Pájaros brillantes invaden La Rambla de Barcelona en Navidad

Acabamos de entrar en uno de los meses más luminosos del año y en el que, desde La Rambla de Barcelona, vivimos con más intensidad. Desde hace un par de años, unos pájaros brillantes se apoderan de los árboles y vuelan por entre sus ramas para anunciarnos que llega la Navidad, que la calle se va a llenar de shopping y turistas de nuevo, y que despedimos un año que La Rambla no olvidará.

El pasado 23 de noviembre se encendieron las las luces de navidad de Barcelona empezando por La Rambla en homenaje a las víctimas del atentado del pasado 17 de agosto y de todas las personas que hicieron todo lo posible por ayudar a heridos y familiares. Vecinos y vecinas, comerciantes y trabajadores, visitantes y paseantes, tendremos este año no solo los pájaros brillantes de Navidad sino también unas palomas diseñadas por Claret Serrahima como símbolo de paz y de lo que siempre ha representado La Rambla: la tolerancia.

Así que podemos prepararnos para un mes en el que el color y la luz invadirán La Rambla y podremos disfrutarla como tanto nos gusta a quienes vivimos en ella.

12 months at the Ramblas of Barcelona

Today we will be closing one year more in this centenarian avenue: the Ramblas/La Rambla of Barcelona. As a fully engaged inhabitant of this avenue, I would like just to share with you an overview of the main activities, changes and concerns we have been into during 2015:

• January: Departure of the Barcelona World Race: amazing sailing race departing from the "Rambla del mar" with the best and most prepared skippers of the world.
• February: Santa Eulàlia festivities, patron saint of Barcelona till the 17th century, as symbol of solidarity and defence of justice.
• March: After some years and lots of debates, the Gardunya Square (behing the Boquería Market) is officially opened. Squares are always welcomed and it may give the market another entrance gate (extremely necessary for the Ramblas).
• April: Easter holidays with two of the main processions going through the Ramblas. It's an amazing and impressive tradition!
• May: The Sant Ponç Fair, one of the oldest street markets and a great place to buy honey and natural products.
• June: A great event where important catalan chefs meet at the Ramblas and share their delicious and tasty creations: Tasta la Rambla.
• July: The main touristic month that needs some attractive regulations to make tourists live together with the Ramblas inhabitants....(this is a MUST)
• August: A difficult month with lots of tourists and, at the same time, the immigration drama and the city hall trying to face the incresing number of "top manta" (street vendors).  A situation not yet solved.
• September: The Mercè festivities, patron saint of the Barcelona since the 18th century. Full of activities around the Ramblas. Year by year they really get better!
• October: The "Festes del Roser" with the 1st edition of the "Rambla en Flor", a demonstration of floral art in some of the building's facade. This activity enlarged the area of the flower shops towards almost the whole avenue with very colourful decorations.  
• November: A very calm month, the best to visit the city. 
• December: Christmas weeks with still hot weather. New design of Christmas lights that give a different perspective to the avenue!

Christmas in the Ramblas

Every year by Christmas time, Amics de la Rambla, an Association of shops, neighbours and friends of this famous avenue, organise a concert and a big "xocolatada" (chocolate with some cookies and sweets) to celebrate the upcoming days.

The concert has been offered by two musical groups:

- Musical's Choir: composed by young musical singers that offered some of the well-known songs of the Miserables, Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, among some typical Christmas carols.

- 17 downstairs: a group of young rock & soul promises that offered some well-known hits.

Meanwhile, the "xocolatada" took place and was offered by shops and restaurants of the Ramblas or close to them, such as: Granja Viader, Café de la Opera, Hard Rock Café Barcelona, Boqueria Market and others.

A great way to share catalan traditions for Christmas in the Ramblas!

2015

I would like to start the new year with a different type of post, a bit more personal. From the window I can still see the Christmas lights of the Ramblas, with the relaxing purple light that falls down like snowflakes. I really like this period and specially this year as we didn't have a lot of tourism and it was easier to walk up, down and around. New year's eve was concentrated, during the grape tradition, in Plaza España (Square) which

gave us, Ramblas residents', a quieter celebration. 

This year the City Hall has approved a new regulation for our antique street: Pla Rambla. It will deeply control the commercial activity and also try to bring again the locals to this old avenue. I must say, as resident since 1994, that during the past ten years it's been hard to live surrounded by so many tourists all around the year and what most worries us is how the old shops have been supplied by not traditional nor cultural souvenir shops. Even restaurants are basically commercial ones. We have also lived during 2014 the difficulties between the flower shops and the city's strategies.

