English
Some traditions never day if one wants to get to know the place that he´s visiting and integrate himself to its lifestyle with ease in order to make his holiday a success and the habaneras concert at Calella de Palafrugell is one of those traditions. It´s a wonderful summer event that will allow the visitor to integrate to the local Catalan culture, listening to the habanera songs on the 7th of July.
The habaneras concert in Calella de Palafrugell began in 1966 but it wasn´t until 1969 that it acquired the status that it has today, transforming itself into one of the most highly-awaited parties in the Costa Brava summer. It takes place on the first Saturday of July at Cala de Port Bo, lasts two hours and costs 25€.
Calella de Palafrugell is a small fisherman´s bay that has maintained the aesthetic of yesteryear and preserved itself like it was before the arrive en masse of tourism, which is the reason why it´s so attractive. That´s where the Catalan singer/songwriter Joan Manuel Serrat got the inspiration to write the song ´Mediterréaneo´, based on the beauty of the towns on the Costa Brava.
Habaneras are fisherman´s tavern songs that were part of their refuge during merciless days, when bad weather, rain and cold stopped them from doing their work. This music maintains a culture and is part of the nostalgia that united the Mediterranean coast with Cuba, a link which was interrupted but not broken during the Cuban War and the ending of the Spanish colonies in America in the late 19th century. There´s a popular saying that summarises popular belief and explains the popularity of this party: “While the sardana unites us, the habanera makes us brothers” (sardanas are a popular Catalan folkloric dance).
During the 19th century, many sea men left for Cuba to find a better life and came back stocked up with rum, tobacco and coffee. This shaped many of the poems that make up the lyrics of habaneras, because the stories of these men that spoke of new rhythms, loves and songs stayed in the imaginary of the region.
That´s why young and old people alike enjoy this tradition in this beautiful town, where as well as its beaches and music you can enjoy walking around its narrow streets and seeing the crafts market on Passeig del Candell. Also, you can visit the Church Square and Habanera Market, as well as other places that you will discover as you walk around it. At about 6pm it´s time to take your seats for the concert or simply settle in the spot that suits you the most, since there are giant screens located around the town that show the concert.
Remember that warm summer nights are the perfect stage for enjoying habaneras in open air, so if you decide to come to Calella de Palafrugell to listen to habaneras, do it early in the morning, since you´ll find nowhere to park after midday. And so, you can enjoy a day on the beach, of walking and eating in excellent seafood restaurants before enjoying the music at night.
For more information: http://www.havanerescalella.cat/
Mediterranean and summer are a single concept that nobody can resist, so rent apartments in Barcelona and don´t miss the Habaneras of Calella de Palafrugell.
