Festivals

FERRERIES

Festivals of Ferreries

Saint Bartholomew Festivals

The patron saint festivals of Ferreries are celebrated on August 23rd, 24th, and 25th and are dedicated to the apostle Saint Bartholomew. Their history dates back to the 14th century, coinciding with the creation of the parish that gave rise to the primitive nucleus of the population. The origin of the patron saint festivals is clearly religious, although it has evolved over time.

The Obrería de San Bartolomé, an organization of laypeople in charge of managing the parish, played a prominent role in shaping the festival. Its members, called "obreros" or "caixers", were tasked with obtaining cheese and wheat to dedicate to the maintenance of the church and the organization of the festival. Because people lived scattered around the church, they soon used horses as a means of transportation to attend religious services held in honor of the Patron Saint. And so it was that, over time, the horse acquired a predominant role in the celebration of the festivities. The procession is led by the "caixer fabioler", who indicates the route to the sound of the drum and the pipe. He is followed by the other members of the cavalcade in order from lowest to highest rank. Closing the procession is a representative of the Church and another from the Town Hall, who are the ones who preside over the festivities. The riders' attire has evolved over time, eventually settling on the characteristic style of the early 19th century: black tailcoat, white trousers, white shirt, bowtie, hat or top hat, and black shoes. The cavalcade travels through the streets of the town to invite all the neighbors to the Jaleo held in the Town Hall square. Horses and riders show off their skills while the youth dance and sing to the sound of the marching band. Every year, the same story is repeated. Like an ancestral, ancient rite, the patron saint festival constitutes the culmination of the life of the town and its inhabitants.