La Mercè
la mercè catalan pronunciation lə məɾˈsɛ annual festival catalan festa major city barcelona catalonia spain official city holiday since local government first organized program special activity observe roman catholic feast day lady mercy catalan la mare de déu de la mercè although actual feast day september festivity begin day beforehand important feature festival introduced year parade included papier maché giant known gegants capgrossos popular dance empordà becoming popular throughout catalonia sardana holiday enjoyed immense local popularity ever since among recently introduced tradition annual catalan wine fair special correfoc km race pyromusical display featuring synchronized firework water fountain music conducted base montjuïc mountain celebration la mercè religious origin honoring virgin grace mare de déu de la mercè patron saint archdiocese barcelona copatroness—along saint eulàlia—of city catalan word mercè meaning related service help sense compassion loving mercy gothic quarter barcelona basilica dedicated virgin wooden image venerated festival celebrated since middle age barcelona suffered plague locust consell de cent governed city voted ask virgin assistance fight insect city delivered pestilence named patroness city barcelona — although recognized pope since time annual festival celebrated city honor virgin weeklong festival close two million people attend cultural artistic presentation held throughout city traditional activity festival based popular culture catalonia especially noteworthy street parade originating spectacular procession took place century ago celebration corpus christi day festival celebrated parade filled mythical character traditional drumming event spread throughout plaza street museum park entertainment free barcelona metro train run night festival street theater distinct element artistic event dance circus band fringe touring show make bulk event order bring barcelona people closer different culture year guest city program another city elsewhere world invited present culture artist guest city vienna castellers human tower prominent part la mercè castells catalan castle cultural phenomenon particular catalonia consist erecting human tower tradition originated end th century valls province tarragona rival group people called colles began compete constructing different kind human tower la mercè official website