Customs & Traditions in Barcelona: Catalan culture. 

Catalonia’s many customs and traditions serve to symbolize the living history of the Catalans, commemorate our history, and manifest our cultural identity.

Catalonia celebrates many religious and recreational festivals and special events. These popular, folk, and cultural traditions authentically reflect the personality of the region, and are designed to please and entertain locals and visitors alike.

While many of our Christmas celebrations comprise elements common throughout the world, we do have some of our own customs, including el Tió, els Pastorets, and the pesebres vivientes (live nativity scenes).

We also celebrate many important festivals closely tied to fieldwork, the changing of the seasons, agriculture, cattle farming, and the natural harvest.

Other important dates in the calendar have more to do with historical or religious events in Catalonian history, like the Onze de Setembre, the Festival of Sant Jordi, and La Mercè.