Festival tour: Sant Medir , the sweetest festival

Discover the local traditions and authentic festivals with Bounce Around Barcelona. Unique experiments, local traditions. Come and visit the sweetest festival of Barcelona.

“Every March, the children of Barcelona enjoy one of the “sweetest” festival of the city. The streets and squares of the charming district of Gràcia become a festival of sweets, bands and horse carriages.

Origins of the festival

This is the SantMedir Festival and according to tradition originates from the Saint who lived in the year 303 in Barcelona under the Roman rule of Diocletian, who intensely persecuted Christians. (…) On 3rd March, the pilgrims parade all day through the streets of Gràcia and in the afternoon a spectacular parade is held on the Gran de Gràcia street, handing out sweets to all participants.”

If you want to know more about this sweet fiesta, we recommend you these webpages:

http://culturapopular.bcn.cat/en/noticia/sequence-of- the-st- medirs-day- festivities

http://www.barcelonaturisme.com/wv3/en/agenda/7360/sant-medir- festival.html

“The modern day Sant Medir candy festival in Gracia area of Barcelona started in 1830. A baker called Josep Vidal i Granés lived in the newly opened street Gran de Gracia and he fell very ill one year. He was originally from Sant Cugat del Vallès and he vowed that if God cured him, he would make a annual pilgrimage to the chapel of Sant Medir. God did cure him and the first pilgrimage from Gracia was made. To announce his pilgrimage he banged a drum and handed out sweets. This was very festive occasion and every year more and more friends and neighbours joined his pilgrimage. This eventually led to the establishment of the first “colla” of the Sant Medir festival. A “colla” is the Catalan name for a group or club. Today there are thirty “colles” who participate and organise the annual event in the  assocation called “La Federació de Colles de Sant Medir”  – Confederation of Sant Medir Colles.  The confederation was formed in 1926.

Tip for the Festa de Sant Medir. Bring an umbrella! The forecast is often rain in early March and if it’s not raining you can turn the umbrella over and use it to catch sweets!”

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