Submitted by Ceara Stewart on the 2019 fall semester study abroad program in Barcelona, Spain…
La Mercé is an annual festival in the city of Barcelona. It has been an official city holiday since 1871, when the local government first organized a program of special activities to observe the Roman Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Mercy. Although the actual feast day is September 24, the festivities begin a few days beforehand.
For this festival, I really went out and celebrated this tradition like a local. I participated in the correfoc, aka the Fire Run. For this festival activity, a group of individuals dress as devils and light up fireworks while dancing to the sound of drum music.
I also got to witness the Catalan Castellers. Basically, they are huge towers of people who sometimes compete against each other.
Finally, on September 24th, the last day of the festivities, I witnessed an amazing pyro-musical. This is basically a show of fireworks synchronized to music as well as the famous Magic Fountain located in Plaça de España.
I am super thankful I decided to stay in Barcelona and witness this amazing holiday like a local!
