What is Los Castellers festival?
A castell (Catalan pronunciation: [kəsˈteʎ]) is a human tower built traditionally at festivals in Catalonia, the Balearic islands and the Valencian Community. At these festivals, several colles castelleres (teams that build towers) attempt to build and dismantle a tower’s structure.
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.
Where is the castellers festival?
The castells have their origins in a traditional folklore dance in the city of Valls. The steps of the dance were accompanied with the flute, as it is still played today during the tower building.
What are the 5 levels of castells?
Large castells contain five main levels. The base is called the pinya, followed by the folre, the manilles, the tronk, and the pom de dalt. The tronk is the vertical structure in the center of the castell that holds the most weight.
When was the first performance of the Castellers?
Historians claim the first castells appeared in the southern Catalan town of Valls in 1902. Throughout the 19th century, castells “were more of a circus act,” historian Pablo Giori explains, formed by immigrants from southern regions such as Andalucia, who came to the wealthier north looking for work.
What are Castellers in Spain?
The “castells” (human castles) have been awarded the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity designation. They are a very popular and spectacular event, typical of Catalan culture, in which impressive human towers that are six to ten storeys high rise up and seem to touch the sky.
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.
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.
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.
When was the first performance of the castellers?
What is the history of castells?
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.
What 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.
