Santa Tecla Sitges

Santa Tecla is the second, slightly lower key and more ‘local’, part of the two major Sitges Festa Major celebrations.

The events are as follows:

OFFICIAL SANTA TECLA SITGES ACTIVITIES

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

5:30 p.m. Reading of the Children’s Proclamation of Santa Tecla,
Palau del Rei Moro,
led by Alberto and Gina Gutiérrez Cosialls. This is followed by hot chocolate and sponge cakes for all the children. Afterward, dressing up the Moorish Giants.
Organized by: Sitges Public Dance Group.

7:00 p.m., Palau del Rei Moro rehearsal
for the Sitges Castellers Youth Group. The Sitges Castellers Youth Group shows off their spirit at a special Santa Tecla rehearsal with a refreshing watermelon drink for everyone.
Organized by: Sitges Castellers Youth Group.

9:00 p.m., Public rehearsal for Santa Tecla
Palau del Rei Moro
Organized by: Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

Night of the Pubilles and the Hereus
Place: Eurostars Hotel (Can Girona)
Time: 9:00 p.m.
Organized by: Foment de Turisme.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

Exhibition of the Banner of Santa Tecla
During the hours of liturgical celebrations, in the Parish, exhibition of the Banner of Santa Tecla.

From 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Exhibition of the Image of Santa Tecla

The image of Saint Tecla will remain on display at 4 Santiago Rusiñol Street, a location designated by this year’s Pendonista, Vinyet Caballé i Artigas.

11:00 a.m., Trobada de gegants, Cabeçuts i Dracs petits
Hort de Can Falç
The boys and girls participate in the Festival with nice and elaborate creations.

12.00 Transfer of the image of Santa Tecla
Parish of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla

The Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla Municipal Commission, representing the municipal authorities, collects the statue of the patron saint from the hands of Monsignor Rafael Vilaplana, rector of the parish. It is then carried, accompanied by the Suburband Musical Group, to 4 Calle Santiago Rusiñol, a location designated by the Bannerwoman Vinyet Caballé i Artigas. Once it arrives, a prayer is offered to inaugurate the exhibition of the statue of Santa Tecla.

Route : Baluard, pl. Ajuntament, Major, Cap de la Vila, Jesús and Santiago Rusiñol.

5:00 p.m. Festival Concert
at the Jardins de l’Hospital de Sant Joan Baptista.
Performed by the Suburband Musical Group.

NIT DE FOC (Night of Fire)

7:30 p.m. TIMBALADA
Frigata
With the timbaleros of the participating groups.
Tour: Frigate, pg. de la Ribera, Sant Pau, Parellades, Cap de la Vila, Major and pl. Town Hall

20:30h ESPETEGAFOC
Route: pl. Ajuntament, Baluard, Fonollar, Sant Joan, Davallada, Barcelona, ​​Aigua, Sant Domènech, Major and pl. Town Hall

9:30 p.m. CORREFOC

Port de n’Alegre
Correfoc with the three groups of the Ball de Diables of Sitges – the Colla Jove, the Vella and the Agrupació de Balls Populars –, and invited groups.
Route: Port de n’Alegre, Fonollar, Baluard and pl. Ajuntament, where a lively joint final will take place.
Act with pyrotechnics

11:00 PM NIGHT OF FIRE CONCERTS
Starting at 11 PM, Fragata
With performances by Miquel del Roig and Ground Kids.
Organized by: La Saca (Sitgetana Culture and Entertainment Center).

 

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21

10:00 a.m., Gathering of giants, big-headed figures, and children’s dances
at Ajuntament Square.
Then, a parade with the participants.
Route : Ajuntament Square, Major Square, Cap de la Vila Square, Parellades Square, Sant Pau Square, Ribera Square, and Fragata Square.

Children’s dance exhibition
Once the parade ends, at the Fragata, the giants and big heads perform a final dance together and immediately afterwards, in order of arrival, the exhibition of children’s white dances takes place with the Ball de bastons, Panderetes, Pastorets, Cercolets, Cintes, Gitanes, Moixiganga and the scoundrels of the Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

11 am – 1 pm, 6 pm – 9 pm, Exhibition of the image of Santa Tecla
, Santiago Rusiñol Street, 4.
The image of Santa Tecla will remain on display in the place designated by this year’s Pendonista.

