What happens at Los Castellers?
What happens at Los Castellers?
Performances. Traditionally, the castellers perform their tower building during the main parts of larger festivals. Usually, three colles come together and build their human edifices. If you have the chance to watch the building of a castell, do so as it really is a very special event.
What is Castellers in Spain?
Every year in Spain, a Catalan tradition of building Castells—human towers reaching up to 10 stories—takes place. Teams called colles compete to build the tallest and most complex tower made only of human beings standing atop one another.
Why do they celebrate Los Castellers?
Els Castells, the human towers, represent solidarity and team spirit among Catalan people. On these depend the success of the tower and even the life of the aixecadors, the young children that climb up to airy heights of more than eight meters to complete the tower.
Why do they build human towers in Spain?
Observers say the practice is symbolic of togetherness, the elimination of class differences, and Catalonia’s welcoming atmosphere, Xicola says. “You can step on your boss in a human tower, you cannot do it outside this.” “It’s a very important cultural heritage in our country,” she says.
What do human towers symbolize?
These human towers, or castells in Catalan, have become a symbol of Catalonia, a region in northeastern Spain vying for greater autonomy. An impressive act of strength and balance, castells soar several stories high.
What do castellers wear on their feet?
I was nervous for her, for everyone; yet I had to remind myself that this was an old Catalan tradition and they knew what they were doing… right? A young girl, approximately 7 years old, climbed up the back, shoulders, and bodies of the base of this human tower.
How often does the castellers have a contest?
every two years
The human towers competition that every two years pits the best groups in the country against each other will see 42 teams competing to build the tallest and most complex constructions. The past eight editions have been won by the Castellers de Vilafranca.
How tall is the tallest human tower?
The tallest human pyramid consisted of 9 levels and was 12 m (39 ft) high. It was completed when Josep-Joan Martínez Lozano of the Colla Vella dels Xiquets mounted it at Valls, Spain on 25 October 1981.
When did Los Castellers start?
Castells were first documented as a cultural form in 1801. They appeared in Tarragona, a rural and religious province of Catalonia. With nineteenth century industrialization, they became a traditional practice, central to popular nationalist celebrations.
