Festes de Sant Josep Oriol 2017

From March 16 to 26 the Pi neighbourhood celebrates its Festa Major (really big street party), featuring the emblematic Pi Giants, accompanied by all the usual celebratory figures of Catalonia. New this year is folk dancing, mapping, storytelling, three exhibitions and Heraldic Music of Pi.

On Saturday 18 the Festa Major officially gets underway with the opening speech in Plaça del Pi, given by Quim Torra. Beforehand, however, you can be part of the debut of recently discovered Heraldic Music of Pi: a very short piece from the year 1422 that was found in the Pi Archives and has been adopted as heraldic music. During the opening speech, or pregó, you'll also get to see the original Pi Giants, which date back to the 18th and 19th centuries, and only make their way out in public once a year, especially for this occasion. Later in the day is the Festa Castellera, with the Barcelona Castellers (human tower builders) and the Castellers from Cerdanyola del Vallès. And at night it's the time to view the traditional Retaule de Sant Josep Oriol, a monumental altarpiece made in the interior of the Santa Maria del Pi Basilica that tells the story of the life and work of 'Doctor Bread and Water'.

As with every year, during the Festa Major you can get products related to the Pi Giants, and you can participate in the Instagram contest #ConcursSJO17 – see www.gegantsdelpi.cat for information and details on the events.