hymn to the patron saint of Centelles.

Raising of the Tremp Doll

The raising of the Ninot takes place every December 28th in Tremp, in the Pallars Jussà region. The tradition began in 1976, so 2026 will mark its fiftieth edition. It originated as an initiative of the association La Casa del Sol Naixent (The House of the Rising Sun), and, as Albert Farré, who is in charge of the activity and is a member of the association, explains, it began as a winter festival for children. What does it consist of? Hanging a giant effigy (llufa) from the bell tower in Tremp, in Plaça de la Creu (Cross Square), and having a big celebration. On the 28th, they build the effigy on a wooden base and decorate it with newspaper and other materials. In the afternoon, around five o'clock, there is a parade and performances in the same square, where attendees sing the song of the effigy, which was created years ago by Xavier Baulies, one of the event's creators. Finally, the flaming effigy is taken down and burned, accompanied by snacks and dancing. For several years now, this has also been the day on which the Llufaire de l'Any (Festival of the Year) award is given, a prize that recognizes the work of an individual, organization, or group from Tremp. This year, the T25620 association will receive the award for its involvement in the town's festivities.