For more than fifty years, the Flama del Canigó has arrived in Barcelona, ​​where it is received solemnly in Plaça de Sant Jaume. This year will be the Giants of the City, the Eagle, music and herbal remedies for everyone! After the peveter’s lighting, the representatives of each neighborhood will go up to the stage to catch the fire that will light the bonfires throughout the city.

Program:

5 pm – Departure of the Flama from Camp Nou to Plaça de Sant Jaume. Route: Arístides Maillol street, Riera Blanca, Creu Coberta, Plaza de Espanya, Gran Via, Plaza de la Universitat, Pelai street, La Rambla, Colom, Via Laietana and Jaume I street.

5:45 pm – Celebration of the arrival of the Flama in Plaça de Sant Jaume. With the Àliga, the Capgrossos Macers and the Gegants de la Ciutat and the sound of the cobla Sant Jordi – Ciutat de Barcelona.

6 pm – Arrival of the Flama del Canigó in Plaça de Sant Jaume. Pillar of honor of the Castellers of Barcelona.

6:05 pm – Dances of the Àliga, the Capgrossos Macers and the Gegants de la Ciutat.

6:15 pm – Reading of the Flama’s message, written by Lluís Puig, and speeches.

6:45 pm – Distribution of the Flama. The teams go by to collect the fire from Canigó, which will serve to light bonfires throughout the city.

7:00 pm – End of the act.

One of the most distinctive rituals of the night of San Juan is the flame of Canigó, a fire that emerged at the top of this massif and that in one night extends throughout all Catalan-speaking territories to light bonfires. In addition, the fire of the Flama del Canigó never goes out: during the whole year, it remains at the Museum of the Pairal House of Perpignan until, every June 22, it is taken to the summit of Canigó. At midnight, the fire of la Flama begins the route and it is scattered and split to light the bonfires of San Juan of hundreds of towns.

This ritual began in 1955 on the initiative of Francesc Pujades, a neighbor from Arles de Tec (Vallespir). Inspired by the poem ‘Canigó’ by Jacint Verdaguer, he had the idea of ​​turning the fires of San Juan on top of the mountain and distributing his flame everywhere. It was not until 1966 that the fire passed the border for the first time and arrived in Vic. And the following year, in 1967, he was received at the Barcelona City Council. Despite the Francoist dictatorship, the tradition spread throughout the Catalan-speaking territories as a symbol of survival of the country’s culture.