During September the city of Barcelona lives its more emblematic festival. On 11th September is the Catalonia Day (Diada Nacional de Catalunya) and from 23 th to 27th September is the Annual Festival (Festa Major) of the city: “La Mercé” .
On 11th September, Diada Nacional de Catalunya, people conmemorate a defeat: the fall of Barcelona after months of siege in 1714 front the duke of Berwick. This is a episode of the War of Succession , in which Borbon’s family (with his candidate, the future Felipe V) and the Austria’s family (with the archduke Carlos) struggle for all Europe for the crown of Spain.
The entities and the political parties make traditionally, floral offerings on the monuments of Rafael Casanova (politician) and Josep Moragues (soldier). It is necessary to highlight Sant Boi de Llobregat, only at 15 km of the city, It was the place of peregrinatge of the first demonstrations and celebrations of the day, and it still sustains this tradition nowadays. There man find the grave of Rafael Casanova. Offerings are also made in the Fossar de les Moreres, the place where the defenders of the city were buried during the siege. It is located on the right side of the Esglèsia de Santa Maria del Mar (Born district).
During all day long there are many concerts in the Park of the Ciutadella and in different villages from Catalonia.
On the other hand, like every year, from 1871, about the 24th September, Barcelona is getting decked. La Mercè is a Festival of festivals, which concentrates in few days hundreds of activities: Music, Exhibitions, Sports, Theater, Fire, culture, traditions...
There are gratuits concerts of groups emergent, from consolidated groups, art in the street, “Castellers” (human tower, a typical catalan tradition), open doors days, piromusical, “Correfocs” (another catalan tradition) and a lot of entertainment.
More information:
http://barcelona4seasons.com/events/annual-festival-la-merce-2009_E_1044.aspx
http://www.bcn.es/merce/en/index.shtml
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