Guide to Barcelona

Castelleres

Thursday, 02 September 2010 10:58

Barcelona events and fiestas

Castelleres – sounds familiar but what exactly it is many people don’t know. In fact, Castelleres are the traditionally Catalan human towers that belong to many festivals in the Catalonian part of Spain. The goal is to build as high a tower as possible by using as many people as possible with different heights, sizes and also ages.

The tradition is said to have been originated in the 18th century close to Tarragona and has since then continually grown its popularity and it is know a sport that is not just executed in Catalonia but all over Spain and every year huge competition take place in which the best team is crowned that managed to build and safely disassemble the highest tower. The first step -the assembly of the castell is complete when the enxaneta reaches the top and raises one hand with four fingers erect, in a gesture said to symbolize the stripes of the Catalan flag. The enxaneta is usually a very young and small child and this position is the most desired one yet also the most dangerous.

The towers can reach very high altitudes and a fall from the top has caused varies casualties in the past. The last death of an enxaneta has occurred as recent as 2006 when a young boy passed away after his fall of the top of one of the very high human towers.
However, many parents are really proud of their children if they receive the honor to become an enxaneta and therefore encourage their children to participate.
The construction of the Castells is indeed a very dangerous process, however, it belongs to the Catalan culture and therefore, it will continue to be one of the many interesting elements of the Catalan society in the future.


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