Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia
Encyclopedia
The Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia (kəstəˈʎez ðə ɫə ˈβiɫə ðə ˈɣɾasiə), created in 1996, are a colla castellera
, based in Vila de Gràcia
that makes human castles. The colour of their shirts is navy blue.
The first 4 de 8 ( a human castle 8 stories high with 4 people in each level) was unloaded by the Castellers de Gràcia (to unload a castle means to start and finish the castle without falling ) was achieved on August 17, 2003 in the Plaça de la Vila de Gracia.
Their best performance was: 4 de 8, 3 de 8 (c) and 5 de 7.
Up to the year 2010, the Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia participated five times in the Castle-making contest, which is celebrated every two years in Tarragona
: in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
They are commonly known as “The Blue Gang”, because of the colour of their shirts or “The Student Gang” because of the young age of most of their members.
Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia appear briefly in the movie L'auberge espagnole by Cédric Klapisch
.
, and was called Xiquets de Gràcia. Possibly, these new Gracia neighbors found in the Vila de Gràcia, which by then was still a small town, the ideal atmosphere to make human castles and become a local “colla”. It is known and documented that this “colla” began its activities at least since the 1880's until the year 1900, 1910 and in the second decade of the 20th century. Most performances were executed during the Festa Major de Gràcia.
The firs public performance of the new colla was on February 1997, on occasion of the Diada Castellera de Santa Eulalia on Placa de Sant Jaume de Barcelona, where they constructed two pillars of 4 ( One person per story, 4 stories; this is considered as the most simple construction of the whole repertoire) The first performance in Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia, which is considered as the colla's square, was delivered on March 4, 1997. This actuation gathered around sixty castellers, who unloaded several basic constructions.
Since their first months of existence, the Colla of Gràcia has had its own team of grallers, which has evolved into a learning center for all of those interested in learning how to play the gralla (a traditional catalan oboe
) in the different activities held by the castellers.
On 1999, the Castellers de la Vida de Gràcia received the Medalla d´Honor de Barcelona, and they are also members of the Colles de Cultura Popular de Gràcia.
Until the year 2004, they published a magazine called “L´espadat” which came out every three months.
But the most important extracurricular activity taken on by the castellers de la Vila de Gràcia, is the ornamentation of the Plaça de la Vila for the festivities of la Festa Major de Gràcia since the year 2001.
Performances held within the Països Catalans (outside Catalonia
)
Castell
A castell is a human tower built traditionally in festivals at many locations within Catalonia, Spain. At these festivals, several colles castelleres or teams often succeed in building and dismantling a tower's structure...
, based in Vila de Gràcia
Vila de Gràcia
Vila de Gràcia , also known as Gràcia, is a neighborhood in the Gràcia district of Barcelona, Catalonia . This neighborhood was the main core of the old town of Gràcia that included also Camp d'en Grassot i Gràcia Nova. It was the center of slave trading for over 200 years....
that makes human castles. The colour of their shirts is navy blue.
The first 4 de 8 ( a human castle 8 stories high with 4 people in each level) was unloaded by the Castellers de Gràcia (to unload a castle means to start and finish the castle without falling ) was achieved on August 17, 2003 in the Plaça de la Vila de Gracia.
Their best performance was: 4 de 8, 3 de 8 (c) and 5 de 7.
Up to the year 2010, the Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia participated five times in the Castle-making contest, which is celebrated every two years in Tarragona
Tarragona
Tarragona is a city located in the south of Catalonia on the north-east of Spain, by the Mediterranean. It is the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and the capital of the Catalan comarca Tarragonès. In the medieval and modern times it was the capital of the Vegueria of Tarragona...
: in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010.
They are commonly known as “The Blue Gang”, because of the colour of their shirts or “The Student Gang” because of the young age of most of their members.
Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia appear briefly in the movie L'auberge espagnole by Cédric Klapisch
Cédric Klapisch
Cédric Klapisch , is a French film director.Klapisch was born at Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine. He is from a Jewish family; his maternal grandparents were deported to Auschwitz. He studied cinema at the University of Paris III: Sorbonne Nouvelle as well as at the University of Paris VIII...
.
History
Castle making is nothing new in Gràcia, and there are historical references which date this tradition back to the last quarter of the 19th century until the first thirty years of the 20th century. Around 1890, a “colla” was created by immigrant peasants who had left Tarragona because of the phylloxeraPhylloxera
Grape phylloxera ; originally described in France as Phylloxera vastatrix; equated to the previously described Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, Phylloxera vitifoliae; commonly just called phylloxera is a pest of commercial grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America...
, and was called Xiquets de Gràcia. Possibly, these new Gracia neighbors found in the Vila de Gràcia, which by then was still a small town, the ideal atmosphere to make human castles and become a local “colla”. It is known and documented that this “colla” began its activities at least since the 1880's until the year 1900, 1910 and in the second decade of the 20th century. Most performances were executed during the Festa Major de Gràcia.
