Studying abroad comes with a multitude of unexpected experiences, including attending local cultural events and festivals that occur during your time abroad. I had the privilege to be overseas during Barcelona’s biggest celebration: La Mercè.  

The super cool drone show that was on Barceloneta Beach on Friday. 

What is La Mercè? 

La Mercè is Barcelona’s biggest festival that occurs every year in celebration of its patron saint, Our Lady of Mercy. It occurs on September 24th, but the celebrations and festivities last the entire week. This is a city-wide, massive celebration of Catalan culture, and it was a truly amazing experience. 

Cultural Activities 

This holiday is especially significant to Barcelonans as it allows them to express themselves through their Catalan culture. Throughout the week, there are numerous different activities that occur each day, portraying this beautiful culture. Numerous parades occurred throughout the week, and one of my favorites was following the Jaume I and Violant giants that are carried by gegants, or “giant carriers.” They walked throughout the city, stopping every once and a while to dance and spin while we all got to admire them. These two figurines are symbols of monarchy and very important historical figures. 

Jaume I and Violant walking in the streets in between dancing 

Another important activity was the los castells, which are human towers. These were formed in various plaças in the center of the city by everyday Catalan civilians. This is a human pyramid where they attempt to build up to create a tower structure, and then dismantle it. Witnessing it up close was so cool, as the pure strength and determination everyone had was amazing. What truly shocked me was that no one who did it was a professional; they were all people who had normal jobs and who wanted to express their love for Catalan culture. 

The formation of a human tower at the Plaça de Sant Jaume 

On top of that, I also got to witness a festival of traditional dance groups in Barcelona. I loved watching this as people from all over came to demonstrate and show off their traditional dances on stage. The love and passion that flowed from the stage was unreal, and it was a beautiful thing to watch.  

The last cultural activity I want to draw focus on was el correfoc, or “fire-run”, which is literally just that. It was a massive street festival where participants dressed in fireproof devil costumes ran and danced down on Passeig de Gràcia in the center of Barcelona. However, the twist is that with them come sparks, fire, and explosions, and you are sprayed with sparks as they dance around you. This was something I had never come close to seeing before, and it was my favorite part of La Merce. People came wearing goggles, hats, and protective clothing, so be prepared if you do want to attend this event. When I come back, I will definitely be dressing more prepared to get even more engaged with the celebration. The energy was high during this, and I loved how united the community was in participating and surrounding the celebration.  

A brief glimpse of el correfoc up close and personal! 

Festive Activities 

Alongside all of the cultural activities there were so many different other celebratory experiences. There are so many different concerts, performances, firework shows, and so much more every day; it just depends on what you want to see. My friends and I attended the firework show on the first day on La Barceloneta Beach, a cool freestyle concert in La Plaça de Catalunya, a drone show on the beach another day, and ended it all with the piromusical at the Font Màgica de Montjuïc.  

The fireworks and water show were an amazing end to La Merce, as everyone was gathered all together and was unified. This year was especially significant as this was the first time in several years that Barcelona was able to turn the fountain on, due to the several drought issues it had been facing. The beauty of the fireworks against the illuminating water with music blasting all around you was such a memorable experience and solidified my utmost adoration for the city of Barcelona.  

Some of my friends and I at the end of La Merce in front of the Font Màgica de Montjuïc. 

My Takeaway 

La Merce was truly an unforgettable experience, and I am so honored I was able to be abroad to take part in it. Regardless of what you were looking for, you could see it; there were hundreds of free events all over the city in celebration of Catalan culture. Obviously, as with any massive event, make sure to remain cognizant and aware of your surroundings and keep your friends close, as it is easy to get lost or have things stolen. I had no issues, but with such huge crowds, it is always best to be prepared. 

Witnessing the love and passion towards Catalan culture made me more appreciative of Barcelona as a city and gave me a whole new perspective on its culture. Experiencing cultural events and partaking in the festivities allowed me to deepen my knowledge of Barcelona, and I highly recommend studying during the fall to experience this as well. 

I could not have asked for a better first month in Barcelona, and I would not trade this experience for anything. Studying abroad here has not only allowed me to experience the world but also to experience a completely new culture and witness its raw beauty in the flesh.