I have been using this blog to share what the Ramblas offer to whoever, locals or foreigners, visit them as this street has been doing in the past four-hundred years or more, from the point of view of a Ramblas neighbour, Catalan and living in one of the oldest buildings in this avenue. This year, new year 2015, I will share also the concerns that affect this avenue, this area of the city, and also propose ideas on how to improve the place we live in, which is part of a great and fantastic city well-known around the world.

Happy new year!

Merry Xmas and some photos of the 1962's big snow storm

Christmas arrived full of snow on the 25th December 1962 in Barcelona. The city woke up in an unusual white color that's been remembered year by year by the locals. Eventhough La Rambla was covered by a meter of snow the people enjoyed a real White Christmas. This photo was carried out by Colita and Xavier Miserachs and shows the beginning of the Rambla de les Flors, with the Virreina Palace on the right handside.

 

With the memories of a White Ramblas, we wish you a wonderful Christmas day!

The Caganer

You cannot have a nativity scene without a caganer. A character only found in nativity scenes in Catalonia and the Valencia region, and who first appeared in the Baroque period.
Putting one of these figures, supposedly a shepherd, in the nativity scene, hidden behind a bush or a tree while he relieves himself, brings good luck. The caganer's fame is such that, these days, he is given the face of famous people in the news - politicians, sportsmen and women, and people from the world of entertainment.

Advent Calendar

Today is the 1st December and according to the Catholic tradition, a 24 day calendar is prepared as a count down for Christmas. In the past times, several shops and makes have created funny, artistic or gastronomic calendars, such as Godiva, Lego or others. But in the case of our Ramblas, we have a very sweet one, made by Escribà. Combining different types of sweet textures and chocolate, you will wake up every day with a surprise!

 

The three kings are arriving to Barcelona!

The three kings are about to arrive at the Moll de la Fusta to prepare the parade through the city that will start at 6.30pm from the Ciutadella park.

See you there!

Give your letters to the 3 wise kings

From today till Friday, you can give you letters to the 3 wise kings through the Royal Postmen that will be at the Moll de la Fusta, close to Colombus monument, at the Sta. Eulàlia boat. This boat will bring the 3 wise kings on Saturday 5th January at 5pm and once arrived they will tour the city on a colourful parade!

But if you want to know where exactly are the kings right now, go to the following link http://w1.bcn.cat/carta-reis/index_en.php

The chimes

The countdown to the end of the outgoing year is marked by the last twelve chimes of the year, which are eagerly followed by everyone.As each chime sounds a grape is eaten and it is customary to make a wish.

This ritual is a call for good luck, even if eating grapes for New Year is not all that new in comparison with other Christmas traditions. In fact, its origin lies in the grape surplus of 1909.

Buying the grapes for tonight!

Preparing new years eve 2012!

The nose man

The last day of the year is also the one when the home dels nassos, or nose man, appears on the streets. This mysterious character only makes himself visible once a year. What makes him so special is he has as many noses as there are days in the year!
Can you imagine that? Well, every year we encourage children to look for this eccentric gentleman who, at the end of the day, we are all like, because on 31 December we all have as many noses as there are days left in the year.

Send your letters to the 3 kings!

At the Palau de la Virreina you will find one of the 3 kings camel! Post your letters!

Orfeó Català Christmas Carol Concert

The Orfeó Català is giving a free Christmas Carol Concert in the Plaça del Rei. In this unique setting, which takes you back to medieval Barcelona, the hundred-year-old choral group will be performing the most traditional songs of the festive season.

The repertoire for this musical soirée, on the evening of 28 December, includes mainly songs from the Catalan tradition, together with a sprinkling of other Christmas classics.

Where:

Plaça del Rei

When:

28/12/2012

District:

Ciutat Vella

Area:

El Barri Gòtic

 

Information extracted from the Christmas website of Barcelona City Hall

 

Holy Innocents' Day

Holy Innocents' Day, when practical jokes and pranks can catch you by surprise at every turn, is held on 28 December every year. You can find a paper doll hung on your back, just as you can have your leg pulled reading a newspaper that has published a news item they have made up.
It appears this day of jokes has a pagan origin, although it has been linked to the slaughter of innocent children ordered by King Herod, according to St Matthew.