The beginnings
The story of the Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia begins in the early 1990's , when a group of youngsters related to the network of neighborhood associations in Gràcia began to talk about the possibility of founding a Castle making colla in the neighbourhood. This idea began to take shape when they decided to celebrate their first meeting on October 1996, and news began to spread that there was a “colla castellera” in the making. The first rehearsal was on November 23 of that same year at the Plaça del Sol, and it gathered around thirty people.The firs public performance of the new colla was on February 1997, on occasion of the Diada Castellera de Santa Eulalia on Placa de Sant Jaume de Barcelona, where they constructed two pillars of 4 ( One person per story, 4 stories; this is considered as the most simple construction of the whole repertoire) The first performance in Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia, which is considered as the colla's square, was delivered on March 4, 1997. This actuation gathered around sixty castellers, who unloaded several basic constructions.
The first castles
The official introduction of the new colla into the casteller world was on May 4, 1997, sponsored by the Castellers de Terrasa, the Castellers de Sants and the Castellers de Sant Andreu de la Barca, the Catellers de la Vila de Gràcia unloaded their first six story high castles. This first season had its ups and downs, although the efforts made throughout the year finally bore fruit with the achievement of a seven stories high castle, the 4 de 7, unloaded in order to celebrate their anniversary on November 23.The transitiion from castles of 7 to castles of 8
Throughout the following years, the Colla de Gràcia evolved and became a colla de 7 until October 6, 2002, when during the XIX Tarragona castle making contest, they achieved their first 4 de 8 after unloading their first 2 de 7 on the previous round. Ever since that year, the Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia have unloaded a 4 de 8 every year, and have started to gain their place as a colla de 8 and as one of the best 15-20 “colles” of the current casteller world.Since their first months of existence, the Colla of Gràcia has had its own team of grallers, which has evolved into a learning center for all of those interested in learning how to play the gralla (a traditional catalan oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
) in the different activities held by the castellers.
On 1999, the Castellers de la Vida de Gràcia received the Medalla d´Honor de Barcelona, and they are also members of the Colles de Cultura Popular de Gràcia.
Rehearsals
The Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia have rehearsed in different spots in the neighborhood, among which we can mention l´Escola Josep Maria Jujol, L´Artesá de Gràcia and the Antiga Escola OSI. Since the year 2002, the rehearsals are held in the Escola Reina Violant ( Trilla street, number 18 in the neighbourhood of Gràcia.) The rehearsals are on Tuesdays and Fridays from 20:00 to 23:00Other activities
Since the year 1998, the Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia broadcast the casteller radio program “Tercos amunt!” on Ràdio Gràcia. This radio program is still being broadcasted currently. On 2010 “Tercos amunt!” received the Premi Vila de Gràcia to the best communication initiative.Until the year 2004, they published a magazine called “L´espadat” which came out every three months.
But the most important extracurricular activity taken on by the castellers de la Vila de Gràcia, is the ornamentation of the Plaça de la Vila for the festivities of la Festa Major de Gràcia since the year 2001.
Participation in the tarragona casteller contest
The Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia have participated on five occasions in the Tarragona Casteller Contest. Below are all the contests where the Colla has participated, the castles unloaded and, between parenthesis and in bold lettering, the final position.- XIX Tarragona castell contest (2002): 2 de 7, 4 de 8c, 5 de 7 (13)
- XX Tarragona castell contest (2004): 4 de 8i, 4 d 8c, 5 de 7, 4 de 7a (14)
- XXI Tarragona castell contest (2006): 2 de 7c, 4 de 8c (16)
- XXII Tarragona castell contest (2008): 5 de 7, 4 de 8c, 4 de 7a (15)
- XXIII Tarragona castell contest (2010): 4 de 8, 2 de 7, 5 de 7 (11)
The Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia in the world
Performances held outside the Països Catalans- MarseilleMarseilleMarseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
(2001) - Carcassone (2002)
- Sevilla (2005)
Performances held within the Països Catalans (outside Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
)
- País Valencià
- AlgemesíAlgemesíAlgemesí is a municipality in the comarca of Ribera Alta in the Valencian Community, Spain.The town of Algemesí is one of the major centres for the production of citruses in Spain, and several cooperatives are based there...
(2003) - La Xara (DéniaDéniaDénia is a city in the province of Alicante, Spain, on the Costa Blanca halfway between Alicante and Valencia, the judicial seat of the comarca of Marina Alta...
) (2007) - L'AlcúdiaL'AlcúdiaL'Alcúdia is a town and municipality in the province of Valencia, Spain. It is located on the left bank of the river Xuquer.-History:The locality is named after a 13th-century Moorish farmhouse, granted in 1238 by the Aragonese king Jaume I to Pere de Montagut...
(2009)
- Algemesí
- Northern CataloniaNorthern CataloniaNorthern Catalonia is a term that is sometimes used, particularly in Catalan writings, to refer to the territory ceded to France by Spain through the signing of the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659...
- BaóBahoBaho is a commune in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in southern France.The inhabitants are called Bahotencs.Baho is the site of an ancient fort. At the 9th century, Baho was a possession of the abbey of Saint Michel de Cuixa...
