Holidays in Barcelona

You can read about Christmas traditions in another post, but there are also special holidays here that are worth mentioning in a few words.

Let's start with my biggest favorite!

Sant Jordi, or “Valentine’s Day” in a Catalan way, is a national holiday held on April 23, St. George’s Day. It’s not a public holiday, but that’s what this day is all about.

Saint George the Dragon Slayer is one of the patron saints of Barcelona. According to the legend, a wicked dragon lived near the kingdom that constantly attacked people. The king always sent one of his subjects to satisfy the dragon's hunger. One day, it was the princess's turn. Then Saint George stepped in, protected the girl and killed the dragon. Where the monster died, a beautiful red rose sprouted from its dripping blood.

For this reason, on Saint George's Day (or Sant Jordi), women receive red roses from their loved ones, as a symbol of love and courage. They also decorate Casa Batllo with roses. Men, on the other hand, receive books as gifts, which of course has its own story. April 23rd is also the anniversary of the death of Cervantes (author of Don Quixote), making this day a celebration not only of love, but also of culture, knowledge, and the love of literature. The city is filled with flower and book stalls at this time, and many books are deliberately released for this occasion.

The summer solstice festival, Sant Joan, is also worth mentioning, and is held at dawn on June 23-24 . There are fireworks on the beach and all over the city, as this is a celebration of light and fire. People often spend the whole night on the beach, lighting bonfires and celebrating together.

The first Catalan National Holiday in September is celebrated on September 11. It has symbolic and political significance, celebrating Catalan independence.

Around September 24th, one of the biggest holidays comes, La Mercè. A multi-day festival is held, with concerts, street theater, and fireworks.

During this time, you can always see giant puppets (Gegants) in the city, representing historical or mythological figures. Each barrio (district, city quarter) has its own giants, who are paraded around during this time.

The Correfoc, or fire run, is also seen at this time. Figures dressed as devils run through the streets swinging fire sticks. Spectators are warned that this is not without risk, so everyone should participate in the fun at their own risk.

Castellers, or human towers, are also typical, although they appear at almost every holiday. They create huge, multi-story human towers, usually with a child on top. This tradition is part of the UNESCO Intangible Heritage.

Another important event is Carnaval, or carnival, in February. It is a moving holiday, taking place at a different time every year. They organize cheerful, colorful parades, with lots of costumed people and dancers, and there are also parades for children in several parts of the city.

Holidays are an important part of Catalan culture. In addition to the above mentioned major holidays in Barcelona, there is a major event every two weeks, and each district also organizes its own special holiday programs. For example, the Gracia district festival mid-late August. The week-long event features special installations and concerts.

Festa Major de Grácia 2025

So, you can't get bored in Barcelona. It's worth finding out what programs are available before you travel, because participating in them is a great experience.