Patum de Berga
The Patum de Berga, or simply La Patum, is a popular and traditional festival that is celebrated each year in the Catalan city of Berga during Corpus Christi. It consists of a series of "dances" by townspeople dressed as mystical and symbolic figures, and accompanied either by the rhythm of a drum—the tabal, whose sound gives the festival its name—or band music. The balls are marked by their solemnity and their ample use of fire and pyrotechnics.
It was declared a Traditional Festival of National Interest by the Generalitat de Catalunya in 1983. In 2005, UNESCO declared it one of the Masterpieces of the Oral and [Intangible Heritage of Humanity] and, in 2008, inscribed it on its Representative List.
''Balls''
- Els Plens. Documented since 1628.
- Els Turcs i Cavallets. Documented since 1828.
- Les Maces. Documented since 1628.
- Les Guites. Documented since 1626, 1890.
- L'Àliga. Documented since 1756.
- Els Nans Vells. Documented since 1853.
- Els Gegants. Documented since 1695.
- Els Nans Nous. Documented since 1890.
Origins and significance
"La Patum" has its origins in pre-Christian celebrations of the Summer solstice, which were recycled and given new symbolism by the Catholic Church as part of its Corpus celebrations. In Berga, the earliest conserved reference to a Corpus procession is May 20, 1454. The festival evolved and incorporated more elements popular and religious theater in the Middle Ages, leading to a unique combination of giants, devils, angels, moors, and other bizarre-looking characters.Despite the religious significance of Corpus Christi, and the Patum's descent from "eucharistic performances," in its present form it is rather a show of popular theater. It is unique in Catalonia. Anthropologists and specialists in folklore have been interested in La Patum.