Santa Tecla festivities in Catalonia: tradition and popular culture to say goodbye to summer

As the second half of September arrives, summer still lingers, and some towns and cities in Catalonia take to the streets to celebrate Santa Tecla on September 23rd. Giants, fire-breathing beasts, grallas (traditional Catalan instruments), castells (human towers), processions, gastronomy, and centuries-old traditions make this festival a perfect excuse for a getaway and to discover the region in a different way.

Although Santa Tecla is inextricably linked to Tarragona, where one of the country's most important festivals is celebrated, it is not the only place where this day holds special significance. Sitges celebrates the festival with extraordinary involvement from local culture and children, while Berga maintains a Santa Tecla Fair with agricultural and livestock roots, leading to a very different celebration, one closely tied to local produce and the region.

Three destinations and three ways to celebrate Santa Tecla. Which one do you choose?

Tarragona: the great capital of Santa Tecla

If there's one place where you absolutely must experience Santa Tecla, it's Tarragona. Here, it merges with the city's main festival, a popular and participatory celebration that dates back to 1321.

For about two weeks in September, Tarragona is transformed. The streets and squares fill with activities, music, and popular culture, but it is especially on September 22nd, 23rd, and 24th that some of the most anticipated rituals take place. The Seguici Popular (a traditional procession), the casteller groups (human towers), the fireworks, and the events linked to the relic of Santa Tecla are the main attractions.

The importance of the celebration was recognized in 1996, when the Generalitat of Catalonia declared it a Traditional Festival of National Interest, and in 2002 it also received the status of a Festival of National Tourist Interest.

The Seguici Popular, a festival that parades through the streets

One of the great experiences of Santa Tecla is watching the Seguici Popular de Tarragona parade. Giants, big-headed figures, devils, beasts, and traditional dances fill the streets of the Part Alta in a spectacle that blends music, movement, and fire.

L'Àliga, la Mulassa, el Lleó, la Cucafera, el Drac, la Víbria, los Gegants Moros, los Gegants Vells or los Negritos are just some of the most beloved characters in the festive imagination of Tarragona.

The eve of Santa Tecla, on September 22, is one of the best times to see the Seguici in action, while on the 23rd it takes to the streets again at various times throughout the day.

And if you're one of those who prefer the party to start after nightfall, there's another name worth remembering: the Baixada de l'Àliga (Descent of the Eagle). It's one of the most popular and eagerly awaited events, with the Àliga (Eagle) and other festive elements descending from the area around the Cathedral amidst a large crowd.

Castells, Cathedral and Plaça de la Font

Santa Tecla is also an unmissable event for castells enthusiasts. On September 23, the four castells groups of Tarragona participate in the traditional Santa Tecla castells day in Plaça de la Font, in front of the City Hall.

The following day, September 24, brings one of the most curious and spectacular moments of the festival: the "pilars caminant", in which the groups try to carry their pillars from the surroundings of the Cathedral to the City Hall.

To fully enjoy the festival, there are some places worth knowing about: the Font square, the Major street, the Cols square and the Pla de la Seu and, in general, the entire network of streets in the Part Alta of Tarragona.

September 23rd, a day to be lived to the fullest

The day of Santa Tecla begins very early with the Matinades and continues with the Anada a Ofici, the Seguici's display and the castellers day.

As evening falls, one of the most solemn moments of the celebration arrives: the Professó del Braç de Santa Tecla. When the relic returns to the Cathedral, the Seguici Popular (a traditional procession) opens up to make its way, the castellers (human tower builders) raise human towers, and the bells and fireworks accompany one of the most moving moments of the Festa Major (main festival).

If you can only choose one day to visit Tarragona, September 23rd is probably the most complete.

Sitges: Santa Tecla seen through the eyes of a child

In Sitges, Santa Tecla has a different character. The festival is part of the larger cycle of the Sitges Festival and shares the patron saint's role with Sant Bartomeu.

The celebration is recognized as a Heritage Festival of National Interest and maintains many of the ingredients that make the popular culture of Sitges so special: giants, big-headed figures, devils, beasts, dances, music and fire.

But there is one element that makes it especially unique: the prominence of the children.

The Children's Matinee, a must-see

On the morning of September 23, one of the most beautiful events of Santa Tecla takes place in Sitges: the Happy Children's Morning.

The activity was created in 1980 with the aim of introducing children to folk dances and skits. The children create their own giants, dragons, eagles, and big-headed figures and participate in various folk dances, recreating the festive world of the adults in their own way.

Currently, the Matinal is divided into different routes, including a Matinal de Foc, a Gran, and a Petita. Seeing the streets of Sitges filled with little devils, giants, and beasts is a magnificent demonstration of how traditions are passed down from one generation to the next.

For families, it is undoubtedly one of the most highly recommended Santa Tecla celebrations in Catalonia.

Where to live in Santa Tecla in Sitges?

Much of the festivities are concentrated in the historic center and along the seafront. The Baluard, the Town Hall square, the Cap de la Vila, and the Fragata are some of the key spots to visit.

The landscape does the rest: giants and fire beasts advancing through the white streets of Sitges, with the church of Sant Bartomeu and Santa Tecla and the Mediterranean as a backdrop.

Santa Tecla is, therefore, a magnificent opportunity to discover a side of Sitges that goes far beyond its beaches.

Berga: the most rural and gastronomic Santa Tecla

We leave the coast and head towards Berguedà. In Berga, Santa Tecla doesn't take the form of a major festival like in Tarragona or Sitges, but rather gives its name to one of the city's traditional fairs: the Santa Tecla Fair.

And its history is not recent either. The exhibit dates back to the 14th century and over the years has been a reflection of the region's agricultural and livestock wealth.

Today, the fair maintains this link with the primary sector, but expands it with gastronomy, crafts, direct sales and activities aimed at highlighting the value of producers and the territory.

It is, therefore, an ideal proposal for those who prefer to combine a September getaway with gastronomy, local produce and rural tradition.

Berga shows us that Santa Tecla isn't just about giants, devils, and human towers. It can also have the flavor of the land, of agriculture, and of local cuisine.

Three ways to experience Santa Tecla in Catalonia

Tarragona, Sitges or Berga? Actually, you don't have to choose just one.

Tarragona is a must for anyone who wants to experience Santa Tecla in all its intensity: Seguici, castells, fire, crowds and a city completely devoted to its Fiesta Mayor.

Sitges is a fantastic option to discover popular culture as a family and see how the little ones become the protagonists of giants, dances and beasts.

And Berga is the perfect option for those looking for a different celebration, linked to the primary sector, local products and the gastronomy of Berguedà.

Three very different places that allow you to discover the same festival from almost opposite perspectives: from the human tower squares of Tarragona to the Mediterranean streets of Sitges, passing through the livestock tradition of Berga.

September, therefore, still has much to celebrate. Santa Tecla is a good excuse to leave home, discover Catalonia, and experience firsthand centuries-old traditions that continue to fill streets, squares, and fairs centuries after their origin.