The Patum de Berga Festival, or simply La Patum, is celebrated in the Catalan city of Berga, Barcelona. It consists of a series of ball dances by town people dressed as mystical and symbolic figures. A band also performs during the festival. There is an abundance of fire and pyrotechnics in the balls, adding to their solemnity.
The Patum of Berga festival is held during the week of Corpus Christi, late May, and late June at the Sant Pere Square. Theatrical performances and parades of a variety of effigies animate the streets.
La Patum is a festival that goes back to pre-Christian celebrations of the Summer Solstice. They were enacted during the Corpus Christi procession in order to educate the people and improve their morals, recreating teachings from the Holy Scriptures. Later on, it was recycled and given new symbolism by the Catholic Church relating to Corpus celebrations. The earliest preserved reference to them is in the Berga literature of May 20, 1454.
An extraordinary meeting of the municipal council, the Tabal (a large drum that represents the festival), and the Quatre Fuets announce the beginning of the festival. A variety of celebrations follow, including parades, a ceremonial Patum, children's Patums, and full Patums.
Taba (the tambourine), Cavallets (paper mâché horses), Maces (demons with whips and maces), Guites (mule dragons), the eagle, giant-headed dwarves, Plens (fire demons), and giants dressed as Saracens all join forces in the Tirabol, the final dance, and perform acrobatic tricks and light fireworks for the joyous audience.
Despite its richness and diversity, the Patum of Berga stands out from the other festivals that have come down from the Middle Ages because of its preserved elements of profane and religious aspects, the preservation of its medieval street theatre, and the ritual component.
Out of all the old Revelries of the Holy Sacrament that used to take place in Catalonia, only Berga has been able to preserve Patum over the centuries. Even though the celebration will survive intact within the community, it’s important to ensure that strong urban and tourist development does not lead to the loss of value of La Patum.