Thrilling second night at the fiery festival that is Berga’s La Patum
More than 1000 firecrackers set of within the crowd at midnight
More than 1000 firecrackers set of within the crowd at midnight
Making services public, affordable housing, standing against racism, cruise ships and mass tourism, among talking points
Two beloved book stores in Barcelona will also close doors by end of year
Fire-breathing dragons, dancing giants and thousands of people pack narrow streets for ancient festival like no other
Traditional celebration in northern town of Berga has medieval roots and attracts thousands of people
Demons group marks 400th anniversary with firecrackers on tails and heads
First day of festivity features parade of dancing giants, demons and dragons with fire coming out of their mouths
Thousands set off in the early morning, all expected to come together in a major rally in Barcelona on Friday
Raucous celebration with fireworks, parades and revelry gets underway in central Catalonia beneath giant independence flag
This year, the festival's organizers are promoting responsible drinking with subsidized non-alcoholic cocktails and free bottles of water
Montse Venturós was requested twice to remove flag from Berga city council
Dating back centuries, the festival is a UNESCO Intangible World Heritage
The case against Montse Venturòs, the Mayor of Berga, for not taking down the Catalan pro-independence flag from the City Hall building during elections has been reopened. Although Berga’s trial court decided not to pursue the case last March after considering that exhibiting the Catalan pro-independence flag was not “an act of propaganda” nor disobedience, the court has now accepted the appeal presented by the Public Prosecutor asking for the case to be reopened. Venturós lawyer and party colleague Benet Salellas from pro-independence CUP said that reopening the case proved “how deeply politicized the Spanish justice is and how legal procedures are the main battering ram against the pro-independence movement and the democratic demands of Catalan citizens”.