Main festivities
THE BIGGEST FESTIVAL IN BARCELONA: LA MERCE
Mercè is the patron saint of Barcelona as well as the city's main festivity. All kinds of activities are organized in order to please everybody -the city has 4 million inhabitants-. Of particular interest are the pyrotechnical music show and the BAM (independent music festival of Barcelona).
SANT JORDI: books and flowers
Sant Jordi is the patron saint of Catalonia, its festivity is celebrated on the 23rd of April. The legend has it that Sant Jordi killed the dragon and enjoyed its moment of glory during the Middle Ages, when the noblemen adopted it as their symbol of the Reconquest against the muslims. It is the lovers' day and men give roses to women and women give books to men.
SANT JOAN: cake and fireworks
On the 23rd of June at night, there is the summer solstice celebration. Families and friends get together and enjoy nice desserts, cake and Catalan champagne. People make bonfires to burn the Winter remains and play with firecrackers all night.
LA DIADA: 11th OF SEPTEMBER
Each 11th of September Catalan people remember the 1714 facts, in which the city of Barcelona was defeated by the Borbons troops. This defeat has become a symbol of the Catalan nationalism.
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