(1998) (1999) - Perpinyà (2005)
- Baó
- Balearic IslandsBalearic IslandsThe Balearic Islands are an archipelago of Spain in the western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula.The four largest islands are: Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza and Formentera. The archipelago forms an autonomous community and a province of Spain with Palma as the capital...
- Sant Francesc de Formentera, FormenteraFormenteraFormentera is the smaller and more southerly island of the Pine Islands group , which belongs to the Balearic Islands autonomous community .-Geography:...
(2010) - EivissaIbiza TownIbiza Town is a city and municipality located on the southeast coast of the island of Ibiza in the Balearic Islands autonomous community. Although called Ibiza in English and Spanish, the official name is in Catalan Eivissa and its inhabitants call it Vila d'Eivissa or simply Vila...
, EivissaIbizaIbiza or Eivissa is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea 79 km off the coast of the city of Valencia in Spain. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands, an autonomous community of Spain. With Formentera, it is one of the two Pine Islands or Pityuses. Its largest cities are Ibiza...
(2010)
- Sant Francesc de Formentera, Formentera
The cap de colla
The Cap de Colla is the highest technical responsible of the colles castelleres.| Name: | Period: |
|---|---|
| Joaquim Besaran i Alberich | November1996-June 1997 |
| Guillem Ortega i Tous | 1997 (starting on June) |
| Jordi Ràfols i Brasó | 1998-2000-2001 |
| Carles Capellades i Sesé | 1999-2004-2005 |
| Joan Font i Basté | 2002–2003 |
| Oriol Constantí i González | 2006–2007 |
| Carles Gallardo i Prades | 2008–2009 |
| Aleix Vila i Fuertes | 2010 |
Presidents
| Name | Period |
|---|---|
| Ramon Josep Serra i Ruiz "R.J." | November 1996-June 1997 |
| David Palau i Garcia | 1997 (from June on…) |
| Josep Maria Porta i Palau | 1998 |
| Roger Gispert i Masó | 1999-2000-2001-2004-2005 |
| Miquel Moret i Parera | 2002–2003 |
| Martí Urgell i Vidal | 2006–2007 |
| Miquel Sendra i Pons | 2008–2009 |
| Arnau Dòria i Cerezo | 2010 |
First castles unloaded
| Castle | Date | Occasion |
|---|---|---|
| 4 de 6 | May 4, 1997 | Official presentation. |
| 3 de 6 | May 4, 1997 | Official presentation. |
| 4 de 6 amb agulla | May 4, 1997 | Official presentation. |
| 5 de 6 | September 21, 1997 | La Mercè La Mercè La Mercè is the annual festival of the city of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. It has been an official city holiday since 1871, when the local government first organized a program of special activities to observe the Roman Catholic feast day of Our Lady of Mercy, La Mare de Déu de la Mercè in... |
| 3 de 6 per sota | August 16, 1998 | Festa Major de Gràcia |
| Pilar de 5 car. | August 16, 1998 | Festa Major de Gràcia |
| Pilar de 5 | October 18, 1998 | Diada de les colles del 97 |
| Pilar de 5 per sota | November 24, 2002 | Diada dels Castellers de Badalona |
| 2 de 6 car. | November 9, 1997 | Diada dels Castellers de Sant Andreu de la Barca |
| 2 de 6 | March 29, 1998 | Solidaritat Nens del Brasil |
| 6 de 6 | August 19, 2000 | Vigílies de Festa Major de Gràcia |
| 4 de 7 | November 23, 1997 | I Diada de la Colla |
| 3 de 7 car. | November 29, 1998 | Diada dels Castellers de Badalona |
| 3 de 7 | September 26, 1999 | La Mercè |
| 3 de 7 amb agulla | April 25, 1998 | Diada de Sant Jordi (Sitges Sitges *Church of Sant Bartolomeu i Santa Tecla . It houses two Gothic sepulchres , belonging to the an older church located on the same site... ) |
| 4 de 7 amb agulla car. | November 22, 1998 | II Diada de la Colla |
| 4 de 7 amb agulla car. | November 22, 1998 | II Diada de la Colla |
| 4 de 7 amb l'agulla | May 16, 1999 | II Aniversari de la Colla |
| 5 de 7 | September 25, 2000 | La Mercè |
| 3 de 7 aixecat per sota | August 19, 2001 | Festa Major de Gràcia |
| 2 de 7 car. | September 24, 2002 | La Mercè |
| 2 de 7 | October 6, 2002 | XIX Tarragona Casteller Contest |
| 4 de 8 car. | October 6, 2002 | XIX Tarragona Casteller Contest. |
| 4 de 8 | August 17, 2003 | Festa Major de Gràcia |
| 3 de 8 car. | September 24, 2010 | La Mercè |
Specified bibliography
- Albert Musons, Quim Perelló, Jordi Ràfols i Miquel Sendra: Xiquets ahir, castellers per sempre: Vila de Gràcia (1876–2002), Col·lecció "La Font de l'atzavara" del Taller d'Història de Gràcia, 111 pages., Barcelona.
- Carles Gallardo: Blau, fraternitat i castells: Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia (1997–2001), 126 pages, Published by the Castellers de la Vila de Gràcia.