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 > A Night Lit with Lanterns in Lleida > Galicia's Day to Celebrate! > Celebration in Algaida and Es Castell
dijous, 24 de juliol de 2003
If Saint John's Eve is recognized as being the most preeminent of celebrations held in Catalan-speaking areas, then the Feast of Saint James, celebrated on July 25th, would fall a close second given that numerous villages and towns throughout our country celebrate the day in very diverse and unique ways.
Many municipalities organize their annual local celebrations so as to coincide with the Feast of Saint James. In other locations, Saint James is the local patron saint and a wide array of celebrations and festivities are organized in his honor. Many parents choose to name their sons Jaume after the saint, which clearly heightens the popularity of Saint James, known as the patron saint of travelers, pilgrims and hat makers. In fact, if we take a look at the geography of our country, we would quickly note the number of celebrations held in honor of Saint James, as they are quite numerous, some even having a great deal of popular acclaim. In Lleida (Segrià) there is the unique celebration on the eve of the Feast of Saint James known as the Romeria dels Fanalets, consisting of lantern-lit pilgrimages; whereas in Xerta (Baix Ebre) they celebrate with a traditional 'running of the bulls'. In the Balearic Islands, the Feast of Saint James is widely celebrated throughout municipalities in Majorca, such as Llucmajor, Muro, Sa Pobla, Algaida, Santanyí, Calvià, Binissalem and Portocolom. In the village of Es Castell on the island of Minorca, horses come to the forefront as true protagonists of the festivities. The Feast of Saint James is also undoubtedly the most important popular celebration on the little and lovely island of Formentera. Also, diverse municipalities throughout the Valencian Country such as Benidorm (Marina Baixa), Castalla (Alcoià) and Orpesa (Plana Alta) also organize their main annual celebrations on July 25th.
 
A Night Lit with Lanterns in Lleida
+ The Romeria dels Fanalets is one of the most unique celebrations held in honor of Saint James.
The Romeria dels Fanalets is one of the most unique celebrations held in honor of Saint James. Local tradition stems around a legend of Saint James that claims that during the time when he was our country preaching the Gospel, Saint James arrived one night in the city of Ilerda, the name by which Lleida was known in Roman times. While walking, he stepped in some brambles and a thorn pierced one of his feet. As it was very dark, he was unable to remove the thorn from his foot no matter how hard he tried. Then all of the sudden, a group of angels appeared with candle-lit lanterns, and encircling him, allowed him to finally remove the thorn from his foot. On the eve of the Feast of Saint James, children in Lleida reenact the story by carrying candle-lit lanterns to accompany the pilgrimage of the image of Saint James. The procession passes by the chapel of El Peu de Romeu, located at the intersection between Major and Cavallers Streets, where it is believed that the saint stepped on the thorn.
Galicia's Day to Celebrate!)
+ Image of Saint James cathedral in Compostela.
There are two reasons why July 25th is a big day to celebrate in Galicia. Firstly, it's the day in which Galicians celebrate their 'National Day', established in 1920 by the 'Irmandades da Fala', which was banned during Franco's dictatorship and reinstated in 1973. Secondly, July 25th commemorates the Feast of Saint James, both a religious and popular celebration, which begins at Saint James cathedral in Compostela. People flock to watch the traditional offering to Saint James, impressive for the spectacular sight of the cathedral's swinging censer, locally known as a botafumeiro. Many pilgrims on Saint James' Way to Compostela plan their arrival for July 25th in order to be there in time for the festivities. It's important to remember that legend has it that relics of Saint James the Greater were discovered during the first part of the 9th century in Compostela, and have been placed in the cathedral, built especially for them.
Celebration in Algaida and Es Castell
+ The Cossiers Dance of Algaida, a Majorcan folk dance.
We mentioned above that the Feast of Saint James is a very popular celebration in the Balearic Islands. One of the most well-known celebrations there is the Cossiers Dance of Algaida, a popular Majorcan folk dance consisting of six men and one woman, accompanied by a demon, all dancing to the rhythms of the traditional flabiol wood flute. The dance is performed on the eve of the Feast of Saint James, and follows a strict route known as a quadrat. The Cossiers perform the dance once again the next day, directly opposite the town's church. More popular in Minorca are the Festes de Cavalls in Es Castell where they celebrate the day with a cavalcade culminating in what is known as the jaleo, where riders enter two by two into the main square, perform a series of three spiraled circles and ride out again.
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> Clica això i et podràs assabentar de tot de curiositats relacionades amb el Camí de Sant Jaume, que un any i un altre milers de pelegrins fan a peu.
> Ressegueix l'accidentada història del 'Dia da Patria Galega' a l'especial que n'ha fet el diari gallec Vieiros.
> Escateix tots els detalls de la Romeria dels Fanalets de Lleida en aquesta explicació.
> Vols veure les millors imatges de les festes des Castell (Menorca)? Doncs heus-les ací.
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