During Corpus Christi, the capital of Berguedà transforms itself with the celebration of "Patum", a singular festival in Catalonia that has continued practically without interruption since the fifteenth century.
The origin of this tradition, which in 2005 was recognized by UNESCO as a masterpiece of Intangible World Heritage dates back to the "entreméses", paratheatrical performances that were part of the medieval processions of Corpus Christi.
The main days of the celebration are Thursday and Sunday. At noon, Patum is more reserved and solemn, while at night it is festive and participatory. The main protagonists and events of the festival are the drums, the Turks and Little Knights, the Maces, the Mules, the Eagle, the Old Dwarves, the Giants, the New Dwarves, the "Plens" (fire devils) and the "Tirabol" (final dance).
The climax of the Patum is the "Plens", fire devils which transform Berga's main square into a fiery hell. The main characters of the festival dance to the rhythm of drum music and the music of Joaquim Serra composed in the late nineteenth century.
Bathe in fire with the music of the ‘tabal’ (drum) in the ‘salt de plens’ (leaping of the devils), jump along with the last ‘tirabol’ or dance with the ‘guita’, the eagle and the dwarves in one of the most spectacular festivals in all of Catalonia. Each year, the main events of the Patum are held during the week of Corpus, from Wednesday to Sunday, in the city of Berga.
Oficina de turisme Ajuntament de Berga
C. dels Àngels, 7
08600 Berga (Barcelona)
Tel. (+34) 938211384
This UNESCO video sets out the reasons why the Patum festival is included in the Oral and Intangible Heritage list.