Girona Temps de Flor (9-17th May 2015)

Every year Girona has a week in May for artistic floral displays to be seen all over the town. 
The most important aspect of this week is the opening up to the public of all the hidden patios of the Old Town and many of the secret passages of the Jewish Quarter, filled with flowers and visitors. They are very atmospheric, though i officially complain here and now that more natural plants and flowers should be used. Catalans have an unfortunate penchant for artificial flowers. However, many of the displays are more 'art' than flora and the toilet brush display in one of the medieval Jewish houses, is still a highlight for me. I am always impressed by the whole-hearted and time-consuming participation of the people and associations in these cultural events in Catalunya and Spain. There is a decent route map you can follow, but it's usually so hot, what with the sun and the extra bodies an' all, you won't need to consult it. Go with the flow... Just don't expect to eat a decent lunch (at the weekends) and reserve a table for supper, if so inclined. 


Images from 2014
http://www.gironatempsdeflors.net/cat/imatges.php

Castanyada

This coincides with Girona Fiestas (Fires de Sant Narcis - the week or 10 days around the 29th October). The Castanyada (chestnut eating) is celebrated in Catalonia mainly on All Saints' Day. In Occitania, the similar festival Castanhada is celebrated, but not on All Saints' Day as in Catalonia. Like Halloween or the Celtic Samhain, its origins are in an ancient ritual festival of the dead.

In Catalonia it consists of a meal of chestnuts, 'panellets' (sweets made from marzipan and pine nuts), sweet potato and preserved fruits, typically with moscatell to drink. It seems that the tradition of eating these foods comes from the fact that during All Saints' night, the night before All Souls' Day in the Christian tradition, bell ringers would ring bells in commemoration of the dead into the early morning. The festival is usually depicted with the figure of a castanyera: an old lady, dressed in peasant's clothing and wearing a headscarf, sat behind a table, roasting chestnuts for street sale. 

panellets

castañas - chestnuts

Calçots - Catalan Marmite

Personally, i love'em. Just don't wear white. Mainly an excuse for a barbecue in March. Or February. Or April. A 'Calçot' pronounced 'calsot' is a type of scallion or green onion from Lleida. The calçot from Valls, Tarragona is a registered EU Protected Geographical Indication. Calçots are milder and less bulbous than onions. The Calçotada is an annual event from Tarragona, now celebrated all over Catalonia. They are grilled on high fire, wrapped up in newspaper, served on terra cotta tiles and eaten after peeling with bare hands by dipping one by one in romesco sauce along with an accompaniment of red wine and bread. This is followed by barbecued lamb chops and sausage and white beans.

  

Ron Cremat - while listening to Havaneres in Calella de Palafrugell

Recepta d'un cremat
per a vuit persones:

En una cassola de terrissa, s'hi aboca el contingut d'una ampolla de Rom (3/4 de litre), s'hi afegeixen 50 grams de sucre, un bocí de canyella i la pell de mitja llimona.

De seguida s'encén, acostant-hi un llumí, i es remena contínuament amb un cullerot fins que en restin les dues terceres parts aproximadament.

Per apagar-lo, s'hi afegeix un raig de cafè o bé es tapa la cassola.

   
Burnt Rum
Bottle of Rum
50gs sugar
cinnamon stick
lemon peel

All in a clay pot. On the beach. Set light to it until a third has evaporated, douse flame with a small slug of coffee. Drink. First Saturday in July tradition, even if you're not in Calella...