5:30 p.m. Gathering of dragons and children’s groups of devils
at Pont d’en Domènech.
Parade with participants, which will conclude with a lighting ceremony.
Route: Ribera Street to Fragata

Ball parlat of children’s devils

Once the lighting is over, in the Frigate, they will perform in this order: Diables de l’Agrupació de Balls Populars de Sitges, Colla Vella de Diables and Colla Jove de Diables.
Act with pyrotechnics

Exhibition of the Banner of Santa Tecla
During the hours of liturgical celebrations in the Parish.

 

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22. THE EVE

11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Exhibition of the image of Santa Tecla
(time of the Civic Procession), c. Santiago Rusiñol, 4
The image of Santa Tecla will remain on display in the place designated by this year’s Pendonista.

12:00 Plaque in honor of Ramon Soler
Pl Artistes
A memorial for this committed Sitgetan and a pillar of Sitgetan traditions.

2:00 PM 21 gun salute and ringing of bells
on La Fragata Beach.
Performed by the American Giants of Sitges, who are celebrating their 60th anniversary this year.
Fireworks.

7 p.m. Civic Procession
from 4 Santiago Rusiñol Street.
Popular dances, interludes, musicians, and officials, with the Agrupació Musical Suburband, collect the tabernacle of Santa Tecla and head to the Parish Church.
Route: Santiago Rusiñol, Jesús, Cap de la Vila, Major, Aigua, Sant Damià, Rafael Llopart, Port de n’Alegre, Passatge la Vall, Davallada, d’en Bosc, and Pl. Ajuntament.
Upon arriving at the parish church, the dances receive the image of Santa Tecla, which, accompanied by the authorities, the Bannerman and the Cordonists, is placed in the presbytery to preside over the day’s liturgical acts.
Fireworks are displayed .

11:00 p.m., Fragata Fireworks
Spectacular fireworks display by Pirotècnia Igual, SA
Event with pyrotechnics

Festival of Santa Tecla
At the end of the castle of fires, pg. de la Ribera
Gralles dance with the Trinitat and Dinapontus colles from l’Escola de Grallers de Sitges. The hits that make you dance to the sound of gralla and timbales. Next, local DJs: A-si-vale DJs, Les pitjor impossible DJs and HXO DJs.

Starting at midnight, Cap de la Vila
Sardana dance with the Cobla Sitgetana.

 

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23 – FESTIVITY OF SANTA TECLA, Diada Santa Tecla, first martyr, Patron Saint of Sitges

HAPPY CHILDREN’S MORNING
There will be three parallel routes and breakfast for participating children when they finish the route

With the collaboration of: Ametller Origen, Caprabo and Bonpreu-Esclat.
Act with pyrotechnics.

6:30h MORNING FOC (Children’s morning tour where fire is carried)
Davallada
Children’s beasts will alternate between the groups of devils that will participate in this order: Colla de Diables de l’Agrupació de Balls Populars, Colla Vella de Diables and Colla Jove de Diables.
Route : Davallada, Barcelona, ​​Àngel Vidal, Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Sant Josep, Espalter, pl. Pou Vedre, Bassa Rodona, Santa Tecla, Primer de Maig, pg. de la Ribera (next to the sea) and Fragata.

7:00h BIG MORNING PROCESSION– GIANTS AND WHITE DANCES (Morning tour of dances without fire and children’s giants)
Route: Fonollar, Baluard Vidal i Quadras, Port de n’Alegre, Rafel Llopart, Sant Damià, Sant Sebastià, Jesús, Sant Bartomeu, Sant Gaudenci, Sant Francesc, Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Sant Pere, pg. de la Ribera (mountain side) and Fragata.

8:00 a.m. SMALL MORNING PROCESSION (Route of the youngest children participating in the morning)
Town Hall Square
Route: Pl. Ajuntament, d’en Bosch, Davallada, Barcelona, ​​Àngel Vidal, Cap de la Vila, Major, Nou, pg. de la Ribera, Fragata.

11:00 a.m. Solemn Celebrated Office in honor of Santa Tecla
Parish Church of Sant Bartomeu and Saint Thecla.
The celebration will be presided over by Mgr. Rafael Vilaplana Moltó, rector of the Parish. This year, the Gegants de la Vila group, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Gegants Nous, makes the offering to our patron saint on behalf of the entire town.
At the end of the celebration, the goigs (singing of the saint’s songs) will be sung by the Friends of the Orchestra Choir.

