Sant Julià de Cerdanyola

Together with the falles in Bagà, this is one of the only two fire festivals to be held in winter. It is celebrated on Christmas Eve, close to the winter solstice. The preparation begins a few weeks earlier, with each fallaire preparing their own faies. The torches are made with Cephalaria leucantha grass, which is collected from the forest and is believed to have certain purifying powers.  The grass is put out to dry so that it will burn well when the time comes. It is then plaited to form torches that range from one to four meters long and fifteen to thirty centimeters thick. Unlike those in Bagà, the fia-faias are bound around an object like a stick or a pole, which helps to keep them straight. At nightfall the church bells are rung and everyone takes their torches to the church square.

The festival begins at 6 p.m., when the bonfire at the Clos is lit. The fallaires also light their own faies at 6 p.m., come down the mountain, and make their way to the village square, where they light the torches of the other participants. This happens at about 6.30 pm in the evening. The square is in darkness, only illuminated by the fire and the fireworks of the numerous torches. Both young and old whirl their torches around their heads, scattering sparks and chanting “Fia-faia, Fia-faia, Fia-faia, que Nostre Senyor ha nascut a la paia” (Fia fia, our Lord was born on the straw).

Then his remains are grouped in the middle of the square, and he jumps over the fire, symbol of renewal and purification. At the end there is the dance of the fia faia in the Plaça de l’Església. The party is part of the celebration of Christmas Eve, throughout the night, The endreça of the houses is carried out leaving Misa del Gallo. After the mass, a ressopó is made in the square: on the fire that is made, tastings, sausages, meat … and garlic and codony oil, wine, cava, etc. are mixed. During this meal Christmas songs are sung. Once the shark is over, the general outburst begins. Everything can be fixed, everything that is fixed is taken to the square and there it is fixed until the next day, Christmas Day. The objects arranged can be very diverse: among the most curious are remembered a beach table and chairs with parasol included a casserole full of milk, baskets, tests, carts, wheelbarrows and tools of all kinds, an ornate Christmas tree and everything, garbage cans, tires, traffic signs and various lavender such as socks, sheets, towels and, not many years ago, some “large” socks.

More information : https://www.santjuliadecerdanyola.cat/turisme/les-festes/fia-faia/
Email : st.juliac@diba.cat
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/Ajuntament-de-Sant-Juli%C3%A0-de-Cerdanyola-110026233034897/
Village Council : +34 938 227 667

Learn more
Pedrals, X. (2007). Ancestral, màgica, única. Barcelona: Publicacions de l’Abadia de Montserrat.
Pedrals, X. i Escobet, M. (2017). Fia-faia. La festa de falles nadalenca. Bagà-St. Julià de Cerdanyola: Farrell

Photos and videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyf5gQywJbc&t=17s&ab_channel=Televisi%C3%B3delBergued%C3%A0

Satisfaction. Making the falles. Sant Julià de Cerdanyola, 2003. Photograph: Village Council of Sant Julià de Cerdanyola

Fire and celebration. Sant Julià de Cerdanyola, 2019. Photograph: Village Council of Sant Julià de Cerdanyola