The festival of Sant Medir takes place every March 3, and it is one of the most important fiestas in Vila de Gràcia. The festival is well-known in entire Spain, because of its parades and the tons of candy that will be thrown into the public.
The celebrations begin with a pilgrimage to the chapel of Sant Medir in Collserola, where a tribute to the saint will be held. Upon return, the colles or groups will form a huge parade and pass through the neighbourhood’s most characteristic streets. A lot of candy appears out of nowhere, and people just can’t get enough of it and collect everything they can.
Today’s article by ShBarcelona will tell you more on the festival of Sant Medir.
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What you need to know about Sant Medir festival
This celebration is in honour of St. Medir and goes a long way back. The festival takes place in the district of Gràcia, La Bordeta and Sant Gervasi, and each place has its own colles or groups.
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They all organize a parade and make the characteristic journey to the chapel. Once they have arrived at the chapel, there will be a mass, followed by commemorations. This will be in the form of ribbons that will be placed on each colla’s flag.
It’s important to note that the Sant Medir festival takes place every March 3, both in Gràcia and in Sant Gervasi. If March 3 is on a Sunday, the festival will be moved to the next day, but in La Bordeta the parade is always on the Sunday after the festival.
The festival originates from the district of Gràcia. They say that in 1828 a baker, named Josep Vidal i Granés, made a promise in his prayers that if he was cured of an infection, he would visit the chapel of Sant Medir every year.
And when all was said and done, each and every year more people joined him. It started with family and friends, but eventually neighbours also visited the chapel and after that groups were being organized.
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According to legend, the baker initially threw beans at the public as a tribute to the saint, and these beans were then sown. Later on, however, the beans were replaced by candy, hence the name “Dulce Fiesta” (sweet festival).
As already mentioned, the departure of the colles starts in the district of Gràcia on the morning of March 3. Before the pilgrimage to the chapel, the parade passes through some of the most popular streets of the district.
Once the religious part of the event at the chapel is over, which is around eight o’clock in the evening, the colles return in a very busy parade, inviting both young and old to collect all the candy they possible can.
Practically the same happens in Sant Gervasi. The colles go through neighbourhood streets in the morning, and then they go on a pilgrimage to the chapel of Sant Medir de Sant Cugat. On their way back, the great parade consists of floats, horses and, again, lots of candy.
A similar course of events takes place in La Bordeta, except for the parade which happens the following Sunday. The parade in question is joined by the music band of the Guardia Urbana, and the location is the parish of Sant Medir. The colles with their horses and carriages will throw candy to everyone by the side of the road, and after that there is a mass in honour of the saint.
Is there anything else worth mentioning about the festival of Sant Medir?
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