Departure from the Office (of the mass)

After the service,
a musical parade by the Agrupació Musical Suburband (Suburban Musical Group) begins at the Baluard, accompanying the authorities to the Town Hall. This is followed by a simultaneous performance by all the dance groups and their respective musicians, along with the Cobla Maricel and the Band.
After the dances and interludes, the Band plays Els Segadors , the national anthem of Catalonia.
The event includes fireworks.

1 p.m. Human tower performance (Castellers)

Pl Ajuntament

Immediately after the exit, a human tower performance by the Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

1:00 p.m. Vermouth concert by Santa Tecla
after the end of the service

The musicians arrive once the event has begun.
The El Retiro Recreational Society, with the Maricel Cobla, and
the Prado Suburense Casino, with the Suburband Musical Group.

18:30h Descent of the Pilar of the Young Man of Sitges
From the Baluard descent of the Pilar walking down the steps of the Punta, led by the
Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

7 p.m. Procession in honor of Santa Tecla

From Es Baluard

The tabernacle of Santa Tecla parades through the streets and squares of the town, carried by the pubilles of the Sitgetan neighborhoods and organizations. The religious procession opens with the parish script carried by the Cos de portants de Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla. The Gegants, the bestiary, and the dances, with their musicians, open the procession, presided over by the Rector of the Parish, Monsignor Rafel Vilaplana i Moltó, and the City Council, with the Suburband Musical Group closing the procession.
Mrs. Vinyet Caballé i Artigas has been appointed as the banner bearer of the Santa Tecla Banner, and she has appointed Sara Fullera Caballé, Aleth Font Fullera, and Raquel Martín Mata as cordonists.

Route : Baluard, Fonollar, Sant Joan, Davallada, Barcelona, ​​Santiago Rusiñol, Jesús, Sant Bartomeu, Sant Gaudenci (Calm section), Sant Francesc, Cap de la Vila, Parellades, Bonaire, pg. de la Ribera, Nou, Major, pl. de l’Ajuntament and Baluard.
Before the Procession passes through pg. from La Ribera, the Cobla Sitgetana performs several sardanas. Next, they perform the piece Els Gegants de Sitges , by maestro Tomàs Gil, and La Processó de Santa Tecla , by maestro Jordi Pañella Virella, during its passage.
When the religious entourage passes through the page. de la Ribera, the patron saint of the town, is greeted with salutes of mortars and ringing of bells.
(Act with Fireworks).

Entrance of Santa Tecla into the parish church.
Upon the tabernacle’s arrival at the Baluard, dances and music will greet the image of our patron saint and pay homage to her as she enters the church, amid fireworks and the ringing of bells.
Inside the church, the prayer “Us he mirat Santa Tecla” will be read.

Fireworks event.

Final dance of the “Bèsties de foc” (Drac and Àliga) and the Gegants
. Following the closing prayer, in front of the Town Hall, the final dance of the fire beasts and the giants concludes the events until the next Festival.

Fireworks event.

12:00 a.m. Santa Tecla Concerts,
Paseo de la Ribera

Starting at 24:00 h / Paseo de la Ribera
Organized by: Municipal Commission of Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla.

Dance with the cover band Les que faltaband and La Greska DJ.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

10am-7pm Open Day at Museums

10am-7pm Open day at the Cau Ferrat Museum and Maricel Museum
Organized by the Educational Department of the Sitges Museums.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27

18:00h Santa Tecla castellers exhibition

Cap de la Vila

Day with the Xicots of Vilafranca, the Castellers of Sant Cugat, the Nois de la Torre and the Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.
Organized by: Colla Jove de Castellers de Sitges.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28

6:00 p.m., Trumpet and organ concert of Santa Tecla
Parròquia de Sant Bartomeu i Santa Tecla
By Salvador Pérez Descals (trumpet) and Hèctor París (organ).
Voluntary financial contribution.

6:00 p.m. 35th National Contest of Sardanist groups Vila de Sitges Trophy
La Fragata
Championship of Catalonia Youth and Territorial Barcelona regions, with the Cobla Maricel.
Organized by: Els Amics de la Sardana

See a video of 2023´s Santa Tecla here:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mRg31E1ZdM